From 1911_purview

his 1977 Colt, in 38 super, was made by master pistolsmith Gary Kimball out of Colorado Springs. The gun itself is rare air and simply bad to the bone, but for me, it’s more than that. The man who taught me how to shoot a pistol found this gun at a gun show in Idaho. He called me last year and said do you have a Gary Kimball 1911? I said I do not. He said you do now. I bought one for you and I’ll bring it to you next week. So, let’s learn about Gary. After college, alongside his father, Keesey (a master-class bullseye shooter) Gary attended gunsmithing courses at Trinidad State in Colorado. The two later opened a father/son gunsmithing business together. To further develop their craft, they trained with renowned El Paso pistolsmith Howard Peters and spent countless hours with Jack Maple at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit (USAMTU) at Fort Benning, Georgia. Keesey went on to become a respected rifle builder, while Gary returned to Trinidad State as an instructor. During this time, he assisted with NRA courses taught by legendary pistolsmiths Jim Clark and Ron Power. While teaching at TSJC, Gary met USPSA/IPSC champion Paul Miller, who introduced him to practical shooting. Soon after he began experimenting with compensator designs and building custom pistols specifically for IPSC competition. In 1988, Gary opened his own shop in Colorado Springs, where he built precision blasters like this until his retirement in 2025. What you see before you as a work of art by a true American craftsman. For me, however, this pistol will always be a reminder of friendship, mentorship, and the man who first showed me what excellence in a handgun could and should be.