Recent content by Nickb45

I've tried an XD9c, good pistol, felt good in my hands, it was just too wide. I then switched to carrying and XDs 45. It concealed great, shot good, the trigger wasn't terrible. It just wasn't for me... I'm a 1911 guy at heart. I now carry a Ruger CMD. I have put some work into it, mostly...

My vote is for a 1911. I just picked up a Citadel for under $400. I am using it as a project gun, but so far out of the box it's been good. A little sear/hammer work and some spring tuning got the trigger down to a crisp breaking 3.5 pounds. A new barrel bushing from EGW tightened things up A...

I will go through it and replace/fit most of the parts. I've come to really like the EGW stuff, it will get a new hammer, sear, disconnector, also hammer strut and main spring cap in titanium. I will have EGW cut a barrel bushing, then flush cut and crown the barrel. I will fit a smith&alexander...

I just bought a Citadel (fancy rock island) 9mm. The slide/frame fit and barrel lock up is tighter than my Ruger. The slide/frame overhang on the back was also finished better than my Ruger. There are some rough edges (cocking serrations and thumb safety). The grip safety needs a little clean up...

I have over 20,000 rounds out of my Ruger CMD. All stock parts besides the EGW "raised" mag catch, firing pin stop, barrel bushing/recoil spring plug, main spring housing and sights. No "major" parts have failed, everything that was changed was for personal preference. I put a new recoil spring...

Commander length 1911

It's at my work, a machine shop. Two CNC mills and a CNC lathe.

Here's my reloading "room". And a cleaner picture of my bench.

$800 is a very fair price for a knife like that!

That piece of material on the left is about 11" long, 2" wide and .25" thick. He said it would be around $400 just for the piece of steel.

These bladesmiths do some amazing stuff with metal! I recently started workin with a local bladesmith. I'm a machinist so i would rather the machine do most of the work. There is no machine that can replace what these guys do with their hands. I got this piece of damascus from the guy I've been...

Nickel will run longer without needing lube.

I don't think many of them (if any) get completely removed. I don't think there is enough material there.

An updated picture of mine with a little more "experience".

I started with a Ruger CMD. I couldn't afford a Dan Wesson CBOB. I'm not sure how much new sight cuts for adjustable sights would cost but I'm very happy with this pistol. I am lucky enough to be a machinist so I did all the work myself but it was all pretty simple stuff.