ltwguns.com

I really did try to resist posting this until completed, but. I just wanted to give you a sneak peak at a project that is getting close to completion. This customer is my first customer and this gun the first project since opening OnTarget. We have been working on this since about march of this year. It has been a matter of getting all the parts, machine work done, and getting the assembly started. This is a multiple resource project and credit goes to Burwell Customs for the slide work, EGW for the base checkering with hand file completion by yours truly. Slide logo by Gary at Zipgraver. The gun will still need all small parts fitted, the back of the slide blended and serrated and the stainless bobtail housing installed, blended and checkered.

Jess

Well, that's certainly a neat little thing!

Forgot to mention that of course all of the final blending has not been done. It still needs the carry dehorn, some beavertail blending and so on. Now that I am looking at the pics I am almost embarrased to have posted them too early. You all are used to building these and probably done dozens. I just get too excited to not share, I feel like a little kid with a new toy. I just hope that it is the same way when (if?) I build my 100th or 1000th and still get just as excited.

Jess

Haha no worries she's off to a great start it looks like . Once you get through with the final refinements I bet it'll be a real eye popper! Your Excitement is a good thing, and no worries, when you truly love what you're doing the excitement doesn't seem to fade.

_________________
-Matt (http://www.the-gunsmith.com)

Your right, I really do love this. Problem is that I don't get to keep them! Thanks, and I think you are right about this one. With the combined talents that I have enlisted between Dan and George, along with Gary at Zipgraver, this one should turn out nice. The owner also has 2-3 sets of Ahrends grips for it that I have not even seen yet. The ones that are on there are some of the prototypes that I got from John at VZ that don't have a home yet. I am really resisting posting another one that I just got done today. No owner yet. Real sleeper and the bluing turned out just gorgeous. I tried a new brew of bluing salts and this batch is going to have to be called Midnight Blue. So deep deep blue that you have to really look at it to tell that it is not black parkerizing where it is not polished, but that is another thread!

Jess

Going to be nice when you get it finished.

It is a very nice gun.I would like to know the model number of trijicon sights thats on the gun.

thank you
Asif

Asif,

Those are Heinie Original Straight 8 sights with tritium inserts. I prefer the sight picture of the Heinie Original's over the Slantpro's, although those would have been my next choice. Can't remember exactly what size front dove-tail though. Jess will have to chime in for that.

Good looking 1911. I am far from being the most devout person in the world. So regardless of that, please take this as a compliment: In today's PC world, I find your logo very refreshing. To me, it says my shop. My way. I like that.

Regards,
Greyson

Thanks for the compliments. I don't remember the exact specs on the Heinie's, but they are a matched set and we just cut them to the normal Heinie front dove tail requirements. This one is getting close. All of the small parts are in and I drilled the frame for the bobtail today. Should be ready to range test in the next week or so. And as a side note, one of the guns that I am building will get the logo minus the cross for the T of on OnTartget. The sun/target behind the mountain was for the O and the cross was for the T. The mountain is just because I am near the rockies. The gentleman requested that the logo be chaged for his gun, and I have no problems with that. Don't want to start any kind of discussion about philosophies as I attribute my talent and the little bit of success that I hav had in this business to one source. Hence the logo. So that is what is up with the logo and probably should just let it go at that. I know DW had some similar discussions about the small fish on his guns, too.

Jess

Jess, I like the idea. Is the frame a lightweight or steel? I wish that Smith and Wesson would come out with a Scandium Commander in 38 super. In the reading I have done on the 9x23, it is a fantastic option, especially for a lighter carry gun. However, the aluminum frames are ususally not recommended.
If S&W can make an aluminum 44 mag with nearly the same frame dimensions as the steel model, i don't see why a 9x23 could not be done with the commander in scandium. I guess the best way to do it would be to buy the 45 and mill the ramp for a ramped barrel, change out the ejector, and then use a caspian or Colt 9mm top end. My only quesiton would be: does milling the frame for a ramped barrel remove material from a vital frame area, thus weakening the frame?

The gun is stainless steel. It is also using a Nowlin/Wilson ramped barrel. I can't wait to get it done and shoot it.

Jess

I'm not sure trying to convert a .45 ACP into a 9MM would be the easiest way to go. If you were set on a lighter weight frame, I'd wait for Caspian to get back in the Ti game and then proceed. Then, you could opt for an all Ti set-up since they also offer Ti slides. Holy cow, I think a Caspian Hi-Cap Titanium Commander in 9x23 might just be the ultimate . . .

Dick H. had a Ti frame for sale here. I helped do one, and that was enough for me! Maybe he sold it already. A little machine work and it could be a Commander size.

The estimate on the work would have to include a whole new set of end mills.

Jess

OK, I'll bite. Why? I've been hearing for years now how titanium is so incredibly difficult to machine, and destroys every tool it touches. I must be doing something wrong - I'm still using the same endmill after at least 30 frames.

_________________
Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

TR

I machine the stuff on a daily basis and it isn't hard to machine at all.
Its not like its 316 stainless or chrome cobalt, now those materials chew up tooling.

_________________
''ya can't argue logic with ignorance.''

I am not a machinist and my desire to never do a Ti frame again has nothing to do with machine work. I work with files and I know what is hard and what ain't. I also know that George Smith had to change tooling in the middle of the front strap checkering and I could not blow it away with the bead blaster. I did love that Blue Glow it gives off! You can still see it The tooling chamge, not the blue glow) if you look close. I guess Ted has the Good Mojo with that stuff! I do not believe any of the Internet Rumors going around anyway! George did an outstanding job of welding up a bad spot in that lower and that you can't tell. Caspian paid for that job. I may need some new files. I have been using the same ones for many years! I gave away 250 of of them that Bill Ruger gave me 11 years ago. Maybe I should have kept two or three of them...................Ted did the bluing for me quick and I am still greatful for that ! It was going to the Shot Show and I was out of time!

Hey Ted! When are you going to send me that bill?

Well, at least this one is not titanium and my mill bits are safe.

Jess

Back to the pistol, I really like this cartridge in the commander format. Do any of you smiths, including Mr. Yost, have any opjnions on the use of a lightweight frame for the 9x23? It is not extremely different from the original 38 super loading of 130 at 1300, compared to 125 at 1450.

I have a friend that has a titanium 9X23 commander. I have shot it on several locations. It was not built by anyone on this forum, or recongnizable. I need to get his name again from the friend. It shot very well. Not much snappier than a lightweight .40 S&W aluminum framed weapon. It has seen thousands of rounds at competitions and practice for carry. No appreciable wear or damage. It is an officer frame and commander slide. Very nice carry package. I would still pick a regular commander frame with a bobtail in stainless or carbon personally. I would love the opportunity to build another Ti framed weapon other than the one that I built and sold for myself, and hope that Gary can again offer Ti. That is my 2 cents. A Ti commander with bobtail would be ideal. Given that, the Scandium bobtails are working out very well, then there is the issue of getting the barrel and cutting the frame to accomodate a ramped barrel, then you are set. Would make for a very interesting build. The barrel for this gun took a very long time to get from Barsto. More than 3 months.

Jess

Finally got it to the range and the owner had his first look. Still have to blend the slide and do the 40 LPI serrations, but it was doing dime sized 9 round groups at 25! Nice weapon. I wish I could keep it. Pics and range targets to follow soon.

Jess