1911_purview

This custom Colt Government Model in .38 Super (despite the “.45” marking on the slide) was built by legendary pistolsmith Ben Jones of Ruskin, Florida. A highly decorated Korean War Army Ranger, Jones also served with the French Foreign Legion in Vietnam during the early 1950s. Soldier, machinist, inventor, and master gunsmith, he brought an extraordinary combination of experience, discipline, and craftsmanship to every firearm that left his shop. In 1981, Jones founded Gun Craft, Inc., a premier outdoor shooting facility that became known not only for hosting major shooting competitions but also for producing exceptional custom firearms. An accomplished inventor, Jones was awarded dozens of firearm patents, many of which continue to influence the firearms industry today.
Jones was also an avid outdoorsman and accomplished big-game hunter who traveled the world pursuing exotic game. His experiences in the field shaped his philosophy that a custom firearm should be both mechanically superior and completely dependable. This pistol is representative of the ingenuity that defined the golden age of custom 1911 pistolsmithing. At a time when quality .38 Super pistols were difficult to obtain, skilled craftsmen would convert more readily available .45 ACP pistols by welding breech-block spacers into the slides, creating exceptionally reliable competition guns chambered in .38 Super. The work required meticulous machining and absolute precision, and the result was often superior to many factory offerings. Everything about this pistol reflects the hand of a master craftsman. It locks up like a bank vault, the slide glides over the frame like it’s on ball bearings, and the trigger breaks with remarkable precision. But beyond its flawless mechanical execution lies the characteristic that defines every truly great custom pistol. It possesses something that cannot be measured, duplicated, or manufactured—it has soul. Thank you to my friend @custom_handguns who allowed me to be its steward for a couple of decades.