ltwguns.com

Here are a couple of .45’s built by the venerable C.T. Brian. Please remember that these are daily carry pieces and thus show some of the typical wear marks, which are not a reflection of Tim’s finished products. I actually just got the commander slide back from Tim after being re-finished (ok so I like my guns to look good to ) and thought I would take some pic’s before she starts showing holster wear.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with Tim’s work, it is absolutely stunning and he has amazing attention to detail . If you have never seen or handled Tim’s work it may take a while for one to find, appreciate and comprehend all of the work and thought that go into one of Tim’s Guns.

The Commander is built on an 80 Series Enhanced model. It was given the following modifications:

Bar-Sto Match Grade Barrel and Bushing
French Bordered Side
Novac sights with Tritium inserts
Accu-Rails ( I love these)
20 LPI Checkering on front strap and MSH
Tim’s Super-Well and custom made grips
Tim’s aluminum trigger
New internal components
Ed Brown thumb safety and grip safety expertly fitted by Tim
Recessed and beveled slide stop
Detail complete pistol
Slide – Master grade Blue
Frame – Hard Chromed
This is a great gun for carry and is dead nuts for accuracy.






The second is a custom 5 inch built from the ground up on a Les Baer frame and slide with the following modifications:

Flat top and serrated slide
French borders
The “Brian Bevel”
Recessed and beveled slide stop
Bo-Mar sights with Tritium Front only (my request which I am re-thinking as I write this as his Bar-Dot-Bar is fantastic!)
Tim’s Aluminum trigger
Tim supplied all of the top of the line internals which when assembled by a master to produce a truly fantastic and crisp trigger pull
30 LPI checkering on the front strap and MSH
Modified Brown grip and thumb safety
Smooth extended mag catch
Bar-Sto match grade barrel and bushing

I supplied the Nutmeg Sports Ivory grips.

This is one of my favorite guns as you can tell from the finish wear. This is a serious “one hole” gun producing a 5/8 of an inch group on the supplied test target. I love this gun!









Now many of you may be asking yourselves what could possibly be better than a Pair of Tim’s guns. Well…..
How about a One of a Kind!!

I finally got to a point with Tim that he knows what I like and on this build I gave him cart blanch. I am very happy I did as some of these modifications I would have never thought of on my own. In fact if any of you are in the beginning stages of having a gun built I would highly encourage you to discuss your budget with your chosen smith and then let them rip and see what you get. I can pretty much guarantee that it will be way better that what you may have ever dreamed of. Remember these guys are artists and typically artists produce their best work when given the greatest latitude. These pieces are indeed art however, I would consider them to be “Functional Art” meaning you hang them on your hip not your wall.

The 3rd gun is built on a new production Colts Stainless Steel Series 70. I supplied the grips but the rest is all Tim. The only concept I wanted was “Smooth” and this is what I got!

Slide:
It may take a while before you realize that there is much more here than meets the eye at first glance. Here is what you may or may not see:

Slide shortened from 5” to 4.5” for balance and aesthetics
High Power cuts
Ball cuts
Bian Bevel
Heinie Bar-Dot-Bar sights
Polished flats and matt non-flats (this even carries over to the muzzle of the slide and bushing where there is alternating polished and matt finishing)
French borders
Tim’s classic very open ejection port

Internals:
All provided and hand fit by Tim yielding positive ejection, extraction and a classic Brian trigger pull (breaks like glass)
Carbon fiber trigger (great aesthetic touch)

Frame:
Extended smooth mag catch
Brown grip safety
Modified Brown thumb safety
Colt slide stop with great attention to detail by Tim (look at the polishing)
Smooth MSH
Beveled Mag well







As you may be able to tell, I love this gun. I can look at it for what seems to be hours and always seem to find some minute thing that Tim did that just makes me smile with appreciation.

In closing there are many GREAT smiths on this site and to be truthful I love looking at their work and seeing the subtle differences in their style. One day I hope to have a collection of custom 1911’s that represents the craftsmanship and personality of each of the smiths here on LTW. Until then I guess I will just have to keep drooling on the keyboard each time someone posts pictures of their newest project.

All three are incredible, but I absolutely love the stainless one!
Nice collection; thanks for sharing.

_________________
http://www.garritysgunleather.com
"He who works with his hands is a labourer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist."
(St Francis of Assisi)

I LOVE the rounded butts of those 5"-ers



-John

_________________
...Knowing is often a Barrier to Learning...

Wow. I'm greener than a John Deere tractor with envy.
Very nice- all of them. There's something neat about each.

I like that stainless one best also, however. I like HiPower cuts (and HiPowers). Interesting choice of barrel length. I've never seen that done before.

Three is better than two! Very nice trio.

_________________
Brian

Your comments are very kind. I must admit the only credit I can take is paying the bill. Tim is the obvious master craftsman here. BTW are there any LTW members in LV?

That’s what you call a manashatwa, and the cool kind too. Very nice stuff and thanks for the show. I like to look at each smith’s personal touches. Very nice stuff…….

Those are beautiful. He is a perfectionist, and when you don't rush him, he will blow your mind with his masterpieces. I wish I could see more of his work. Your SS 1911 is absolutely amazing. The contrast of lines and blending are perfect. Then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from him.

Still waiting for mine, but, *fingers crossed* I hope I get mine sometime next week.

Tim does beautiful work. Certainly one of the best eyes for detail.

I got to look that stainless one over pretty good at the Shot Show.
HMMMMMMMMMM.....It says Government model on the right side of the slide but it sure looks to me to be Commander length. Either of you two like to comment on that?

Congrats on your shooters, they are fantastic.

_________________
Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

Goldurned beautiful, if I may say so myself....! Nice new website, too.

_________________
"Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came?
Why then, the war would come to you!"
(Bertolt Brecht)

I had the pleasure of handling the stainless pistol at SHOT and the pics, though excellent themselves, don't really do the pistol justice in person. The ball cuts and the Browning pinch cuts are tastefully executed and a cursory glance would pass it off as just a mod'ed Commander, NOT

Question for Tim, where can I lay my hands on just the spring plug? I can't seem to find anything like it in the Brownells catalog. Or did you tool that one up from scratch?

Will

truly incredible work. I love that slide bevel!

JeffVN

I second Steve's question. It looked a lot like a Commander length gun to me, too, but I thought it was the Hi-Power treatment giving my eyes the old switcharoo.

~Jim Keeney

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

Thanks for the kindness fellas, and thanks for the review, Bret.
Almost - 1/4" longer than a Commander. I just thought it would be a good mind boink for an experienced eye. By doing the HP cuts and at the same time shortening it a bit, it's almost an optical illusion. It'll cause one to look twice, take a deep breath, and scratch their head.
The 'Government' mark on the slide just adds icing to the cake. I like causing brain friction.

See what I mean - gotcha Jim........
Bar-Sto, Will.

_________________
CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Bret,

That's one HECK of a collection there, you're quite a lucky guy. Tim has a very unique style, immaculately executed, with neat ideas thrown in to boot.

Thanks for sharing the pics and info...that's part of what makes this place great.

One thing though, I'd really hate to be the poor schmuck pistolsmith who had to follow THAT act!

_________________
Stan Chen Customs
http://www.chencustoms.com

Lordy have mercy those are sweet. That stainless model is just unbelievable. I'll bet having a slide shortened like that would cost a pretty penny. I guess if you have to ask, you can't afford.....

That Commander is my favorite though, I think.... The way you do those magwells is just plain bad to the bone. I would love to have one just like it. As a matter of fact I'll take that one if you let me pay you for the next 8 years....
Beautiful work.

Nala