tark
Member
Holding some of a friend's guns for him while he transitions out of California to S.C. This is a 1911 I did for him in 1992. I did only the checkering and the polishing and blueing. I was working in the Springfield Custom shop at the time, alongside Les. He lit out on his own later that year and I went with him.
This is one of my early attempts at checkering, and I think it just might be my best work. The front strap is 20 LPI and the trigger guard is 30. Doing that guard was a real challenge. My friend wanted checkering on both the front and bottom of the guard. I proposed an "around the world" job, something I had never tried before....and have not since. It turned out pretty well. I serrated the back if the slide at 40 LPI. The hammer was grooved at 20 LPI and I turned it into a checkered hammer.
When it was done, but not yet blued I showed it to Les and asked if I could etch "Baer Custom" on it.
He said yes. This is the first pistol ever to receive the Baer Custom etch. I think I should have put the etch a little further back.....but ....what's done is done.
To give credit where due, Les Lucas did the frame to slide fit and the barrel lockup. Lenny Brown did the action job and final assembly and Rich McKinney did various machining operations. I believe Les Lucas is still with Springfield, Rich left years ago and Lenny went with Les and myself to start Baer Custom.
This pistol has been Ransom Rested at 50 yards and it has cut several five shot one hole groups. Trigger is a crisp 3 pounds. The entire gun is very 90s ish. Crisp, sharp edges at the front and rear of the slide...."Rounded for tactical" hadn't come along yet. The obligatory Bo-Mar rear sight. The Brown magwell and crash pad mags. And the full length guide rod.
It's one sweet 1911
This is one of my early attempts at checkering, and I think it just might be my best work. The front strap is 20 LPI and the trigger guard is 30. Doing that guard was a real challenge. My friend wanted checkering on both the front and bottom of the guard. I proposed an "around the world" job, something I had never tried before....and have not since. It turned out pretty well. I serrated the back if the slide at 40 LPI. The hammer was grooved at 20 LPI and I turned it into a checkered hammer.
When it was done, but not yet blued I showed it to Les and asked if I could etch "Baer Custom" on it.
He said yes. This is the first pistol ever to receive the Baer Custom etch. I think I should have put the etch a little further back.....but ....what's done is done.
To give credit where due, Les Lucas did the frame to slide fit and the barrel lockup. Lenny Brown did the action job and final assembly and Rich McKinney did various machining operations. I believe Les Lucas is still with Springfield, Rich left years ago and Lenny went with Les and myself to start Baer Custom.
This pistol has been Ransom Rested at 50 yards and it has cut several five shot one hole groups. Trigger is a crisp 3 pounds. The entire gun is very 90s ish. Crisp, sharp edges at the front and rear of the slide...."Rounded for tactical" hadn't come along yet. The obligatory Bo-Mar rear sight. The Brown magwell and crash pad mags. And the full length guide rod.
It's one sweet 1911