Category Archives: Thoughts

1911_purview I frequently get asked what is my favorite 1911. Now I can answer that question. This one. This pistol was crafted by the venerable Mr. Ted Yost. So what makes it so special? Well, let’s start with rarity. Remember how Hoag and Clark used to weld up Colt slides to make them 6 inches?Continue reading “Ted Yost Colt Longslide”

Brandan builds some of the finest modern 1911’s anywhere, he continually innovates with new parts and machining techniques.

1911_purview In the early 1930s, Frank Pachmayr left his father’s rifle business and opened his own shop. It didn’t take long for him to become interested in accurizing 1911s for bullseye shooting. Frank poured all of his time and effort into refining accuracy, ultimately focusing on what became known as the Signature System. Standard PachmayrContinue reading “Pachmayr Combat Special”

1911_purview 1972 70 series Colt by Jim Milks…but this one took a virtual village to build. Here’s how she came together. First, with the help of 1911 Addicts (my favorite internet forum) I found this unmolested large letter Colt 70 series, and after buying it, my buddy @captainbigshot transferred it to me. Next I sentContinue reading “Jim Milks Custom”

Super Classic Early 1970’s Custom from the shop of Armand Swenson. Armand did a full gammut of custom builds from super basic to superb one-of-a-kind masterpieces.

1911_purview 1966 Colt in .45 ACP with ALL the right moves…professionally massaged by industry legend Joe Bonar, former gunsmith at Novaks. Joe tragically lost his life in a MVA in 2003. Of course it has Novaks sights and Spegel grips. Wayne Novak was kind of the guy who put Spegel on the map

Real Class custom from Ted Yost, not a thing I would change about this gun if I were ordering it today.

We’ve got an incredible collection of rare Marlin Lever Action chambers in the small bore variety for you today, hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

1911_purview This Infinity was built by 2009 APG pistolsmith of the year Marc Morganti (Gemini Customs) out of Frankfort Kentucky. I’ve wanted a gun by Morganti for years, but Gemini is focused on building custom Ruger and S&W wheel guns, so they are no longer taking 1911 work–in other words, they’re never going back again.Continue reading “Marc Morganti Custom 1911”

Forest Davis, trained under Famed Air Force Pistolsmith Bob Day at Lackland AFB. Forest went on to have a long career of tuning and accurizing the 1911 out of Mississippi.