An absolutely crazy M1911A1 by Alaska pistolsmith Daniel Richard Doyle. Doc (as he was known to clients and friends) spent many years operating out of a small gunsmithing shop in Kodiak called “Doc Dan’l Gunsmith.” A graduate of the Colorado School of Trades, Doc was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 77th Artillery in Vietnam. His military service was nothing short of exceptional–he was awarded 4 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze Stars, and 4 Purple Hearts. He was inducted into the 25th Infantry Division’s Tropic Lightning Combat Honor Roll. He was also selected to represent Alaska as part of the special honor guard at President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s funeral. Tragically, a motorcycle accident in September of 1969 left Doc confined to a wheelchair. But his paraplegia did little to diminish his passion for firearms. Like Terry Tussey, he just kept on keeping on. As an accomplished competitive shooter, Doc competed in trap, skeet, and high-powered rifle competitions. Sponsored by Winchester, he participated in major shooting championships all over the country. Not bad for a guy in a wheelchair. Doc earned the respect of Alaska’s firearms community through decades of custom gunsmithing work. Daniel “Doc” Doyle passed away in June of 2025 at the age of 78. Grips by some schizophrenic patient from the 50s. These guns have stories.
