THE RENAISSANCE PISTOL
Through my career I’ve had the good fortune to build some unique and challenging pistols - I’ve always looked at every project as an opportunity to learn, craft, and improve. This gun in particular helped to further refine and my efforts and enthusiasm for the custom 1911 - an enthusiasm that began in the 1990’s through the pages of American Handgunner Magazine.
This commission bolstered a new level of focus and a renewed desire for the goal of best gunmaking. The base gun, the combination of features and challenges present in the modifications, and the client who commissioned it all helped to further my passion for building the custom 1911. A revival of my enthusiasm and desire to achieve, this project became the Renaissance Pistol.
Features and Challenges
Starting with a worn and much used base gun is not new to me and this 1930’s era Colt 38 Super Government Model certainly fit that description. Some select features were must haves for the client including the three-arrow slide top pattern, a buried Bo-Mar rear sight, a custom ambidextrous thumb safety, a unique hammer profile that when combined with the action work yielded a 2.5# trigger, and a squared trigger guard that was to be checkered on both the front and the bottom. The real challenge becomes working through each modification individually so that, when combined together, they provided the cohesive blend that you see here. The ideology of best gunmaking at hand, the client allowed me wide latitude to do what was needed in order to make these things a reality.
The Bo-mar bmcs
The Bo-Mar rear sight was a very pragmatic and important decision in the configuration of this commission. Although I have done many Bo-Mar installations on previous commissions many of my pistols incorporate a fixed rear sight. This gun, however, brought me a new appreciation for the classic lines the Bo-Mar provides to the bespoke 1911. What’s more, considering the caliber of this pistol, the sight becomes both form and function - allowing for the precise sight regulation the client desired - a POA/POI zero at 25 yards with various loads became easy.
hoag styled hammer
The hammer profile was inspired by the work of Jim Hoag - a pioneer in custom 1911s who’s oval slot hammer is unique and readily identifiable. No part exists that is an exact replica so following in Hoag’s footsteps by modifying a new in package Colt Commander hammer was the route to go.
Custom thumb safties
Left up to my own choices I will generally defer to a single-side thumb safety unless the client is left handed - but bespoke gunmaking offers the chance to incorporate new or different features. This project needed a thumb safety that was both traditional in appearance and improved in function and the curved shape, profile, and blending of the levers make for a one-off function and aesthetic.
square and checker
There are two generally accepted ways to accomplish a squared and checkered trigger guard - heating and bending or cutting and welding. Neither is without risk and my preference is for the latter as I feel it provides a bit more assurance in the consistency and shape of the resulting squared trigger guard. It is always a gut-check when the it comes time to cut out a section of the existing trigger guard, fabricate an insert, and weld it in place. There is a risk and reward equation for everything done to these guns and squaring the trigger guard is easily amongst the highest risk and reward. Checkering one side of the guard adds another level or risk, checkering both doubles it, but to further add to the risk on this gun was my choice to checker both these surfaces at 75lpi
My checkering, done exclusively by hand, has been applied on many aspects of the 1911 and I have done it in lines per inch ranging from 20 to 75. However, this was to be the first squared and checkered trigger guard where both surfaces are done at 75lpi. Another aspect where this Renaissance Pistol provided a challenge that allowed me to push my limits and challenge my craft.
Although he didn’t know it at the time this commission started, early on in my discovery of the custom 1911 this client played a role in fueling my enthusiasm for this craft. During my early years of discovering the custom 1911 his contributions to the promotion and visibility of the platform helped to provide inspiration for me to dream big about what a bespoke 1911 could be. Thank you Cameron for the inspiration, opportunity, and latitude to craft this Renaissance Pistol.
An additional thank you goes out to Brady Miller, who’s photography is featured throughout my website. His talent behind the lens can easily be seen in these images and his photos not only capture the finished work but also tell the story of the gun.
