Why I don't have Ducktails, et al

[sm]

NO Cost to me...

Caspian Frame and Slide.
Melted Bomars are fine. Ed Brown , Smith & Alexander, Schumann, NO front serrations, Prefer vertical serrations on rear , accept the slanted as Caspian uses. Old Colt spring steel extractor preffered will accept Ed Brown. Granted Hard chrome is tough - I want a deep Blue finish high polish , except on top of slide I want from sight to sight a 20 lpi checkering ~ 5mm wide ( actually rear 10 mm and taper to 5mm at front sight) . Trigger, Give me a plain long blue trigger with NO overtravel adjustment. Herret Stocks ( Cherrywood most likely). I want no markings on the slide - the small Caspian logo is all I want.

Since I have no worries about money , and my first choice would be 45ACP...aw heck .... Lets do it in 9x23 and make it Commander sized, . - Single stack. I want a minimum two dozen mags tweaked and tuned.

Serious carry gun, going for function and reliabilty , no sharp edges, no ambis extended Grier SS is fine. Not going to hurt if this gun happens to look gun, Simple - but elegant.

Now humm, do I use a Cordovan IWB from Alessi ...or...humm, matching single stack mag carriers no less.

I figure 3 cases of ball ammo and 5 of JHP ( Win STHP is) will let me test and get re -aquainted with this set up for starters.

Then again...
....A Caspian Frame and slide , 5" or Commander , in 45ACP , Blue with nothing but the small Caspian logo - built as close to Mil - Spec , with laynard loop , Herrets closest Mil - Spec Walnut checkered grips , Four dozen Metalform 7 rd mags ...and 10 cases of Mil-Spec'd ball ammo is probably more to my personality .

Make notes...cause I subscribe to having muliples. I figure 2 full size and 2 Commander sized all set up and exact is a good CCW set up.

Need my buddy's FFL and mailing address? Patience is not my strong point - but I can understand this will take a day or three.

 

[Rob96]

Posted by Mr. Sample

Ask yourselves a question for me. If there was absolutely no cost to you involved, what custom features would you like, but don't have.

I'll bite on this one. If I would send my Colt Gov't Model to you or some other reputable 1911smith I would want the following:

1. The few MIM parts I have, replaced with EGW parts.

2. After finally holding a Wilson CQB, I can say that I like the Wilson beavertail. I would want that grip safety.

3. EGW bushing.

4. Match barrel, you pick.

5. Heinie sights.

6. Checkered msh and front strap.

7. Factory hammer is fine, just bob it to work with the grip safety.

This goes against everything I stated earlier in this thread. But something happened on Friday when I was at Cabelas and held that Wilson CQB.
So Dave, when can I ship it to you?

 

[1911Tuner]

High-End Customs

No flames meant or taken, Cap'n.

I've handled and shot a few of those gorgeous pistols...and they have all been a delight until I grabbed for one in a hurry...and it just didn't come together for me. probably a result of my havin' carried and used the standard stuff for so many years...but the other part of the issue is that they're just too dang purty for a roughneck like me to tote around on a daily basis. I even change my oil with my pistol on...As you can guess, the end of the slide gets a mite scratched up on the driveway.

It'd be kinda like takin' a cherry '72 El Dorado to a truck pull...It's bound to get beat up a little. All my carry guns are pre-beat up...That way I
don't take it too hard when one gets a scratch.

Cheers!

Tuner

 

[Dave Sample]

This is what I mean and why I asked the question! You are the ONE! Sorry, but I am retired and no longer do any work for the public. I do not use any Wilson parts and would pass on it if you insisted on them. I would not use the bushing because the Kart Barrel would come with a bushing, link and pin. The rest I would have done for you with pleasure. I like the sights and I think you made a great choice of options regardless of my peculiar beliefs. I would have suggested a checkered ring hammer rather than the Bobbit Job but would do either. I would also advise a high grip Ed Brown Beaver tail grip safety.You would have a nice combat handgun when completed. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Dave Sample]

My old junker EAGLE ONE has the Bodycote Tungsten DLC on it Tuner. The finish Rockwells at bout 93 so you could wear it just about anywhere and do anything. I am glad you took this in the spirit that it was intended for. Let's find out what they really like!

 

[farscott]

Mr. Sample,

While I have never had he opportunity to hold, much less shoot, an example of your work, I do know what works for me in 1911's. I am fortunate to own full-custom pieces from Robar, Austin Behlert, and John Harrison, and I am even more fortunate to be able to shoot them on a regular basis.

I have had both hand cut and machine cut serrations on my front straps, and I have fired several thousand rounds out of these pistols. I have learned that after a hundred rounds or so that my hands are tender, and that I am not properly grasping the pistol. Perhaps your checkering would work for me, but I do know that stippling and serrated front straps do work for me. I would love to try one of your pistols and see, but for now, I am going by what I know.

As for my list of features, starting with a Series 70 Colt Government Model chambered for .45 ACP:

1) All new fire control components with a short trigger and a Commander ring hammer.

2) 25lpi serrations on the mainspring housing.

3) Flattop the slide, 30lpi serrations on the slide, and high-profile fixed sights. Sight picture shall not have dots or tritium. Plain black for me.

4) flat mainspring housing, preferably serrated at 25 lpi.

5) high-grip the front strap

6) open the magazine opening, but no magwell.

7) dehorn the entire pistol.

8) hard chrome finish and ivory grips to finish it.

9) Anything else you want to make the pistol shoot. BTW, you may have noted that I did not specify the brand of any parts other than the base pistol. I always let the smith choose the parts once I convey my needs and wants.

 

[Rob96]

Posted by Dave Sample

I would also advise a high grip Ed Brown Beaver tail grip safety.

I liked the feel of the Wilson grip safety. If the Brown has the same feel, I would go with your suggestion there. Didn't know Kart barrels alredy came with the bushing. I stuck with just bobbing the hammer because there isn't anything wrong with it, made out of good material. The big thing for me though is the high end internals. I am happy with my gun as is. and do well with it, and would be happy with the internal swap and sight package. Forgot to put in the original list, a Brown Hardcore extractor, actually 2. Would want a fitted spare.

 

[R.H. Lee]

I've handled and shot a few of those gorgeous pistols...and they have all been a delight until I grabbed for one in a hurry...and it just didn't come together for me. probably a result of my havin' carried and used the standard stuff for so many years...

Maybe this is the core issue-you're comfortable with whatever you've used the most. Once we've adapted to something it's difficult to change-especially if there's no real benefit-a 230 gr bullet from a bare bones 1911 hits just as hard as one from a heavily customized $2000 pistol. Of course some setups just naturally feel better than others. I have no idea why the flat MSH/long trigger setup seems to fit my hand better. Both my 1911's are set up the same way, and both hit to the point of aim.

 

[garrettwc]

I have had a chance to handle some custom guns, and shoot them as well. Not in the 1000 rd mark, but a few.

I will base this on what I know from my Series 1 Kimber Custom and what is working for me. My Kimber has too much, my Commander doesn't have quite enough. Actually, Dave's Commander or Col. Cooper's original Gunsite Service pistol spec is pretty close.

Colt 5"1911 Series 70 45ACP
Replace the fire control parts with best grade aftermarket stuff
Matched set of barrel, bushing, and link. Bushing finger tight
Factory guide rod and plug
Slightly extended mag release similar to the stock Kimber
Narrow extended thumb safety
Commander hammer or bobbed standard hammer
Good sights
Long trigger and flat mainspring housing (serrated or checkered, makes no difference), might consider short and arched, but not enough time behind one.
Recontoured factory style grip safety
Bevel mag well
Carry Bevel
4lb trigger
Beat the heck out of it finish (ala Glock)

Tune all for 100% reliability - this is the most important feature.

 

[19112XS]

Thanks Tuner for the very gracious invitation. I look forward to it! You're a great host. Next time I'd like to practice a bit differently, reflecting what we have discussed here. Please pet the animals for me and put another pot of Turbo on! Please DON'T wear that plate bench out. I'd like to make music there again.

sm--You're too modest. You're practicing "adapting," as well as some interesting stuff. We could all use more of that.

 

[Bemo]

Dave, that finish?

Where does one get a tungsten finish that RC's at 93? That sounds awesome. I'll bet it slicks up the internal parts?

Thanks

 

[1911Tuner]

Rockwell Finish

Dave said:

The finish Rockwells at bout 93...
_________________________




Ummm...Uh...How do ya...uhm......

Never mind...

 

[saltydog452]

My fantasy gun from Dave

Dave, what I really, reqlly, really want is for my Officers Model From Hell to work correctly. First time, every time.

Other than that, a pre 70 Series Commander would fit nicely in my Christmas stocking.

I enjoyed this thread. Thanks to all of you..

salty..

 

[Dave Sample]

This is some neat stuff here. Let me address the finish first. The Bodycote Black Diamond Tungsten DLC ( Diamond Like Coating) was done free of charge on the First Online Class pistols by Darrel Lewis of Bodycote. He demonstrates this by trying to scrape it with a knife and it just is immune. It is a "Sputtering Process" that I do not even begin to understand, but I can tell you that the guns that have been shot upward of 4000 rounds have a barrel hood that looks brand new and there is no sign of wear on these guns. The bores are easy to clean, the guns are smooth cycling, and look like they are carved out of coal. Bodycote quickly found out that they did not want to individual guns. I prep my own for any finisher becuase I do not trust them to do it right and they had no problem with the Class guns, but other folks expected them to be able to prep them and they found out that this was something they were not going to do. They are doing new and better finishes now (The black Sigs) and like the volume work where they can make a buck. this finish has to be kept oiled because it's not rust proofed, and it has to be applied to hard steel. It is the best gun finish I have ever seen and qwe can't get it any more. Like the boys at Gunsite, I love flat black guns. Saltydawg, Chuck Rogers at Rogers Precision can make you OM work great. Some one mentioned 25 LPI serrations and checkering and I can now do that , thanks to the Boys at Brownell's and Ed Brown. I am going to checker the ROY ROGERS 45 25 LPI and the front strap and trigger guard and have already been given a 25 LPI mainspring housing by Ed. This is brand new and we could never get this file before. It is a perfect compromise between 30 LPI and 20 LPI. The GEN CE LEMAY 45 is 25 LPI alrerady and it is very nice to handle. Thanks to all of you for your imput. I have my dream gun in EAGLE 1 and so I can understand why you like what you like. I carry the Commander and look at the others. They are things of beauty and a joy to behold, but they don't own me. I own them.