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Howdy, a new fellow here, 1911 fan. Love WWI 1911s, Vintage Levers, and lucky to be 2nd owner of Swenson Bobcat built in 1970 complete with orig paperwork from Armand and interesting history from OSS and CIA owner who passed away some years back. Hope to post some photos and data on it if appropriate and once I learn the ropes. What a fantastic forum you guys have built. Thanks, Tom

Welcome Tom.
And Happy New Year!
We'd love to see your Swensons.

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I'm with Chuck-- welcome... IF you post some pics

Would love to see pics of that Bobcat.
Swenson did not make very many of them.

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Hello. Yes, please do.

Best and thanks in advance.

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OK Here's a few photos (limit 4) of my sweetheart, hope I got it right. Base gun is a 1943 Colt 1911 A1 built by Swenson in 1970 for Pat Hawley Dailey 1921-2006. Dailey served the OSS in China during WWII training paratroopers and perfecting night time free fall techniques. After College and mastering Chinese and French languages he was recruited in 1951 by the newly formed CIA and spent many years in SE Asia with major efforts in Covert Operations, Training, and Counterintelligence throughout China, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam as well as a stint in Latin America.
A sweet early shortened gun with plenty of history, not quite the beauty and finesse of today's Craftsman but he helped set the stage for the incredible fine work we see today. You'll note from photos and the invoice that this pistol incorporates nearly all of Swenson's key features except adjustable sights. I'll copy Armand's invoice and another shot of bbl on a later post. Not sure how well his work in documented, anything I can add let me know. Tom

Just wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

Interesting also in that it does not have the usual Swenson S&W rear sight. I like the high profile rear sight. Another example of his being ahead of his time.

ML

Back again with the a few more items on the Dailey Swenson for the record including Armand's Invoice on this pistol when completed on 02/10/70, some 40 years ago. Not sure were all it's been but most likely Vietnam as Pat spent his last 6 years in Binh Dinh Province, a hot bed of Viet Cong and NVA activity until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
Thanks much for the opportunity to get a bit of this history down. Tom

You have a wonderful example of 1911 customization history as well as the two men behind that history....enjoy and thanks for sharing. Quick question on the fixed rear sight, do you know if it is a King's?

Yes the rear sight is a King with a small locking screw.

Pistol aside, the letter is an interesting piece of nostalgia.

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"Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain goes away"

What a great find. Congratulations.
I had a Swenson Bobcat back in the seventies that was owned by a CIA operative as well. It had fixed sights with a wide notch as the man was in his fifties when he had it made. I sold it when I left Ohio in 1981. Yes, I know where it is but, he won't sell it at any price or I would have it.

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NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE
SWENSON BOBCAT 45, SWENSON COMBAT COMMANDER 45(built for me), TUSSEY JR 45, VOLKMANN LWCC 45
S&W 37 Peruvian PIP