Colt Series 80 Officers ACP in .45 ACP by Glendale, Arizona pistolsmith Kent Singletary. By almost any measure, Arizona was—and still is—a virtual epicenter of the custom pistolsmithing world. While California gave birth to much of the early custom 1911 movement, many of the industry’s greatest craftsmen eventually migrated to the Arizona desert. Why do we think that is? Part of the answer is undoubtedly Gunsite. Jeff Cooper’s legendary training academy and “modern techniques” attracted serious shooters from all over the world, creating an environment where innovation and practical fighting handguns flourished. Another major piece of the story was Robar in Phoenix. Founded by South African Robbie Barkmann in the late 1970s, Robar earned a reputation for building hard-use fighting pistols while pioneering one of the most respected firearm finishes ever developed: NP3. For decades, Robar wasn’t simply a custom shop—it was a proving ground where talented pistolsmiths sharpened their skills before becoming legends in their own right. One of those craftsmen was Kent Singletary. Kent spent roughly three decades at Robar, quietly building and refining custom pistols before opening his own shop, KS Customs, in Glendale, Arizona. This Colt Series 80 Officers in .45 ACP (cloaked in lustrous, self lubricating NP3) is one of his KS creations. These guns have stories.
Scattered Shots 