A Favorite Colt Government Model…

[Jason Burton]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8639423840_5f258b7ca0_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

Of the guns that I built over the last year this was one of my favorites by far.

The gun started as your basic stainless steel Series 70 Colt Government Model… a solid base gun from the start in need of a full-house conversion. The owner had good idea of what he wanted the end result to be and he had a few key features in mind that went a long way to adding to the finished package. One of those features was the matted slide top.

I have done matted slide tops in the past but mostly on blued guns. I’ve always like the way a matted stainless slide looks, as sort of a throw-back to the Swenson guns of the past, so I was quite happy to accommodate the owners request.

In addition to the matted slide top the gun got a weld-up frame and slide fit, Kart barrel, EGW grip safety, “BM” styled thumb safety, re-profiled Heinie rear sight, Gold Line front sight, and the slide was machined for ball-cuts. Along with the standard reliability modifications the gun was hand-checkered front and rear at 30lpi, the frame was modified for a Legacy Custom mainspring housing, the slide stop pin hole was chamfered with the slide stop being shortened and crowned, and the gun was finished with a set of Spegel cocobolo stock panels.

Enjoy the pictures!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8638321543_a75dd171ef_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8638321585_707f05fc95_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8639423858_f223b5f08a_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8639423808_83ab3f17f9_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8639423752_34fa962f1c_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8639423714_3784228f0d_c.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

[SeriousStudent]

Thank you for taking the time to post the photos, Mr. Burton. I always appreciate a chance to look at your craftsmanship.

[Blayglock]

Beautiful and classic. Thank you for sharing.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Wow sir that's beautiful! Could you share how that matte slide top is done?

Jon

[CAVDOC]

Breath taking! While a blue/ black fan myself that pistol really defies description- wow

[G woody]

Outstanding Matte job!!

[Lacos]

Very pleasing to the eye. Thank you.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I'm trying to figure out what blasting media to use to achieve this look on carbon steel, before it gets coated. I really love that look!

[BigDog]

Very nice, sir!

[QuickStrike]

That's classy as hell. I'm having something similar done on a blued series 70, without the checkering and some of the other stuff.

What would one call this type of build? "Retro-tactical"?

[uffdaphil]

It's difficult to say anything is "most" beautiful, but not anymore when selecting best 1911 slide top-treatment. I just want to rub my face on it. After shaving of course.

[Sam]

I'm trying to figure out what blasting media to use to achieve this look on carbon steel, before it gets coated. I really love that look!

If this question is an extension of your previous one about how did Jason get the top of the slide to look that way, it's not blasting. I'm not a pistolsmith but I stayed in the same hotel as some of them and I saw how some of them do it. Some use a "bastard" file and a hammer, really, put the file on the metal and whack it with the hammer. Do it in a random manner to achieve the preferred look. Lots of practice to get good at it. Some people use a punch and hammer. Jason may have some other secret ninja pistolsmith method that he uses.

[David Thomas]

I continue to be amazed by your work. Really like the work around the ejection port.

[pleaforwar]

Always a pleasure viewing your work Jason. Thanks for sharing.

[njhiker88]

Beautiful work!

[R0CKETMAN]

Clean and purdy

[Magic_Salad0892]

Would the texture on the top of the slide be course enough to aid with grip during a malf clearance?

Great work, Mr. Burton.

[BigJoe]

jason that came out REALLY nice, that will be a bad ass carry piece for someone

[wilsoncombatrep]

Awesome work Jason!

[Jason Burton]

Thanks for the kind words fellas'... I typically am not a huge fan of stainless steel guns, but I would have happily kept this gun. I really enjoy doing the matted slide top and look forward to doing at least another this year.


Would the texture on the top of the slide be course enough to aid with grip during a malf clearance?

Nah... it's not really that coarse to the touch. For example, it doesn't "pull" or grab leather when drawing it from a holster.

How's it done... the are a few steps in getting the final result to look and feel like it does that but the base pattern is made via a pneumatic punch.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

How's it done... the are a few steps in getting the final result to look and feel like it does that but the base pattern is made via a pneumatic punch.

Like a needle gun?

[denn1911]

Gorgeous work, Jason! Sending a Colt into you for a makeover is on my short list.

[Rana]

That Colt has a look all of its own Jason.

Very clean. And the attention to detail, as always with "Heirloom Precision," is impeccable.

[TakeAwayTheFear]

Makes me wish that I went stainless!

[lowprone]

My heart just skipped a beat. Love the ball mill cuts and classic lines.