ltwguns.com

I was going through my gun closet and found a new Caspian slide and frame that I bought in the late 1980's. I decided that maybe it was time to do something with the parts, so I sent them to Marianne Carniak (about whom I have read good things on this board). Marianne was a pleasure to work with - I would highly recommend her.

Thought you guys might like to see the results:


[/url]

Tom -

That last post was completely unacceptable! Details, man, we need details!

How was she to work with? What about the quality of her work? What did you have done and why? How well did the finished product meet your concept? How does it shoot???

MORE INFORMATION!!!!

Oh, before I beat you up too bad on your first post, let me just say that is a good looking pistol. Welcome to the board.

_________________
Regards -

Patrick

Very nice! As Patrick said: More info, please.

_________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

Patrick, thanks for the welcome to the Board. I have lurked here for some time, but never had anything to post, until now. You asked for details, here goes:

The frame came from the factory with the front strap checkered. The top of the slide was flattened and serrated. Marianne supplied everything else.

Bomar Rear
Novak front dovetail sight
Standard Slide Stop-Blued /Brown Hardcore
Tactical Ambi-safety
Match Bushing SS (EGW)
Match Barrel (Kart) w/barrel & bushing fit
Wilson Beavertail Grip Safety
Ed Brown Maxi-Well 25lpi
Grieder 3 hole trigger with trigger job
Cylinder & Slide hammer w/trigger pull parts
Tactical Mag Release Blue +spring & lock
Mild Dehorn entire gun w/parts
Slide to Frame Fit
Firing Pin Stop
Recoil spring (16 ½ #)
Full length guide rod
Pin Kit w/plunger assembly & MSH parts
Hammer Strut
Extractor (Hardcore) + tune
Hard Chrome lower & Blued upper
Blend Rear of Slide & Frame to match
Grips – Hogue Rosewood laminate

The pistol turned ot exactly as I wanted. Looks great, seems to shoot well. I only had time for a quick trip to the range but I shot 100 flawless rounds. I didn't have any targets with me, so I just shot steel. Without touching the sights, I was able to knock down a small rabbit silhouette at 50 yds., offhand, with about as much consistency as I would expect from my modest talent. I'm sure when I try some groups on paper, the results will be fine.

Marianne was great to work with. She is really interested in meeting the customer's expectations. Delivery was sooner than promised!

I forgot to mention that the trigger pull is just right and the slide to frame fit is perfect.

Marianne is a very nice woman...
She is really one of the top smiths out there.
Her father Russ was a HELL OF A GUY!
He is the guy who would give you this shirt of his back.
If you took something to him for a simple job don't be surprised
if you ended up with a couple other high dollar improvements dont
"Just cause it looked like it needed to be done" never at a charge.

I have yet to have Marianne do anything of mine herself but I have
seen her work and will surely work with her sometime soon!

_________________
Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun
"You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman

i just looked in my safe but didn't find an unused frame and slide from the 80's. thats a helluva safe you have there. all kidding aside, thats a very nice pistol. i've heard good things about marianne. nice to have you here-cam

Mauritz, the secret is: you've got to get a bigger safe. Make it big enough, and you can lose Jimmy Hoffa in there.

Marianne does good work, and one of these days I'll have to take mine own 80's-era found parts over to her.

Do you have any contact info for her, and do you mind sharing a ballpark figure of the cost of the work?

I just had a beater Colt Series 70 reworked by Marianne into a beautiful custom "retro" style pistol. I haven't had a chance to post pics of it yet, but I will soon.

Marianne is awesome to work with and the quality of her work is amazing. Let me just say I can't wait to find another project to send to her.

Try here:

http://www.migunslingers.com/