ltwguns.com

To a greater or lesser extent every gun that leaves our shop gets used. Sure some more than others, but all of the guns are built as everyday shooters and we expect them to used and abused as such. Even still, there are exceptions and extremes to every rule and this gun, along with its owner, probably falls into the “extreme” category. He’s been having us build guns for him for the last few years and recently we had the chance to do some training together. That turned out to be a good opportunity for both us to evaluate some gear and figure out what would be best on his gun which was quickly coming due on my list.

His desires for the gun were pretty simple... after using a abusing a couple of guns for the last few years he knew the things he needed, liked, and disliked. As with every gun absolute rugged reliability was a must, a Kart barrel, hand fit frame and slide, single side safety, PG sights with tritium front, Legacy Custom main-spring housing, and 30lpi checkering front and rear were the only specifics he gave me. He wanted a full-house gun from a cosmetic standpoint but preferred to keep the slide top round and clean along with the rear of the slide... everything else from parts selection to cosmetic detailing was up to me. He ended our last conversation by saying “just build me a nice fighting gun”... here’s the result.





























These pictures may be some what of a repeat... before taking this gun to display at SHOT I sent the owner some teaser pictures that I think ended up here on LTW but I figured the pistol was worth a proper photo thread since it likely won’t ever look this new again.

_________________
Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Truly outstanding! I love the fact you maintained the Colts original lines with a bit of flair with the french border. Excellent work.

That has to be the finest "fighting gun" I have seen. Well done sir.

Al

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

Very nice Jason,

Anyone would not only be proud to carry such a fine weapon but also feel 100% confident in the gun.

tex

_________________
"In Texas, if you kill someone, were gonna kill ya right back"

Ron White-Blue Collar Comedy Tour

The gun isn't too bad, but that leather is fantastic

It was definitely a pleasure to get to see these guns in person - truly amazing!

_________________
I will never forget you Lou......February 21, 2009

John Ralston
5 SHOT LEATHER, LLC - Finely Crafted Custom Handgun Leather

http://www.5ShotLeather.com

Very cool.

When I read the title, I somehow expected something a little...rougher.
I don't know why.

Jason,

In my circle of friends, that is what's called a GTW pistol. It is fit to "Go To War"! Great job.

Regards,

Rob

_________________
We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. George Orwell

Jason - Extremely well done, as always. I think that this pistol made me realize that I have become a bit numb to the "serrated-top-of-slide". The clean slide top with the artfully blended FS in pic #12 really made me think.

Again, great work.

I have several guns in different calibers set up almost identical to this...so I approve

Great look and a welcome departure from many of the guns that we see that are stuffed with evey possible, purely decorative option.

_________________
"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com

that is....exactly what I have always wanted. Just like what I always thought I would have built if I had the money. OF course, that will never happen.

My god. Jason, specs, man! specs.

Cyrus

_________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

This is SPARTA!!!!!!

Jason, Simply beautiful! Who made the grips? How about a picture of the muzzle end, if possible.

_________________
Billy

NRA life member
Retired Army
long time student of "the modern technique"

Jason, Very nice. You've come a long way man. Seems as though you have the touch and the eye. I'd carry that one into harms way in a heartbeat.

_________________
Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Simple Perfection man. Although the saying seems to be overused altogether these days, this is everything you need and nothing you don't (expect maybe the borders and polished slide flats and hell, they're just really nice) in a fighting .45.

_________________
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
-Marcus Aurelius

Wow. That's a nice, clean pistol. Everything has been covered without anything extra. I like it a lot.

Jason

You did a beautiful job. Its classic, everything a fighting Colt needs and nothing it doesnt. Classics like this one are just as beautiful as any full house/signature build.

Great job Jason!

_________________
The Spirit of God hath made me, the breath of the Almighty hath given me life

Jason answered my question about the grips on M4C. They are Spegel Kingwood. Thanks Jason

_________________
Billy

NRA life member
Retired Army
long time student of "the modern technique"

Is this the "Vihninators" gun?

_________________
If your not shooting, you should be moving. If your not moving, you should be reloading. Clint Smith - Thunder Ranch

Very nice.

The more I look at this piece, the more it reaches out. From the clean and fluid lines to the understated functionality of everything working together, this one is indeed a 'fighting weapon'.

Nice job,Jason.

_________________
CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Jason,

I am searching out a large font S70 right now . What's your current waiting period for work?

Beautiful work Jason! You really seem to have the instinct of a "natural" when it comes to building 1911s.

Mark

Nope this one's not his... he's up to the plate pretty quickly though.

Thanks again for all the kind words guys... I'm hoping to see this gun sometime later this year and with any luck it won't have any bluing left on it.

_________________
Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Be carefull what you wish for. Last week it spent 3 days in a 6004 going through SWAT quals, so it isn't looking quite so nice now, plus it has been in and out of a Allessi PCH and CQC several hundred times. It is just shy of 2,000 rounds and is running great. I have another training class April 5-6 with PFC Training so between the next couple weeks and that class it should see about 1,500 more rounds (thank god for reloading). After that I guess we can say it is broken in

Thoughts so far - I love it. The checkering was a little sharper than I'm used to, but after shooting it for a while now I don't even notice it. The short trigger has truly grown on me (you were right) and the long trigger won't be installed. I've always shot well with 1911's, but this one seems to just shoot ragged holes at all ranges. I know everyone and their mom claims that, and I'm sounding like someone on a bubble gum forum, but it is true. It is truly hard to describe the feel of a well built custom 1911, but this one just feels solid.

Those of you on the fence about whether or not a truly custom 1911 is worth it, trust me it is. There is a difference between a gun that is handbuilt by a gifted smith, and a semi-custom or production 1911. SA Mil Spec, SA loaded, SA TRP, Kimber, Wilson, Baer, etc, I've owned them all except a RRA so I have a good baseline to compare this pistol to. Every part has been addressed and fit, and I expect to get many thousands of trouble free rounds out of it. I'm hard on my 1911's, they get shot alot, and cleaned occassionly. I've said it before, but I wanted Jason to build this gun for a reason, he shoots and trains just about more than anyone I know, plus he knows the 1911 inside out. I trust his advice, parts suggestions (I even let him talk me out of a long trigger), and overall ability to build me a 1911 that I can trust with my life. I'm looking forward to training with Jason more in the future, although I hope this time I can outshoot him

PS - put me on the list for a matching twin - by the time my name comes back up this one will need a break.

Here is a pic of the two guns that this has replaced - A well used Yost 1* and a TRS. Both good guns but each lacking things that I want in a 1911.

_________________
Hard work pays off

Scot-

How about some updated photos?

Round count is now well past 5,000. The high polish blue is holding up to kydex far better than I thought it would although I just found some rust on the checkering today (it was 110 degress here and the gun was IWB all day). Changed the grips as I couldn't bare to put a ding in them - go figure.

_________________
Hard work pays off

Lookin' good Scot... thanks for the photos. I see you went back to a long trigger.

I know that this is an old post but I keep coming back to it. Simple, functional, and beautiful.

I'm glad to see that it is seeing the real world and has not become a safe queen.

Again, great job Jason.

Scot, carry it in good health.

Rob

_________________
We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. George Orwell

[quote="John Ralston"]The gun isn't too bad, but that leather is fantastic /quote]

Yes. Please. Who did the leather?
I would order a copy of that IWB up for my Colt in waiting.

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

John,
All joking aside, did you make the leather for that 1911 and if so, what model is it? Please advise.

Beautiful work by all.
Best regards,
Jeffro