[Fulliautomatix]

A while back I picked up my very first 1911(A1) pattern pistol, a nicely broken in Kimber Custom II.

Exhibit A
http://home.earthlink.net/~temporaryjunk/images/Kimber/IMG_1628.JPG

Being the mechanical guy I am, I soon had it apart in a pile on my work bench with MidwayUSA open on the browser near by. :lol:

Did some research and pinged a few 1911 enthusiasts I rub elbows with and ordered a new spring set, grips & screws, firing pin, & steel MSH. In the mean time I brought the slide, frame and a couple baggies of parts over to Tyler at Ion Coatings (http://www.ioncoatingsllc.com/) in Menlo, GA. A couple weeks of anxiously waiting... and was able to pick it up at the shop yesterday afternoon. Put it back together last night.

I must say, yet another beautiful thing about 1911 is the simplicity of design. Having only done it once before, I was able to put it back together w/o instructions or parts left over. Ok, slight correction, I had a FPB and spring left over, but that was by design. :D

Here it is, with a fresh coat of flat dark earth Cerakote on frame/slide, and external parts in graphite black with matched sheen.
http://home.earthlink.net/~temporaryjunk/images/Kimber/IMG_1762.JPG

New steel mainspring housing
http://home.earthlink.net/~temporaryjunk/images/Kimber/IMG_1770.JPG

... same gun with light grips.
http://home.earthlink.net/~temporaryjunk/images/Kimber/IMG_1781.JPG

Now I just need to get it out back and put a box of ammo through it to break in the rails.

Hat's off to Tyler, he does fine work and is great to do business with. I don't hesitate in recommending his shop for any coating/refinishing needs you may have.

[Walkalong]

Very nice. I prefer the dark grips. (as if my opinion mattered) :)

[Fulliautomatix]

Very nice. I prefer the dark grips. (as if my opinion mattered) :)

I do too, it's nice to have confirmation though. :D

[788Ham]

You'se two guys are going to get me started on these 1911 autos, all I've got are revolvers. Fullauto, you've got a very nice arm there, never gave it a thought 35 years ago someone would come up with an idea, as to color them, very nice job, with either set of grips! LOL

[Greg528iT]

The workmanship looks great.

I like the darker grips as well. But hey a sale is a sale. Maybe your next one you will do with a darker finish on the frame. :rolleyes: in the, I had to buy a new gun to go with the grips I already had.

[wojownik]

I have to say, that looks rather nice! Like the darker grips too.

[W.E.G.]

I much prefer the way it looked before the paint job.

Sorry.

[wh!plash]

Great work on the paintjob. Looks like factory from the pics. I think the only thing keeping someone from mistaking it for a Desert Warrior would be the front checkering.

I have to admit personally I like the look of a well-loved 1911 though. I've been hesitating getting my daily carry refinished too. Its maybe even a bit more carried than your 'before' pics.

[Fulliautomatix]

No apologies necessary fellas, we just show our firearms love in different ways. :D With regular carry in the humid climate here things were starting to oxidize too quickly for my liking. An old school parkerizing was also under consideration for a while, but have heard nothing but good things about cerakote finishes.

The factory Kimber Desert Warrior also has the rail, internal extractor, ambi-safety and lanyard loop on the MSH.

[SwampWolf]

I think dark brown or dark green grips would make for a great contrast against the "dark earth" colored finish. Nice looking pistol in any event.

[hawkeye10]

:) Soooo sweeet. I like the dark grips best. Don

[1KPerDay]

Nice job, well done. I prefer the "pre" photo also, but that's the beauty of guns. Everyone has a different opinion.

BTW you must have big hands... that thing looks like a toy up there.

[bannockburn]

Put me down as another one who prefers the dark grips; just makes for a nice contrast with the Cerakote finish. Looks like a job well done.

[Fulliautomatix]

BTW you must have big hands... that thing looks like a toy up there.

Ha, you're the second person to point that out after seeing that photo. I suppose they are big, but I was born wit'em. :D