ltwguns.com

I was very excited when this project pistol first came to my shop. I was noting the serial number in my log book and realized that it was from the early 50's, which made my heart thump a little quicker. I looked at the serial number lists at ProofHouse.com and quickly decided that it was a '54 vintage - my birth year. I'll admit right here in front of God and everybody that I immediately started scheming a plan to try to buy the Commander from it's owner. I've wanted a birth-year Colt for a while.

Fortunately, before I got too carried away, I took one more look at the slightly confusing charts at ProofHouse and realized that it missed being a '54 by 178 digits. Turned out to be a '53 ! As Ralphie says - "Skunked Again!"

So I set aside my lust for a '54 for a while longer and set to work on this Commander. The client wanted the fundamentals of my Classic package (pretty appropriate for this vintage) but with a couple of additions. The list of work includes:

Champion adjustable rear sight with tall leaf, notch widened to .140"
Dovetail front sight, roll pinned and inserted with tritium lamp
Ejection port lowered, fluted and clearanced for live round ejection
Interrupted French Borders
Kart barrel fitted with HD logo'd plug & bushing
Alloy frame fitted with steel feed ramp
EGW bar stock slide stop -w- detent
EGW firing pin stop -w- Wilson Bulletproof extractor
Michiguns ESPT plunger tube
Best Grade trigger job featuring Harrison Design Extreme Service trigger and ignition set
Front strap checkered 30 lpi with top & bottom borders
VZ Grips MSH, bordered and checkered 30 lpi
Wilson Combat beavertail with the 'tail reduced to minimum size
Ed Brown wide thumb safety reshaped to Carry Contour
Beveled mag well and Round Butt conversion
Carry Bevel treatment
Alloy frame and MSH finished in Type III hard coat anodizing
Slide and all steel parts finished in IonBond DLC with polished flats
The stocks were supplied by the client as oversize blanks and I shaped and finished them

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Man, that is beautiful John. Every time I see a finished project from one of the smiths here,it makes me want to close my doors until I have reached this caliber. Thanks for the inspiration from another awesome project.

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Jeff Hogan
Southwest
Custom Firearms
Albuquerque, NM
505-877-5357

Beautiful commander, I especially like the rounded mainspring housing. As someone who generally prefers commanders to GM's, I dig it!

Wow, amazing work as always Sir............

Well done John.

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http://www.warnerpistols.com/
cvwinabq@live.com
Rio Rancho New Mexico

"I like double barrels....Aprilia, Ducati, and sxs rifles"

Very nice John!

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Aubrey<><

Very nice John, I really like the smoothe round bottom MSH.

John,

That is a beautiful rendition of a timeless classic of a gun. Well done. Your works suits it perfectly.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

John -

That is just beautiful. And, as one who has also spent years looking for a birth-year Colt (I'm also a '54!), I feel your pain...

Ed

Very nice work as always Mr Harrison !

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GO-FOR-IT

This gun is magnificent. Thank You John, you do exceptional work.

I look forward to shooting it and then carrying it CCW.

Functional Art - Thanks Again...

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If You're Not the Lead Dog, The View Never Changes.

Wow.............that's nice in the extreme. I really need to send you a gun one of these days.
That's a work of art.
I'm also looking for a birth year Colt, 1955. I figured it would make for a wonderful keeper.

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Lynnie, NRA Life Member

Beautiful work John... I’m not a Commander kind of guy but I could certainly get used to this one.

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Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Beautiful Mr Harrison.

I too someday will have that elusive birth year but of a '53 like this one.

WOW!

Congrats to the owner.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

ARGHHHHH!!!
I was looking around for a birth year pistol recently and one store owner suggested something in a nice
flintlock model.

Betcha John Harrison could do something nifty with that, as well.

Ari Ariel

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I don't associate with or support anti-Semites, Fascists, Marxists, Terrorists or other anti-American scum. Unhappily my President does so with pride.

Beautiful job John! As you did with my commander, which I might try to upload some photos.

John

The expectations for the Commander project we have been talking about just went up...

VERY Nice...

DVC

Paul

Al, you may already know this, but there's a '53 Gov't. model on Gunbroker right now. Lynnie, likewise a '55. John and I are out of luck - no '54's...

Ed

Thanks, I'll take a look.
The other Colt that were said to be '55 models weren't.
I remain hopeful.

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Lynnie, NRA Life Member

This one's a '55 - I called Colt, because it was originally advertised as a '54 and I checked...

Very nice John, Hows things with you? Been a while. Nelson

Very Nice, to say least

That would be my choice for a very nice BBQ gun. Beautiful work!

Absolute perfection ! Have begun to assemble gun & parts to duplicate this gun w/ a series 70 9mm. Absolutely gorgeous Commander!!!

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Rangers Lead The Way

Now THAT is EXQUISITE!!! THAT is what my 9mm LW Commander wants to be when it "Grows Up"!!! John, do you suppose that you might take a coupla' cats and about a dozen Parrots "In Trade" for the work and parts??? Lemme' know... ....mikey357