A well-fitted 1911 is a thing of beauty

[Marko Kloos]

A week or two ago, my 1911 found its way back into my possession after a layoff-induced vacation in a friend's collection. I just found the pictures that were taken just after I got it back from the 'smith. It still looks just like that.

It's a Springfield Loaded, with various minor alterations done to it. The pictures are the handiwork of Tamara and her Sony Mavica.

Muzzle end; hand-fitted MGW match bushing:

Recontoured front strap, frame, and dust shield; finely bead-blasted frame and slide:

Hand-fitted blued extractor...the original one had the tension of a wet noodle.

Fitted Ed Brown detachable magazine well:

Ramp-and-throat job; polished feed ramp...feeds everything including empties:

 

[Aahzz]

Sweet!

 

[Matthew_Q]

Lend,

AWESOME job! I had a Loaded like that until I dumped it and got a Milspec Parkerized.

I really like the frame finish and recontour!

A 1911 is a thing of beauty, even an old, beat up workhorse, but some just shine like gems!

So... HOW DOES IT SHOOT??

 

[boing]

1) Why a blued extractor?

2) Has the mag well ever come loose under fire?

3) Nice.

 

[Marko Kloos]

1) Why a blued extractor?

Because the original Springfield extractor had a tension problem, and stuck out the rear of the slide about a tenth of an inch. My gunsmith replaced it with a decent unit and flush-fitted it. He just happened to have a blued one on hand, and I told him to go ahead and use it. The look reminds me of my old Kimber Classic Stainless LE, which had blued controls and small parts on a stainless gun.

2) Has the mag well ever come loose under fire?

Nope. It's secured with a hex head screw and takes some conscious effort to remove. I do take it off on occasion for CCW, since the magwell requires the use of bumper pads on the magazines and thus adds a quarter inch of height to the grip.

3) Nice.

Thanks!


__________________

 

[Tamara]

E. TN types who like the work are cordially referred to Mr. Shannon Jennings @ Randy's Guns & Knives.

 

[Tamara]

"Stock" Springfield Professional and Spyderco Massad Ayoob...

 

[Tamara]

Les Baer Concept III with Caspian fiber front sight, and CRKT small Tighe Tac...

 

[Tamara]

Springfield Bi-Tone V-10 Ultra Compact with frontstrap and dust cover re-contoured, frame flats brushed and rounds bead-blasted, Wilson flat 30-lpi checkered mainspring housing, McCormick beavertail, Novak sights, STI trigger, Navidrex contoured CCW grips, Wilson grip screws, et cetera, ad nauseum...

Oh, and a Microtech Dragonfly...

 

[Tamara]

Colt Series 80 .38 Super, with the Series 80 bits removed, an STI trigger, Ed Brown "Tactical" extended thumb safety, Novak carry sights, Ahrends cordia wood grip panels, Wilson grip screws, and Ed Brown 30-lpi checkered flat MSH, and a Benchmade Mini Stryker auto...

 

[Marko Kloos]

Oooh...you're evil. That Colt caused a sudden need to run out and get a 1911 in .38 Super. I can't believe how mild that thing shoots.

 

[Tamara]

Nobody else has pics of pretty customized 1911's?

Stephen Camp & ArmySon, where are you?

 

[cratz2]

Hrmm... well, depending on how customized a 1911 has to be before it falls under the cagetory of customized...

Most customized model though it doesn't look it - a 1993 vintage Colt 1991A1. Customized and tweaked a bit by Ned Christiansen. Checkered GI slide stop, spur hammer, short trigger with a very crisp but not too light 5# trigger job, reliability job, S&A checkered arched MSH, very un-period smooth ebony grips and hex screws. Decided to keep teh factory sights though I still need a WWII-era GI thumb safety and mag release.

 

[Gewehr98]

Not well-composed, but...




Caspian Officer's ACP, Kart NM ramped barrel, Dick Bancroft (Dirty Dick, aka D/D) tapered cone lockup, Bancroft 20 lpi checkering on frontstrap and flat mainspring housing, Bancroft carry sights (scratch-built improvement on Novaks), Brown beavertail, McCormick trigger, Videcki lockwork, Brown ambi-safety, Hogue rosewood grips, Brown grip screws, parkerized all the same color. Bancroft 154CM/brass/micarta bootfighter. My CCW gun, 7+1 rounds of Black Talon. (Got a good deal on a case of the stuff years ago)

 

[cratz2]

Colt 1911 set up as a pin gun. Trigger job, long Videcki, fitted bushing, top mount Millet sights, Wilson 2 piece FLGR, Wilson magwell and extended mag catch that I could live without.

Actually, this piece was just sold to another forum member.

 

[Bowlcut]

oh ok now....everyone STOP IT!!!! I dont need to see these things of beauty.... I dont need a 1911....i dont need a 1911....i dont need a 1911. how long before i can convince myself of this....

 

[cratz2]

ParaOrd P14/45 Limited. Bought from a guy that had it all kinds of slicked up. Bit of slide to frame fitting, tight bushing, 1.5# trigger, the inside of it has so much polishing you can just about see the inside from the outside. Very smooth feeder. It was his competition gun for a while. I'd feel bad if I told you how good of a deal I got on this gun. 2 17 round mags, 2 16 round mags, 3 10 round mags, 1 14 round mag, three sets of grips, the custom work and the gun for less than the price of the gun.

 

[Gewehr98]

Seen before, but...



Norinco frame and slide, Kart NM barrel, Videcki lockwork, Brown beavertail, low-mount BoMars, Bancroft 20lpi stainless flat mainspring housing, Wilson one-piece guide rod, de-horned everywhere, parkerized, Bancroft 154CM/red&black linen micarta skinner. My "Gook Cup" IPSC/carry gun. Note how dirty the Hogue monogrip is, it gets carried a LOT.

 

[cratz2]

I guess technically falling under the heading of customized is my baby... Springfield Stainless Target Loaded. It was very well fitted out of the box and I gloated on it ad infinitum over on 1911forum.com when I got it... It was so good, I thought it was mislabled from the manufacturer.

I replaced the extractor with a Brown Hardcore, just because. Changed out the ILS MSH for a Wilson flat checkered and replaced the internals as well. Blind Hogg G-10 grips. And tried my hand at stoning the engagement points of the ignition system... didn't change angles or anything, just made sure they were smooth.

 

[Tamara]

cratz2,

Just for that, I ain't gonna tell you where that tasty ground-up custom with a Caspian slide on a Para frame kit for less than a grand is...


Gewehr98,

That little Caspian is suh-weet!

 

[cratz2]

1985 Colt Combat Commander in 38 Super. This is the 1911 I've carried the most in the last 5 or 6 months. STI trigger (not in the picture), basic trigger job, S&A magwell, and linen micarta grips by the same eBay seller that made the grips on my 1991A1.

This one is going to Ned Christiansen in June for an extended thumb safety, Novak carry sights (front night, rear black) some polishing and it will be coated with NP3 inside and out.

Sorry for the cheesy picture... it didn't come out quite as creatively as I had envisioned. That glass chessboard has lots of reflections to contend with.

 

[cratz2]

Springfield Loaded Blued. Has the S&A Magwell and replaced internals along with S&A micarta grips . Has the very cool Cylinder & Slide SFS system (at least I think that's what it's called) that allows for a hammer-down cocked-and-locked carry method. You load the gun, gently push down on the hammer, then thumb up the safety and holster it. When you draw the gun, you simply thumb up the safety as you would any other 1911 and the hammer flips back and you're ready to do your business. Not for everyone, but very neat. Also, the blue jobs on the Springfields are very nice indeed.

 

[cratz2]

And just a couple others thrown in because I'm proud of the pictures. Trust me... they all quality as they have new MSH internals or extractors. And of course they all have replacement grips.


9mm Springfield... only 40 SNs away from my similar 45ACP

New Rollmark Colt 1991A1

Colt Gold Cup... a sweetie.

My car gun... Lightly Loaded Springfield.

 

[ArmySon]

Since I'm overseas, I can't take any 'new' pictures of my 1911's. Here are some old pics for your viewing pleasures

Polished chrome Les Baer

Browning a Les Baer Concept III

 

[Tamara]

Howdy, Son!

Recognize the grips on that Colt .38 Super?

Just wanted you to know that they found a good home.