1966 Colt 1911 in 45 ACP by California legend Chuck Ries. Chuck was one of the many talented California smiths working during the golden age of the custom combat 1911. Operating out of Culver City in the 70s and 80s, Ries was also an accomplished single-action fast-draw competitor who knew his way around both revolvers and automatics. His work appeared in the early days of IPSC competition alongside guns built by legends like Swenson, Hoag, and Clark. By 1982, his pistols were competing in the Steel Challenge. His pistols bear the distinctive “CAR” marking, although the meaning of the middle initial remains a mystery. I’ve looked everywhere –what the heck is the A? Arnold? Atticus? Like so many talented pistolsmiths of his generation, Ries left behind relatively little biographical information, but his surviving guns are his timeless story tellers. The California dealer selling this gun didn’t even know who built it. Thank God, I’m friends with Karl Beining, aka the most knowledgeable person on Custom 1911s from yesteryear alive today. Owe you another one amigo
