JiminCA
Member
If you give us some details on what the gun needs, we can help point you in the right direction.
Those satin nickel commanders sure are pretty. I'd be inclined to keep it as stock as possible while making it into the carry piece that I want.
If it needs a re-nickel (ie it has rust), then you'll have to decide what to do on the finish. I like hard chrome or paint on a carry gun - they're the only finishes that don't rust in my experience.
So what you need in a carry gun:
Reliability - goes bang every time and feeds another round without flaw
Sights - you can see 'em and acquire 'em quickly
Trigger - clean enough to make the gun go bang without jiggling the gun. For carry 4-5 lb is fine. You may want a longer trigger, depending on your preferences. I prefer a solid trigger because IMO holes in the trigger are just crud collectors.
Accuracy - depends on the gun. Might need a new front bushing and/or recrown to get the accuracy to your desired level. Most Colts are combat accurate from the box, so that's probably not a problem.
So, you'll potentially want a reliability job, trigger job, and refinish. All else is stuff you might want, but probably don't need. A fitted beavertail and thumb safety are the most common mods - that's up to you. Checkering is nice, but is expensive and not really necessary as skateboard tape on the front strap works great.
In your part of the world, I'd take a look at Jim Garthwaite, Novaks, and EGW as nearby smiths who could do the work you want quite competently, probably not cost an arm and a leg, and can get it done in a reasonable period of time. Big name 1911 smiths have incredible backlogs lately.
Poke around at www.1911forum.com for more info. Lots to digest there.
If you like I can post pics of Garthwaite's work, or point you to a review thread of a Delta Elite I had him do. It had everything you need (and most everything you don't) on it.
Hope this helps and good luck with your project. A gun from your Dad is something special. Give it some thought before you proceed.
Jim
Those satin nickel commanders sure are pretty. I'd be inclined to keep it as stock as possible while making it into the carry piece that I want.
If it needs a re-nickel (ie it has rust), then you'll have to decide what to do on the finish. I like hard chrome or paint on a carry gun - they're the only finishes that don't rust in my experience.
So what you need in a carry gun:
Reliability - goes bang every time and feeds another round without flaw
Sights - you can see 'em and acquire 'em quickly
Trigger - clean enough to make the gun go bang without jiggling the gun. For carry 4-5 lb is fine. You may want a longer trigger, depending on your preferences. I prefer a solid trigger because IMO holes in the trigger are just crud collectors.
Accuracy - depends on the gun. Might need a new front bushing and/or recrown to get the accuracy to your desired level. Most Colts are combat accurate from the box, so that's probably not a problem.
So, you'll potentially want a reliability job, trigger job, and refinish. All else is stuff you might want, but probably don't need. A fitted beavertail and thumb safety are the most common mods - that's up to you. Checkering is nice, but is expensive and not really necessary as skateboard tape on the front strap works great.
In your part of the world, I'd take a look at Jim Garthwaite, Novaks, and EGW as nearby smiths who could do the work you want quite competently, probably not cost an arm and a leg, and can get it done in a reasonable period of time. Big name 1911 smiths have incredible backlogs lately.
Poke around at www.1911forum.com for more info. Lots to digest there.
If you like I can post pics of Garthwaite's work, or point you to a review thread of a Delta Elite I had him do. It had everything you need (and most everything you don't) on it.
Hope this helps and good luck with your project. A gun from your Dad is something special. Give it some thought before you proceed.
Jim
