Colt 1911's

[rjrivero]

These are my Colts. They started out stock. The 80 Government Model was worked over by a good old friend of mine, God Rest His soul. His name was Russ Carniack. He lived in Birmingham Michigan, and I used to visit him in his basement shop often when I was in High School and when I came home for College. We talked often, and he let me watch him work over some guns.

The second gun is an old Commander slide on a cosmetically damaged Alloy Frame. The parts were from the spare parts bin in Russ' Shop. He let me build it with spare parts during our time together. I like to think he liked my company, as I was fond of his. When I built this gun, I had intentions of modifying the sights, trigger, and beavertail as I got more money. It was built on a college kid's budget, which ment free parts out of the scrap bin. Russ passed a few months after we built this and shot it. I can't bring myself to change it. It means alot to me just the way she is. His daughter continues his tradition of fine 1911 smithing, and has quite a following in SE Michigan.

The Goverment 80 has a Bo-Mar sight machined into the slide. It has a Wilson Combat Trigger, with overtravel adjustment. The hammer is a skeletonized Ed Brown design, as well as the Ed Brown "Memory Groove" beaver tail. It has an SA Wide mouth Magazine well/Backstrap. The front grip strap is checkered, and the slide and frame is peaned. (sp?) There is a two piece guide rod, and a Wilson Combat barrel Bushing. The Barrel Link is custom fitted as well. She's a real tack driver and a great shooting gun. The Magazine Realse is a wide button convertible. The Abi saftey is from Wilson. I run Chip McCormick Shooting Star Magazines through her all the time.

http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=44

http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=43

http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=42

[Oriondk]

Nice Colts, RJ. Can't beat a good 1911. Great story about your friend, too.

[Max]

Nice looking guns RJ and thanks for sharing.

[jim fox]

Fine Colts. And I wouldn't change a thing on that Commander either.

[StrawHat]

I am the guy that doesn't own a 1911 of any variety but that Commander is the one I'd go for if ever I needed one.

[OFallon]

Is Russ' wife in the business?

[rjrivero]

Is Russ' wife in the business?

No. His daughter picked up that torch long ago, as his apprentice. It took her about 6 months before she started doing this full time, and now there is a 2 year wait to get a custom 1911 from her.

[Remphoto]

Here lots of accolades for commander but not as much for officer model. How would you compare?

[rjrivero]

Here lots of accolades for commander but not as much for officer model. How would you compare?

I don't have an officer model. I can't compare them for you. If you'd like, you can buy me one, and I'll do any comparison you'd like. ;)

[OFallon]

His daughter picked up that torch long ago, as his apprentice. It took her about 6 months before she started doing this full time, and now there is a 2 year wait to get a custom 1911 from her.

She comes highly recommended... but there's a long wait for everything.

[jim fox]

Here lots of accolades for commander but not as much for officer model. How would you compare?
I prefer the Compact version for carry - Officer style short grip and Commander style slide/barrel. I have a couple of the short barrel .45s (one Colt and one Kimber) and they work OK, but to keep them running smoothly the recoil spring strength/tension seem to be more critical in the small guns - and they seem far more susceptable to mal-function due to limp wristing. I think the extra mass of the Commander length slide helps with reliablilty.

A goodly number of the non-Colt versions of both the Commander style and the Officer style cut even more weight off of the slide by virtue of shortening the barrel/slide assembly by anothe quarter inch. The Officer has a 3.25 inch barrel and the Commander has a 4.25 inch barrel, whereas many competitive brands go with 3 inch and 4 inch barrel respectively.

I believe the Sig line of 1911s has kept the slide/barrel length equivalent to the original Colts. If I were looking to replace any of my shortened versions I'd strongly consider going with the longer slide/barrel package. I think the extra quarter of an inch (and it's accompaning mass) makes for improved reliability.

[rjrivero]

Thanks Jim. I was so close to having him buy me a new 1911 until you blew it for me. ;)

[tomsrod]

RJ I have a goverment model I got from my Father in law one he had during the 2nd world war he used. He broth back with him when he got out of the service. Its a colt. It has property of US government stamped on it.

[tomsrod]

RJ I have a goverment model I got from my Father in law one he had during the 2nd world war he used. He broth back with him when he got out of the service. Its a colt. It has property of US government stamped on it.

[jim fox]

Thanks Jim. I was so close to having him buy me a new 1911 until you blew it for me. ;)

Well, maybe he'll go with one of each. :gun: :D

[scubarod]

very nice RJ

[rjrivero]

RJ I have a goverment model I got from my Father in law one he had during the 2nd world war he used. He broth back with him when he got out of the service. Its a colt. It has property of US government stamped on it.

Do all the numbers match up? Frame and Slide? Sometimes the barrel gets stamped with a serial number too. If the numbers match, and it's in good shape, you may want to have it appraised.

[CA357]

Nice 1911's.