From 1911_purview

Even kids know from video games that standing still will get you killed—so innovation is the mother of advancement right? Not for me. When people started milling out slides for red dot optics, I started searching Ebay for retired Bomars. I know, Boomer. Sorry, not sorry. I want my 1911s to look new, but feel old. Enter Kirk Robinson, out of Kingman Kansas—a retired HVAC guy. He hits the scene making these Avante Garde 1911s with melted noses that look like something out of Pablo Picasso painting. I secretly liked them, but not enough to want one. I started following his work though, and the more I looked at his guns, the more I felt like he knew his way around a mill. Years ago I bought this 48 Colt, with the intention of having her built. I sent it to a pistolsmith of some renown, and he promptly sent it back with a note that said, “not this one, not me.” I guess it was too much trouble to get all the crooked lines straight. So I threw it in a safe and “gave it to god” as my Catholic wife says. A year later, I called Kirk and said “you wouldn’t build me a 1911 on a crooked 48 Colt would you?” His anwer was “why wouldn’t I?” He said whatever is wrong with it, I’ll fix, so send it. So I did. And he did. My friend Tony is known for saying (about custom 1911s), “it will come out great, as long as you supply the style.” Well I told Kirk, “I’m old school —no optics, no melted nose, and no slide cuts.” The recipe is checkering, French borders, lined top, Bomar, Kart, etc. Less is more. Again, I wanted it to look new, but feel old—a contemporary classic if you will. He said no problem. One year later this incredible weapon showed up. Instagram won’t give me the font space to tell you all that it is and how much it means to me, so I will leave it at this. This 1911 is a forever gun for me. What’s Kirk like? He’s a retired, easy going, slow talking, hard working, honest to the core, no bullshit American, who in my opinion joins the short list of gunsmiths to send a crooked Colt to. How good is this gun? I skipped the Spegels and went straight to the tusk. Now the real question. Who has a better beard Kirk or Dave Laubert?