one sweet 1911

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tark

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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
 

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Wow, very nice. IMHO hands down, best 1911 made. I will take a LB over any of the others, one reason is it was my first higher end 1911(I have had all the others since) 2nd, I have called the LB factory 9 times over the years and have talked to Mr. Baer 6 of those times. Oh almost forgot, not to mention what a heck of a gun they make there. I ask him to put a Marine Corps emblem on line of 1911's and he told me he would need a letter from the USMC. I am going to get that letter.lol
 
You have more self control than I do, I've seen some of the museum guns you handle too- I'd NEED to shoot some of them, this 1911 included.
Lol.. The museum guns are owned by the D.O.D. and will never be fired again. They are all inoperable anyway. Another D.O.D. regulation. Every gun in the museum is missing something, usually a spring or a firing pin, anything that will render it non-functional.....

I have fired my friends pistol before....I can live with not firing it now.
 
Awesome job, awesome pistol.
Congrats to you and the guys that worked on it and congrats to your friend to own this beautiful pistol.
Thanks for sharing it.
 
I assume you did all of the "Transfer" paperwork, since it's now in your possession?
 
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