Anyone who knows me will tell ya’ that I truly love to build 1911s. I don’t think a day, or hour, or minute, or even second goes by that I’m not working with or thinking about 1911s in some way. Every build presents me with something new whether it is a challenge met, further knowledge gained, or the satisfaction of doing it even better than before. And, while finishing a gun is always fulfilling, every now and again there are the builds that are rewarding on more than just the usual merits of the conversion… this gun is one such instance.
The gun started life as a ‘60s era Colt Commercial complete with the roll-marks we all love and some of the typical Colt “characteristics†that we’ve come to expect.
These often challenging “characteristics" always make for a rewarding sense of accomplishment when the shooting begins and your able to look back on the time spent turning a stock gun into something that can be used and carried for a lifetime to come. But, all of that aside, the best part of this particular build was knowing that the gun was going to a gentleman who, when he probably had much bigger priorities, went out of his way to contribute to and support LTW and our membership during one of our past efforts.
When his gun arrived at the shop some time ago there was a short letter with the piece outlining the owner’s basic desires and needs but giving overall control of the conversion to the builder. With no rush from the then overseas owner, occasionally Ted and I would banter back and forth about what was to be done to the gun but when the time came and I started filling, banging, scratching, and grinding I knew that only the best I had to offer would do, so this gun got it all... besides, with a Colt Commercial in front of me how could I do any less. From the frame and slide fit, to the hand-cut checkering, to the complete line straightening, Kart barrel, and right down to the polished blue finish this was certainly a gun and an owner who deserved the best... enjoy!
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