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Jim Keeney
PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:10 am 
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Location: Rapidan (Orange County), Va
Well, it is the finest one ever commissioned in my opinion, but other folks with different tastes may not agree. Either way, like any finely crafted custom gun, it's hard to stop looking at it.

The gun started as a well worn 1926 Commercial Colt that was fairly badly pitted and in dire need of a new life. It was match built by Dave Sams, who completely removed all signs of the pitting, trued all lines, and made it shoot like a laser. Mike Poulin made the gorgeous ivory grips with the old Colt medallions, JR French did the beautiful engraving (Dear Lord, this thing is amazing to behold), and Harold Sturgeon built a perfect walnut and glass display case for it to be viewed and kept free of dust and rust.

I finally gave it to the gentleman I work for, as a birthday present and a thank you, and I think he likes it quite a bit. We shot it for his birthday. Yes, I know that many people think it should have been left pristine, but it is a shooter and just happens to be damn good looking. My eyes are starting to close, so I can't go into too much detail for now, but I'll fill in the blanks later. For now, let the pictures tell the story.

Craftsmen:

David E. Sams - Gunsmith
JR French - Engraver
Mike Poulin - Grip Maker
Harold Sturgeon - Display Case Maker

Enjoy!

~Jim Keeney

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Last edited by Jim Keeney on Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:47 pm, edited 4 times in total.

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John Harrison
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:24 am 
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That's a gorgeous pistol, Jim. Your boss is a fortunate man! You picked an extremely talented crew to do the deed and they put together a real masterpiece.

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Kip
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:16 am 
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Nice blaster Jim. A true masterpiece. :shock: The work looks impeccable and Mikes grips…wow. I love it! It is always nice to see such a fine confluence of talent.

And…errr. Let me know if you ever need a job. :wink:


You’re a good man,

Jim

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bp1911
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:35 am 
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What a beautiful gun. I love the engraving and the Ivories add the perfect touch. Dave Sams is a real gent who is very skilled. I agree you choose a great team. Now if I can just give you my address and I will guarantee to keep it safe for the rest of its life 8) .
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pezzulli
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:33 am 
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While generally not a fan of engraved pistols, yours is an exception - ABSOLUTELY GEORGEOUS!!!
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Steve Bailey
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:30 am 
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Outstanding Jim, that is a very nice thing for you to do and beautiful work.

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Barry in IN
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:09 am 
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GAWD! That's nice!
It's a classic beauty in so many ways, I couldn't even count.

I have a list formed in my mind of favorite guns I've seen here on LTW. This one is now on it, and it's pretty high up. Really high up.
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crc
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:05 am 
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That's a beauty Jim! Your boss will be happy. :D
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Mark Garrity
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:37 pm 
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Absolutely exquisite!
I just contacted JR French recently abut engraving a Commander for me.
Stunning job!

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Theophorus
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:05 am 
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Wow! I love it!
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Dave Sample
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:33 am 
You are right! That is one of the nicest jobs I have ever seen. My pal John Taffin says that everyone should own an engraved gun like that. Alas, I am too poor to have one. Thanks for the beautiful pictures!
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farscott
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:34 pm 
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That is a generous gift and a heirloom pistol. Love the classic Colt paired with engraving and ivory.

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Lenny Cianciotto
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:52 pm 
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Stunning!

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Witherspoon
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:55 pm 
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Jim-

That is magnificent!!!

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desertmoon
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:34 pm 
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Dear God....that is stunning.

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Hero Gear
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:11 am 
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AMAZING!

I would be honored to have that in my collection.

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Tim Dowdle
 Post subject: WOW
PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:41 pm 
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I stopped reading at the word pitting and scrolled to the pics. I thought, how good could it be. That is an amazing pistol. I don't know what line of work you're in, but I've never had a boss I've liked enough to do something like that for. I've never had one pay me enough to be able to that before either.

Well done. You know how to commission a true piece of art.
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Jim Keeney
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:45 pm 
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BTT - New Pics added.

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13.45
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:44 pm 
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beautiful pistol!

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mikey357
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:51 pm 
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WOW!!!...I'm at a LOSS for words...THAT doesn't happen often!!!...BEAUTIFUL pistola!!!....mikey357
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havoc1969
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:45 pm 
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wow, that is truly a piece of art!

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tjtucker
 Post subject: colt
PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:25 pm 
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Jim
Very nice. I was at the gun show this weekend and spent about an hour talking to Mr. French. For those that are looking at these photos you should see it up close. In his booth he had rifles, knives, pistols which were all engraved. He also has some done in gold. I asked him how did he get started and he advised he was self thought.
His work is fantastic and he a nice guy too.

TJ
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bigsapper
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:28 am 
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Fantastic!

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Bolt_Overide
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:43 am 
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That is without a doubt the most gorgeous work I have ever seen. Absolutely outstanding!
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baker
 Post subject: OMG!
PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:20 am 
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wanna come work for me?

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dross1
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:13 pm 
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Man ... that's Hollywood beautiful. It's hurts a man just to look.

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Barry in IN
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:35 am 
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Excuse me, step aside please...Just coming back for another look at this one.
Holy Mother of John Moses Browning!
I had forgotten, a little, just how nice that gun is. As one of the nurses at Mom's nursing home says "That's slap yo momma good. One look, and you want to slap yo momma".
That made no damn sense to me when she said it. But somehow, now it does.
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Jess Gypin
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:31 pm 
I generally don't like engraved pistols at all. This one I really really like. Very understated elegance and truley a gentleman's firearm. Beautiful!

Jess
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varoadking
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:31 am 
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Greetings from Richmond - outstanding piece...

Ball cuts complete the look of the 1911 for me, and these are perfectly matched...

The engraving is brilliant...what a package!
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JosephDunbar
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:46 pm 
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Could I ask what finish this is? Is that blued or some other type of black finish?
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