1911
 

Can't get it off my mind.

Want 1911. Want 1911. Want 1911. Want 1911....

The other figure, on the other shoulder says:

In due time. Not now. In due time. Not now....

It's a disease, I tell you. Thank goodness I only have a mild form of the disease. I've seen some bad cases of it recently. One of my friends is going to end up in the poorhouse as a result of his disease.

Everyone but IPU ignore this thread. Yes, it's over your heads.

Yes, but does it have a soul?

Boy are you saucy today. Did you eat sugary cereal again?

I will share the burden with you, Mike. It's tough going alone, but together, perhaps we can overcome.

Or put our resources together and share.

I'm considering the idea of ivory or faux ivory grips, with scrimshaw art work.

The scrimshaw will not be nautical, will not be a map, will not be scantily clad women.

I would like a kind of Biblical or LDS theme, with content being towards God's love and protection.

Possible candidates -
Alma 46 - title of liberty
2nd Kings 6 - them that are with us are more than with them.
Psalms 23 - shadow of the valley of death, fear no evil

As I'm sitting here thinking of LDS symbology, I'm kind of at a loss. Moroni blowing the trumpet. Some of the artwork on the outside of temples. What else? And if temple artwork, what specific motifs?

That is an interesting idea, Mike - LDS themes on grips. It never would have occurred to me to do that. You could add a twist to it with the 2nd Amendment engraved on the Title of Liberty.

What make 1911, mike? I have had the same hankering and think I am going with a Kimber pro crimson carry II. But I have Black Rifle disease as well, and I have been satisfying this need first. It is coming though, I tell you. And hells coming with me!

My father in law has a WWII era Colt 1911 .45 ACP. I'm pretty sure it killed some Germans. It's old, but still a sweet gun. His sons hate him so I think I have a pretty good shot at inheriting the thing when he croaks. Hell, he might even give it to me before then.

Sidebar: why the hell did the U.S. give up the .45 in favor of the 9mm as the standard issue side arm? Was it just to conform to NATO or was there some other reason? Seems pretty wimpy to me...

Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail is what I'm planning on, although there is a limited supply and essentially a wait-list.

I'm not familiar with the Kimber line, but I will say, if that is less than a commander size, be careful. You may encounter reliability problems.

The other thing that is specific to Kimber (and some other manufacturers) is MIM parts. Basically what I think of as "hot dog metal." Grind up a metal paste, put in binders, put in mold, and that is the "metal" in your gun. I'm staying away from Kimber.

DW is a small manufacturer, but I have heard very good things from both a friend who owns one as well as the internet community.

I believe you are correct in that it was to go with the NATO standard ammo. Although not every branch gave up the 1911. I think the Marines kept the 1911 if I'm not mistaken.

WWII 1911s are collectors items, and depending on their condition, can be quite valuable. Make sure he doesn't, nor you, refinish the gun or do anything like that.

The beauty of Scrimshaw is that you can use any design you like, provided you or someone else, takes the time to actually lay the work down on the material.

Making a firearm into a personalized work of art appeals to me. I think a lot of the things that you see on the internet are stupid--macho designs, death designs. They do not reflect my values. Peace, rule of law, respect, brotherhood, family, non-violence--these are my values.

Thanks for the heads up on Kimber. I will look into a DW.

Mike, you've piqued my curiosity about the DW. I'm going to learn more about it now.

Interesting, I didn't know they could be so valuable. Thanks for the heads up.

too bad you weren't piqued earlier when I inquired about a CZ/DW group buy here.

I've learned a thing or two about black rifles along the way as well. Not an expert by any means, but I have a general idea of things to look for and things to avoid. Including alternate calibers.

I missed it. Sorry 'bout that.

For you that are uninitiated, let me add that the 1911 was designed and created by a Mormon gunmaker, the most famous and most important American gunmaker of them all--John Moses Browning. It is only appropriate that the gun have Mormon regalia and symbology.

These are ivory grips that were photoshopped onto a Dan Wesson CBOB (commander bobtail). So this is kind of what I am shooting for, but with a different scrimshaw design of course. Notice how the Dan Wesson has very little in the way of billboard on the slide. Very clean appearance.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ryscroll-1.jpg

The clean appearance doesn't go with the scrimshaw. The scrimshaw doesn't belong on a gun trying to imitate Johnson's Glass House.

Perhaps. But the awesome thing is that this is not going to hang in a gallery. It's going to be a working gun with dents, dings, and scratches.

There are some incredible wood grips out there with breathtaking grains. I'm not against those. I merely want a small piece of Americana that holds significance to me.

Took a second, closer look at the gun. I see its beauty now, and the scrimshaw goes well. THe grooved lines on the base of the barrell make the difference.

It's a wonderful gun, but cleaning it is not so fun as compared to newer designs. Clean one and reassemble one and tell me you still like it.

I was in the ROTC. Get back to me after you have cleaned a M16.

Okay. If you like to clean it, then that's fine. I'm lazy and dissembling one is not so fun for me.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3gQ_hl-tjo

I would choose the Wilson 1911. It's discussed here.

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Combat-...1268947#reader

This book looks interesting.

Some would buy the Wilson.

Some would prefer two or three Dan Wessons at the same price.

Some would like an Ed Brown. Some would like a Les Baer. And so forth.

The Dan Wesson is a good choice I hear though I've never fired one. What do you think?

Totally agree. Although I am talking AR-15, but really same design. What a pig to clean, but worth it. So much fun.

I'll let you know after I have handled and fired one.

Check is in the mail.....fingers crossed.

A long story on how I got to this point, but finally got to the range.

Fun, fun, fun.

You can get a sense for why the 1911 is such an enduring design. Crisp trigger, good accuracy, feels good in the hand. Not to mention, looks good.

At 45 feet, 8 shots per target. 1911 DW Commander.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_1818-2.jpg