1911 pics?

[jg rider]

I hope there are some out there that like old school stuff. I did all these in the late 70s into the 80s. I still own and use them. They may not be as pretty and precise as cnc machined stuff but I can proudly say that I mostly did them by hand

This is a complete .22 Colt Ace that I currently use in steel plate matcheS. I customized this one in the late 70s when I used it to practice for IPSC matches. The grip safety is a piss poor fit because back then there was only one commercial source for grip safeties (Safari Arms) which had a different radius cut then what's used now. That safety also applied downward pressure to the web of your hand. I later found high ride safeties for this cut made by king Gun Works (now out of busines)

[jg rider]

This is a Marvel Precision .22 conversion with interchangeable ribs that I also compete with. It's on the Ace frame

[jg rider]

Here's another conversion unit. It's a slide that fits onto a 1911 frame and shoots .177 pellets. They were made in the 70s, in Germany and sold by Crossman. It's really accurate.

[jg rider]

This is my concealed carry Colt commander. I did this one back in the late 70s. S&W rear sights were popular back then. It has a ramped Briley barrel and spherical barrel bushing.

[jg rider]

In the early 80s, after I started competing in Ipsc matches I mostly customized this one. After I did all the checkering, Barsto barrel fitting, etc. I sent the frame and slide out to Behlert Precision (now out of business) to install the Bomar sight, serrate the top of the slide, and cut a dovetail for the front sight and to do a complete hard chrome.

[jg rider]

Then compensators were discovered (LOL) With some reservations about the practical being taken out of practical pistol shooting I had to build one. So I bought a Para-Ordnance gunsmith frame and a Colt Govt. slide. Again after doing all the frame work, I sent it all to Behlert Precision to have them cut 1/2" off the slide, install a Bomar sight, dove tail front, dual port/chamber comp, and hard chrome it. I drew the line when competitors started to put optics on.

[jg rider]

Back then my 14 yr. old son wanted to compete, so I built this Springfield frame with a Colt Gold Cup Slide, with a Barsto barrel for him. He lost interest fast once he discovered girls. I never did put a final finish on it. The installation of the Bomar rear sight is unique. The dove tail is cut off and the base is silver soldered to the slide. There were a few smiths out there that did this

[jg rider]

This is a Colt O.M. I did for my son for concealed carry. I never was real happy how this one turned out even though it's reliable. He doesn't carry it very much anymore. He now carries a Springfield ultra compact

[jg rider]

And finally, I think, is this one I built for my wife. It's done on an older military issue Remington Rand pistol (please no remarks). She doesn't like checkering or hard chroming. So I stippled it, installed a Wilson barrel, etc. and had it matte finished. She doesn't carry it, she just shoots it. She carries either a tricked out K9 or Pm9. It was her bedroom night stand gun until I got her a reduced grip Glock 17











Ok now every body can wake up

[Bawanna]

Very,very nice. Every last one of them. You do good stuff.

[jg rider]

Very,very nice. Every last one of them. You do good stuff.

Thanks Bawanna
I'm about done customizing. Now I'm on a trouble shooting kick to solve problems in dedicated .22 uppers for ARs and the problems with Advantage Arms .22 conversions for Glocks. I've already converted the mags to either 13 or 15 rounders

Are we neighbors ? Hillsboro

[Bawanna]

Thanks Bawanna
I'm about done customizing. Now I'm on a trouble shooting kick to solve problems in dedicated .22 uppers fore ARs and the problems with Advantage Arms .22 conversions for Glocks. I've already converted the mags to either 13 or 15 rounders

Are we neighbors ? Hillsboro

I'm a little further north. NE of Seattle in Monroe.

[gb6491]

Greg, you are joking about that Essex frame/slide .45 (first pic) as being ugly right? That is one of the jokes within a joke..right? IMHO that .45 rocks. It looks like it is worn into someone's hand and utilitarian like a hammer. Outstanding.

Thank you kindly It does have a "been around the block a few times" look to it (even with that somewhat fresh coat of cold blue), but the real beauty of that pistol is how it shoots.

Very,very nice. Every last one of them. You do good stuff.

+1 on that!
jg rider,
Thank you for sharing those lovely pistols with us. I think your wife's pistol is my favorite of the lot.
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

Funny, the wifes pistol was my favorite of the lot too.

What kind of comment did you expect because its a Remington? Bad rep I'm not aware of?

[jg rider]

Funny, the wifes pistol was my favorite of the lot too.

What kind of comment did you expect because its a Remington? Bad rep I'm not aware of?

LOL, I've been criticized in the past about doing this work on what is now considered a collectible pistol.
"How could you destroy that pistol ?"
"I would have traded you another 1911 for it if you hadn't customized it"
"You devalued it"
"Big mistake"
"MURDERER" I'm just kidding
Back when I did the work I thought military pistols were still plentiful. I guess I was wrong. Some of the older big name smiths were building on them. I guess that's why the original ones dried up.
The only thing is on the older 1911s the slides were softer, but that's no big deal. Tightening the slide to frame fit on my other 1911s was a chore. On the softer Remington it was a breeze and it's held it's tightness in over 1000 rounds
I can't figure out what you, gb6491 and others like about my wife's pistol. Are you all just being nice to her?
John