The Arsenal of Democracy

2013-06-22T20:20:00.000-04:00

Bad Ass Blaster from CT Brian. Thanks for sharing, Kent!

A couple of new pics.

2012-05-05T14:57:00.001-04:00

Some very slick Custom Hi-Powers that meet my standards.

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Thanks to Roy Huntington and AH

2011-03-27T15:34:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Roy Huntington and American Handgunner for allowing me to use several of their pictures on my blog. I have been greatly influenced by AH over the years and highly recommend it.

WWW.AmericanHandgunner.com

2011-02-07T20:11:00.003-05:00

2011-02-07T20:11:00.001-05:00

A Jim Boland Masterpiece-the FK Gun-A converted 1911 to High cap 9

2011-02-07T20:10:00.000-05:00

I buy 1911's

2010-10-17T22:18:00.000-04:00

I am interested in custom 1911's built by:

HOAG
HEINIE
GILES
NASTOFF
LIEBENBERG
PACHMAYR
SWENSON
GARTHWAITE
VICKERS
YAM
BOLAND
GRAY
YOST
ROGERS
RODGERS
LES PITTMAN
WETSTEIN
GARTHWAITE
LIMCAT
KEEFER
OLDER NOVAK
KINGS
DAVE PEGRAM
VIC TIBBETS

Pre-WW2 Colts
Pre-1970 Colts
.38 Supers
Combat Government Models

Another rarity-Andy Cannon Custom S&W Revolver

2010-08-11T19:02:00.001-04:00

Many of my gun peccadilloes are inspired by the authors of my youth-Col. Cooper, Cameron Hopkins, Ken Hackathorn, Pete Kokalis, Chuck Taylor, and certainly Mas Ayoob. I don't know why, by Ayoob's brazen attitude towards the establishment and his love of customizing anything under sun resonated with me. He was a huge proponent of fellow NH'er and then game warden and part time revolver-tuner, Andy Cannon. Cannon quickly became the wunderkind of the 1980's custom 'compbat' revolver scene. Ayoob proclaimed him as the best to ever tune an action and after several spreads in various gun-porno, Cannon became a big deal. He eventualy left New Hampshire for Montana and opened a full-line gunsmithing shop. I recall calling Cannon in his heyday around 1987 and things seemed awful busy for him. He was building tons of revolvers, but had a crew building rifles, rudimentary 1911's and also doing general gunsmithing work. It seemed his goal was to get big fast. After a fallout with Apex barrels over what Cannon claimed to be "bad heat treat" (They claimed improper machining) and a lots of resulting warranty work on some .44 magnum revolvers he built, Andy closed up shop and went back to being a cop. Apparently he was a good one, too. A few years later he hung his gunsmith shingle out again, but after his earlier endeavor, always worked alone. I spoke with him during this period and he was excited about getting in the 'smithing business again and sticking with his love,revolvers. His 1911's in comparison were pretty mediocre..he died prematurely of cancer shortly thereafter.

I recently picked up this nice 629-1 that has had cannon's full package-action, accuracy, integral comp, round butt, sights and metaloy chrome (over stainless!). Perfectly timed and smooth as butter mixed with teflon the Cannon action lives up to its legend. I will shoot it some and report back. Moose antler/Damascus Hunting Knife by Alaskan bladesmith Adam DesRosiers also one of the best in the business.

King's Gunworks Custom Colt '70 Series-Do your homework

2010-08-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

This is a great gunshow find-an elderly gent had this sitting on his table at the last show. At first glance it looks like a plain Colt '70 series but it is actually a King's Gunworks custom-note the King's 206C grip safety, hammer, bushing and thin slotted screws. It also sports a lowered and flared port done in the King's style. Internally, a match sear and King's 4-leg sear spring reside. A beautiful bluing job with the lightest carry bevel tops it off. A very classy, Colt retro custom.

After a few minutes it was clear the seller had no idea what he had. I was certain what he had. We made a deal for less than the going rate of a used, stock Colt. When I got home I found it had a $50 WW2 magazine in the butt. A good day at the show! One of those days where doing my homework paid off. Now I remember why i have all those old books and magazines laying about....

Jim Hoag Revisited

2010-07-14T08:29:00.002-04:00

I have found a very minty Hoag "longslide", identical to the gun used in Thief-built on a 70 Series Colt Gold Cup. What a beauty..the work is excellent and the weld is flawless. I replaced the heavy steel trigger with a lightweight plastic trigger just for functionality. here are few pics of some Hoag guns and also James Caan using them in the classic Michael Mann movie, Thief.

Ed Brown maxi-Comp circa 1990

2010-04-11T00:29:00.000-04:00

The real deal..on GUNBROKER right now but NOT FOR LONG

Jim Boland Article part 2...

2010-04-11T00:25:00.000-04:00

Jim Boland 1911 Steel gun in .38 Super-AH article

2010-04-11T00:23:00.000-04:00

Doubletap 38 super FAIL

2010-04-06T20:29:00.004-04:00

Chronoed some Doubletap .38 super ammo today. 115grain XPB advertised at 1425 feet per second...NOT...best we could get was 1222 fps out a 5" 1911.
very inconsistent-from 1030-1222 fps...watch the vids...

New Hoag custom 1911 on the way

2010-04-05T09:02:00.000-04:00

A nice "Class A" from the 80's by the look of it.

Kel-Tec or LCP Sight Installations

2010-03-04T22:50:00.001-05:00

Philip at http://www.innovativearms.com/ is well known in the area for great class 3 and suppressor stuff but he is also a very good general gunsmith and machinist. When I brought Philip my pet Kel-Tec 3AT and asked to him to make some sights he eagerly obliged.

I had found that the little Kel-Tec shot way better than it should and was only really hampered by the non-existent sights. I have hit a man-sized steel silhouette with my old p-32 without sights and got some pretty decent benched groups with the 3AT so I was prepared to give my little pocket protector some sights I could see.

Philip dovetailed a SIG 239 front sight and machined a new rear into the Kel-Tec slide. It now has a great sight picture and I can amaze my friends by running the plate rack at the club with a Kel-tec .380.

Oh the joy of sights!

The BEST Custom 1911 Pistolsmith ever?

2010-02-25T23:21:00.002-05:00

Jim Boland is my favorite pistolsmith and I am always looking for Boland Guns to buy. They were ahead of their time in every way. I know of no one building guns today that could duplicate his efforts. I would estimate at least 100 hours of work in every Boland comp gun like the gun shown above. Boland was the master of the welding torch-and no part was left untouched by its flame. He welded up frame pin holes and relocated them to suit his idea of where they should be. 1911 barrels were likewise welded on every conceivable bearing surface and completely redesigned. The beavertail on a Boland gun or "Spring Board Tang" as he called it was complemented by "Gas Pedals" (Welded Swenson safeties), "Mud Flaps" (Thumb Guards) and the "Jungle Lips" magwell. Add other esoterica like square wire springs, welded ejectors and mag catches and lots of machine cut checkering you have a Boland Masterpiece. RIP Mr. Boland.

Jim Hoag Custom 1911 Longslide

2010-02-25T23:11:00.001-05:00

Here are a few pics of Hoag Longslides-Hoag's speciality was welding a slide extension onto a 5' slide for greater sight radius and reduced recoil. He is a Master!

A Hidden gem for 1911 lovers-The Astra A-70

2010-02-22T08:35:00.001-05:00

If you ever run across one of these Spanish beauties in a pawn shop, go for it. 8+1 capacity, Single action, very reliable browning style operation. About the size of a Kahr K9, the only real negative is the chunkiness from the steel frame and a few errant sharp edges. The sights could be improved also.

These pistols were produced from 1992-1997 and were originally part of a contract for the official Spanish plainclothes service pistol along with the very similar but nowehere near as good, Star Firestar. Astra later "improved" the design with a decocker and double action trigger and dubbed it the A-75. Also a neat gun, but not as cool as the A-70.

This is an EASY gun to shoot. With some ergonomic changes and better sights it would really be a keeper. Hmmmmmm..

New Matt Lamey Damascus Bowie

2010-02-03T00:23:00.000-05:00

Killer temperline Damascus fighter, ebony handle, damasuc guard with spacer

WOW!!!!!!

Almost 100 pics of custom and unique NON-1911's autopistols (Hi-Powers, CZ's, Colt Mustang-You name it, we got it)

2010-01-31T23:20:00.003-05:00

The results are IN. It's a tie?

2010-01-29T08:03:00.000-05:00

Best semi-custom 1911 builder POLL.

Wilson Combat 7 (33%)

Les Baer 7 (33%)

Ed Brown 3 (14%)

Nighthawk 4 (19%)

Votes so far: 21

100 Custom Handgun Holsters and Related pics

2010-01-26T00:16:00.000-05:00

From the best holster makers like Alessi, Sparks, Bulman, DelFatti, Garrity and others.

Bruce Gray Custom 1911 Springfield Armory .45

2010-01-14T23:34:00.003-05:00

Here is a classic old singlestack comp gun built by Bruce Gray during the late '80's. Some dingleberry "deburred" the sharp 20 LPI checkering, but the precision is intact. This gun is one of the best fitted 1911's I have ever encountered. The slide and frame are incredibly mated and feel as if they are riding greased bearings. Super trigger and huge welded up and swaged magwell. Lots of little touch like fineley serrated slide top and 50 lpi checkered rear of slide. Bruce welded and recut the feedramp for flawless feeding. Check out that retro seamless beavertail. This gun is a one-holer. Bar-Sto bull barrel and Swenson speed safety.

WANTED-Custom 1911's by Pachmayr, Rogers, Boland, Devel, Gray, Nastoff, Hoag, Swenson, Garthwaite, Vickers, Yost, Liebenberg, Giles, Pittman,

2010-01-14T23:25:00.001-05:00

Wanted-Unique custom 1911's by the best makers-old and new.