Springfield Armory Fightin’ Gun...

[Jason Burton]

I’ve always had a soft spot for a hard chromed gun. Over the years most of my carry guns have been hard chromed and for me there has just always been something special about that finish. You could call it a “connection” of sorts having lived with the finish for years now. Even with the availability and popularity of wonder finishes I’ve always been partial to hard chrome for its clean look, durability, and ease of maintenance. Despite the “white“ appearance that some folks just can‘t seem to stand, hard chrome is probably the original wonder finish. So with that in mind, I always get an extra bit of extra joy when I get to build a gun that will be finished in hard chrome and this gun was of course no different.

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/17471261351.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

Set up as a “fightin’ gun” this customer knew just was he wanted for a new piece of shootin’ iron and he had an untouched Springfield Armory G.I. for the canvas. As with all our guns I started with a weld-up frame and slide fit after which a Kart barrel and EGW barrel bushing were mated up to the newly fit frame and slide. The front strap was high-cut and hand-checkered at 20lpi and a Legacy Custom mainspring housing was machined into the frame and treated with the same hand-cut checkering. The S&A beavertail swings on an EGW machined thumb safety and the ignition of each cartridge is insured by a C&S sear and disconnect mated up to a Wilson Combat hammer. The gun has a slightly extended and angled mag-catch, Wilson extractor and ejector, and EGW oversized firing pin stop. The pistol was treated to a complete de-horn, the frame and slide lines were straightened, and the slide top was left clean but fit with our Professional Grade rear sight and Gold Line front sight. The entire pistol was finished in matte hard chrome fit with thin-line Operator stock panels courtesy of John VanZyck at VZ Grips.

The Gold Line front sight continues to enjoy a noticeable rise in popularity. Like the classically styled Del Fatti rig pictured here, the Gold Line front sight remains popular most likely due to its simplicity, robust nature, and overall usability and it fits in quite well with the overall theme and intended use for this gun, simple and rugged. All and all it’s a pistol built for a single purpose and with a few exceptions this gun is pretty close to what is my current using gun. From the thin line stock panels to the Gold Line front sight this is a gun I could easily live with on a day-to-day basis and it was hard for me not to just stuff it into an IWB rig and head off to the range. Enjoy the photos!

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/17471261342.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/17471261333.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/17471260275.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/17471261324.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/20648512691.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/20648512682.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/20648512913.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/20648512904.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/07012010/20648512895.jpg (www.hp1911.com)

[MarshallDodge]

I would call that a masterpiece with an attitude. :cool:

[SWATcop556]

I'm one of those that does not like the look of hard chrome. But when I do see one in HC and I'm thinking to myself that's actuall a very nice 1911, it always seems to have been built by you. Very nice. The owner will carry it daily with pride.

[13F3OL7]

One of these days maybe.

[Vinh]

Fantastic.

[VA_Dinger]

Absolutely stunning 1911.

[Dos Cylindros]

I have always thought that you guys to the best looking (and probably some of the best functioning) custom 1911's on earth.

[SiGfever]

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1416/bowdown3xd.gif Now that is one fine looking pistol sir, fantastic work!

[varoadking]

Nice pictures, Jason...

I like the new radius profile on the edges of your rear sight...very kewl...

[YATYAS]

I''ll take it! How much????

[BiggLee71]

That is one nice piece!!! I see I will be sending you guys my series 70 Colt shortly!! :D

[maximus83]

Jason, that is a beautiful piece of work, thanks for posting the pictures.

Not long ago, I had my favorite 1911, a Springfield Loaded, worked over by the SA Custom shop and they did it in a matte HC as well. This is my first experience with a quality HC job on one of my 1911's, and I agree with you, it is a great finish.

Edited to add: Can you give a little more background on the Gold Line sight? I'm curious what folks like about this sight, and if they are becoming really popular with a particular type of shooter. Do they have any night time visibility?

[SeaSoldier]

maximus 83, I have these same sights on both of my TRS's and will have them on a BHP. For my 51yr old eyes they are very fast to acquire and more accurate than any sight system I have used to date. Before these sights it was Heinie old style STR8 Eights. I believe the sights are less confusing at speed. 3 dot systems play havoc with my vision. I can pick up the sights in all but pitch dark when I would be using a light with any style sight anyway. During day lite hours the gold is really easy to find especially for quick follow up shots without any glare. For me there is no downside to this system

[Mark71]

I have always thought that you guys to the best looking (and probably some of the best functioning) custom 1911's on earth.

I agree. Their Hi-Powers are also works of art.

[Jason Burton]

Hey guys... thanks for the feedback and the comments. I always appreciate the time you guys take to reply, thanks!



Can you give a little more background on the Gold Line sight? I'm curious what folks like about this sight, and if they are becoming really popular with a particular type of shooter. Do they have any night time visibility?

The use of a vertical gold line in sights is not really new, it’s been in use on fine English sporting guns for quite a while. We’ve been applying them to pistols sights for some time and, to the best of my knowledge, my partner Ted Yost was the first to use them in this specific application.

The biggest benefit of the Gold Line front sight is that the vertical bar, in addition to standing out against the black sights, gives the shooter a definitive index of the top of the front sight. This makes it very easy to achieve a precise sight picture especially when shooting at speed or distance. And, unlike other “gold” inserts, the ability to still serrate the sight face eliminates the potential for glare off the front sight.

After using all manner of sight systems on my personal guns I settled on the Gold Line front sight about two years ago because of how easy it is to use in the widest variety of environments and shooting situations. I’ve used it in countless classes, low-light and no-light, on square ranges, in and around vehicles, and in shoot-houses and, while I’ll never claim it to be perfect for everyone, I have no doubt of how well it works in my hands and for my eyes. The sight won’t glow in the dark but if there is a light source available, even a dim one, the gold can gather enough light to be visible and useable.

The sight seems to be popular across the board and it remains our most requested sight. The most frequent comments I hear from folks is how easy the sight is to see and use.

Hope that helps... :)

[Pappabear]

Jason, is that line painted on or is it embedded in some fashion?

The gun is just stunning. Its subtle understated perfection is just perfect.

[Jason Burton]

Jason, is that line painted on or is it embedded in some fashion?

The gun is just stunning. Its subtle understated perfection is just perfect.

The Gold Line is basically inlaid into the sight... a bit more involved than a traditional inlay but that’s the basic idea.

Thanks for the kind words! :)

[abanks8245]

simple, no frills and effective, yet very classic look to it excellent work as always, you all over there trully are great at what you do, pm inbound

[Bolt_Overide]

stellar work as always jason, I do likes me a no frills fightin gun.

[luckyguy1]

very nice, looks silver to me, not white.

[MPK9Cop]

I really like the grips!

[mattjmcd]

that's awesome!:)

[condition1]

Sweet piece! I like the HC look, but I prefer black appointments (safeties, slide and mag release, trigger, bushing and plug). It breaks up the look a bit and with a nice set of black grip just sets it apart for me.

[usarmy15t86]

Beautiful work! A little too monotone for my taste, but the HC looks great!

[g5m]

Beautiful work!

[GunBugBit]

That's what I'm talkin' about.

I love all the choices on this gun. Bigger beefier parts in an elegant all-business package.

[scoob]

Very cool. Those sights are different but look functional. Great looking gun.

[rsxr22]

that is an extremely beautiful gun jason!

[fixit69]

Never had a chance to fire one, but I had a chance to handle one of Ted Yost's pieces years ago. Looking at these pictures tells me both of you are masters of the craft. That is a beautiful pistol.

[jtsikes0204]

Beautiful gun!!

[CD0311]

Beautiful gun!!
+1
HC is also my favorite on a 1911

[iasc300]

beautiful