From 1911_purview

This 80 series Colt commander was built by my friend Tim Gerhard (TJs Gunsmithing) out of Aurora CO. TJ is not just a pistolsmith, he’s a full service gunsmith. There’s a big difference. He will sight in your rifle before deer season, tune your out of time Python, and right after that, fix your Italian side-lock shotgun, when nobody else in town can or will. He was the best gunsmith in CO for thirty years, and around these parts, a virtual legend. He and I used to pheasant hunt together and we would talk about things that mattered. He knew that later in my life I fell in love with 1911s, and he selflessly (at great expense to his personal and professional time) did his best to teach how they worked. He knew his way around 1911s because right out of gunsmithing school he worked at Sports West under the legendary Ikey Starks. I always wanted him to build me a 1911, and he intended to, but three years ago, a bunch of thugs drove a stolen Cadillac Escalade through his shop door, destroying his livelihood. At 68 years old, he had to make a decision. Rebuild or walk away. Unfortunately, he walked away. I was happy for his retirement, but despondent that he never built me that 1911. Years later I found this gun for sale on an internet forum and I bought it immediately. I called Tim and he said “oh I remember that gun well…I built it for a cop.” The polish and machine work on it are absolutely beautiful. I asked him if he would consider checkering it for me and he said that those days are long gone. We all need a little help from our friends, so I asked Pete Single if he would do this gun the honor…and he did. This 1911 means an awful lot to me. Grips by Wood Caliber.