Category Archives: Guns

A classic carry gun built in Denver, at Sports West by Ikey Starks. This Combat Commander has a nice workup, Starks signature checkering and stippling, good clean work.

From 1911_purview This 70 series colt in .45 ACP was made by German gunsmith Fred Schmidt. It features Swenson ambidextrous safety, Smith & Wesson low mount K sight, Kings grip safety, commander hammer, and a welded up NM pipe…all shod in Pachmayr rubbers. Schmidt, a member of the APG, was a German machinist and gunsmithContinue reading “Fred Schmidt Custom Series 70”

From 1911_purview This 80 series Colt in .45 ACP was made by 2001 APG Pistolsmith of the Year John Yanek out of Schnecksville PA. The M1991 is arguably the ugliest Colt ever manufactured, but this one just got a little less ugly, now that the left sided roll marks have been “magic erased” at theContinue reading “John Yanek Custom Colt”

It took over a hundred years for Smith & Wesson to embrace the .45 Colt cartridge and I love that they finally did. Join me on a brief discussion of the .45 Colt cartridge and it’s use in Colt and Smith revolvers.

There are a lot of old military surplus rifles out there.  Most of them are junk.  The ones that are not junk are usually so expensive that its not really worth bothering with.  Even if you do get one of the more expensive ones, they are not really that accurate.  During their time they couldContinue reading “Swiss Milsurp Rifles”

The firearm pictures was dug up in Vietnam recently at the famous scene of one of France’s biggest  disasters.  A local Vietnamese man found it at Dien Bien Phu.  Anyone  who is familiar with a variety of older foreign pistols will see what appears to be examples from several all  jungle workshoped together.  Better examplesContinue reading “Mystery CHICOM Pistol Dug Up In Vietnam”

Today answering comments we talk about Smith & Wesson Cylinder Peening, and as usual other gunsmithing operations in general. Also a discussion on Browning High Power safety systems and how that plays into carrying one safely. Ruger Vs S&W quality control but really I only buy older guns and you can too. Plus much more.Continue reading “Nelson Ford Q&A #24, Gunsmithing Work, Browning Hi-Power Safety, Old Guns Are My Favorite Guns”

A really unique 1911 built into a nice carry gun by the late, great James Hoag. Jim worked well into the early 2000s, this mid-late 80s Colt was likely built by Jim in the 90s.

1911_purview Colt 70 series in .45 ACP built by Nelson Ford out of Phoenix AZ. This gun features Kings 201 strong side thumb safety, a Novak rear sight and Nelson’s pathognomonic front sight. Nelson still works on pistols, but he crossed over to the dark side—the wheel gun guys got him. Post build modifications: checkeringContinue reading “Nelson Ford Custom Colt”