Category Archives: Thoughts

Venry D’Aiguillon was an east coast master metal-smith who chose the 1911 pistol as his medium. This example shows his Radical welding, shaping and machine work on an Essex frame and Colt National Match slide.

From 1911_purview 1980 Combat Commander in .45 ACP by Craig Wetstein. Straight out of gunsmithing school, Wetstein was one of the young guns that was building what is arguably the most famous custom 1911 ever manufactured—the famed Pachmayr Combat Special. After that, he left Pachmayr and opened his own shop called “Auto Shop” in CulverContinue reading “Craig Wetstein Custom Colt”

Great example of the Custom Government Model Colt, this one with all the checkering, immense amount of hand work went into this classic two-tone 1911.

From 1911_purview Springfield Armory 1911 in .45 ACP by Joe Chambers. No, not the Joe Chambers in Crete Nebraska, the Joe Chambers who was the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit armorer. Yup, there are two of them. This precision instrument ain’t pretty, but it’s HARD fit with a Kart barrel and bushing, the later ofContinue reading “Joe Chambers Custom Springfield”

From 1911_purview 80 series compensated Colt in 38 super by Houston pistolsmith Eddie Jimenea. If you ever come across a 1911 with “EJ” inscribed on the trigger guard…BUY IT!

From 1911_purview 80 series Colt in .45 ACP by Ken Crawley. Born in 1941, Ken spent his early years in a small west Texas town south of Ranger. He lived on a farm and liked open spaces and hunting. He went to work for Martin Sprocket in 1958. His first job was sweeping up, butContinue reading “Ken Crawley Custom Colt”