As far back as I can remember I have always liked mechanical things. My first exposure to shooting came via Sharps rifles and the 1911 in USGI form. My father, who was very naturally mechanical with an appreciation for guns and English sports cars, gave me my first Winchester single-shot when I was 5 or 6 years old. Although probably unnoticed at the time, the value and impact of being raised in an environment that taught me about guns is now easy to see. By the time I turned 21 I wasn’t as excited to be of legal drinking age as much as I was to get my concealed pistol license.
As I got more involved in shooting and training I played around with various guns and gear. I tried everything and experimented with different carry set-ups, eventually making my way back to the 1911. The realization that I could practically and effectively carry a full size 1911 coupled with my constant search for better guns and gear took me from “factory” and “production” 1911s to “semi-custom” guns and eventually I discovered the custom 1911 world. The various small and often one-man custom shops opened my eyes to what was possible with the platform and served as the catalyst that started my journey full-fledge into the custom 1911 world.