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I first met Ned many years ago through a friend. Since he is relatively close to me, I had several opportunities to visit his shop. Sometimes he would take care of a small job (install sights, fitting a bushing or extractor, etc), other times we would just chew the fact and enjoy an adult beverage.

Eventually I came to the conclusion that I wanted him to build me a custom pistol, and I got on his waiting list around 2002. I created very exacting specifications for this pistol, which was designed to be my everyday piece for concealed carry as well as certain tactical assignments.

Now there are a couple of shops that will do almost this exact job as a package deal, but I do not recall anyone doing this as the time. I think I must have been slightly ahead of the trend, maybe not. But it’s my story and that is how I’m telling it. So, about four years later, my name made its way to the top of Ned’s list. His waiting list that is, not the other one. I have always been at the top of the other list.

The following information is from the spec sheet I gave Ned when I handed him my new Colt 1991 (new roll mark version).

Priorities:

This gun is intended to be carried on a daily basis in a piece of dead cow. Keeping that in mind I am after a first rate fighting pistol. However, I would also like it to look great. You are creating a gun that will be an heirloom to be passed along to my son when I am in the dirt. My priorities towards this end are as follows:

1. Reliable
2. Accurate
3. Aesthetically pleasing, yet understated.
4. Must function well and shoot accurately with both my hand-loaded 200 grain semi-wadcutter ammo and 230 grain Remington Golden Saber.

Specs:

Spur hammer, trim end to fit beavertail and dehorn edges so it doesn’t dig into my side when carrying.

Novak Extreme Duty Adjustable sights front and rear

5” Kart NM barrel with polished crown (based on your recommendation)

Ed Brown bushing, memory groove grip safety mounted high, tactical thumb safety modified by Ned for size shape and texture, flat mainspring housing, extended mag catch.

Bevel mag well (not radical)

Slide and frame: polish mirror bright, with textured anti glare treatment of some sort to the top. The deepest shiniest blue finish available.

Frame – high-hand grip, undercut front strap and Brown memory groove grip safety (Use your own judgment with regards to polishing the grip safety, grip screws, and controls, etc. for aesthetically pleasing finish.)

Conamyds on front and back strap

Reliability: Tune extractor and spare, polish breach face, throat and polish barrel, etc.

Dehorn as needed. I did not notice any sharp edges in need of attention when carrying the piece except for the edge of the hammer. Nothing radical here, I like a defined line, just not one that will cut me.

4.0 lbs trigger job, but it must be The World’s Greatest Trigger Job. Based on our past conversations and e-mails I procured one Burns custom sear and a King’s long trigger. I believe you said the Colt hammer and disconnector were fine as is. Let me know if these parts need to be upgraded after you inspect the base gun.

I think the rear of the slide and possibly the rear sight should have some sort of anti-glare treatment. I like horizontal serrations, but am open to suggestions.

I really have no strong feelings one way or another about the series 80 parts. If you can get the desired trigger pull with the parts installed, leave them alone. If they need to go, they need to go.

Fit a spare extractor and firing pin stop.

If you can replace the mag release screw head to a hex head to compliment the hex head grip screws, that would look better I think.

I think it would be fair to say that Ned really wasn’t into this project when he started. Those of you who have had a chance to see his work know that the man likes to advance the art and push boundaries. But he agreed to do this rather mundane work between his more exciting jobs and you can see for yourself that he accomplished the mission. The result is a very reliable, very accurate, combat pistol that looks as good and it fights.


Custom Colt 1911-2 photo share by Patrick604 Pictures, on Flickr


Colt Conamyds - photo share by Patrick604 Pictures, on Flickr


Colt Beavertail Safety Conamyds - photo share by Patrick604 Pictures, on Flickr


Colt Slide Stop - photo share by Patrick604 Pictures, on Flickr


Colt Rear of Slide - photo share by Patrick604 Pictures, on Flickr


I liked this gun so much that it didn’t seem right restricting it to its original CC and tactical role, so I started shooting it at IDPA matches as well. Then I started calling Ned at odd hours of the day and night from far away places like Virginia Beach, Allentown, Tulsa, Frostproof, and plenty of cities in our home state of Michigan, to tell him how his pistol and I performed. I have won a few awards with this pistol at some of the major matches, to include last year’s state match in the expert class. It was during that call that I found out Ned won the same class at the state match a few years earlier.

I have also shot this pistol at a couple of pistol schools where it digested a lot of ammo in a very short period of time without any malfunctions.

I started keeping a round count for this pistol when I bought it. It had 500 rounds on it when I gave it to Ned a couple of weeks after I bought it. I stopped counting somewhere after 12,000. It currently sits somewhere around 20,000 rounds and still looks pretty darn good. I figured there was really no point in counting the rounds because the darn thing has never malfunctioned. I can trust this pistol to do its job when the time comes.

Whenever I stop by the shop to see him, Ned always asks to inspect my pistol to see how it is holding up. I remember one time he let me take a test ride on his motorcycle while he inspected my pistol. I had used it recently, so it was not drill sergeant clean. When I pulled into his drive he was putting it back together after cleaning and lubing the darn thing for me. Where else are you going to get service like that?

I realize this review and the attached photos are about 6 years late, but hey, I had to make sure it worked didn’t I? Thanks, Ned, you do remarkable work and are truly one of a kind.

_________________
Regards -

Patrick

I really like the understated look. It's by far my favorite look. Years ago, if a pistol had a beavertail and a decent set of sights, you knew it was custom whether the workmanship was good or not. Nowadays, all of that stuff is on just about every factory 1911, but you can still tell at a glance that your pistol is custom because the workmanship is top notch. It's not the parts that makes these pistols special, it's the guy that put them together. Congrats on a special pistol. Also, a 6yr long range report means a heck of a lot more than a 2 month one. Nice post.

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J. Timmons & Sons Custom 1911 Pistols
South Carolina
864-558-1911
www.jttimmonscustom1911pistols.com

I don't remember thinking that was too mundane of an undertaking, but I do know that the final product was one that kinda stood out for me..... a credit to you as the "conductor". True it's not the most elaborate, but I guess part of my overall lasting impression of a job is how it'll get used and who it's for. Knowing that this one was for duty and/or off duty, and later finding out how well "you two" have done in IDPA, was icing on the cake.

I know you've mentioned PPC too-- is this your PPC gun as well?

I might use it for the 42 round PPC Service Gun match on occasion, but my go to gun for PPC is a S&W K-frame revolver built by the late Bill Davis of California. That gun, too, is a dream to shoot and makes me look far better than I actually am. In all honesty, I am not a very good PPC shooter. I don't embarrass myself anymore, but I am not putting 60 shots through the same ragged hole like some guys do on the indoor course. And I am certainly not putting up those kinds of numbers at the 50-yard line outdoors. But I have fun anyway. If I haven't showed you that one yet, I will bring it by the next time I come around.

_________________
Regards -

Patrick

Excuse me, one does not use "mundane" and "Ned" in the same sentence.

You have to keep things in perspective, Mr. Sweeny. I am certainly not bashing Ned or his work, the opposite in fact. This was a fairly straightforward build executed with the precision of a master.

The point was that it did not even come close to tapping into Ned's vast reserves of skill and imagination. I have seen numerous examples of his work over the years, as I am sure you have, and I think we can both agree that what Ned would consider mundane stuff is executed at a level far beyond the abilities of the vast majority of smiths in the business, past or present. And he is one of the classiest men in the business to boot.

I hope people reading my review did not walk away thinking that I was anything less than thrilled with the outcome or the smith for that would be grossly inaccurate.

_________________
Regards -

Patrick

Patrick was just being funny-- not to worry.

Ne-ed, you're supposed to let them twist a bit, before you relieve their anxieties.