View Full Version : The Two-Tone Gun, Simplified...
Jason Burton
09-03-07, 00:59
... well maybe not really simplified... :D
A two-tone Government Model has remained popular for as long as the word custom has been attached to 1911, and for good reason. Called many things by many others before me, the classiness and classic-ness of a two-tone Gov’t Model has kept the finish combination a perennial favorite. Out of all the finishes available, be it traditional polished blue or any of the newest wonder finishes, a proper two-tone finish combination of “black” over “white” is a continuing favorite of mine and, like the Summer Special pictured with the gun, it’s a perfect recipe of tradition and practicality.
But this gun didn’t start a two-tone... this piece was a “spare” base gun I’ve been sitting on for a while that began life as an all-stainless “Enhanced” Colt Series 80 Government Model. Right about the time I finally got around to building it I happened to find an older carbon steel MK4 Series 80 slide so I figured why not make it my own idea of what the old Colt Combat Elite should have been… and a few months later this is the end result...
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/11957715991.jpg
While not an “all the way” gun this piece got a thorough tuning... high-cut the frame with the factory “high-cut” removed, serrated front strap @ 20lpi, frame and slide fit with welded frame rails, Kart barrel with EGW bushing, flattened and serrated slide top, Professional Grade sights, hand-beveled mag-well, trigger job with our action components, new internals throughout and much more. Simplified? In reality probably not, but it did sound good. ;)
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/11957715982.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/11957715974.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/11957715965.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/14899103791.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/14899103792.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/14899103783.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/14899103774.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/17246634621.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/14899103775.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/17246634612.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/17246634603.jpg
http://www.louderthanwords.us/mediumfoto/picts/ulfls/02092007/17246634604.jpg
I really enjoy these threads, Jason. Thank you for sharing.
Another awe-inspiring pistol.
:)
Lookin' good, Jay! Stay on it, Brother!
DW
militarymoron
09-03-07, 11:17
beautiful! "Salt 'n' Pepper" 1911's have always been a favourite of mine. in fact, i'm having a 'spare' stainless govt model converted to a two-tone pistol right now.
Robb Jensen
09-03-07, 14:53
Very nice. I'm a two-tone junkie. :D
Beautiful treatment of the "high- cut" and the front strap serrations. "Simplified" hahaha. Jason, you are an artist! Which beavertail did you use? Thanks for sharing pics with us.
:cool: Billy
Jason Burton
09-04-07, 22:20
Thanks so much for your thoughts guys... :)
Now and then I'll find time to build a gun in my spare hours and this time around I thought what better than a solid conversion with every functional detail addressed as well as some nice cosmetic embellishments. In the end a gun that would be just as well suited in a concealment holster as it would in a display case... but I guess that’s kind of the goal with all of them. ;)
Which beavertail did you use?
The grip safety is a Smith and Alexander.
thanks for the reply Jason.
Billy
Even though I havent had one since I gave up my game guns, Ive always loved the looks of a silver and black two tone 1911.
toddackerman
09-10-07, 11:06
Very nice work Jason!
Some of you may not be old enough to remember why 2 tone guns came into being, so please endulge me.
Simply, it was because all of the IPSC type shooters used the guns so much that you couldn't keep a "Blued Finish" on the frame for very long, and corrosion became an issue. Hard chrome was one of the the first finishes tried, and it is still being used and serving its purpose well. I actually prefer it to any of the "Coated Finishes" sold today like "Armour Coat" etc. It just wears better.
I believe Pachmayer was the first to start doing 2 tone guns, but not 100% sure.
I'm digging the slide. I love the old school look -- vertical thin serrations, no front serrations and I love the serrated flat top slide look. Very classy.
Have you tried experimenting with the new IONBOND finish? I read about it over at TOS and it's being applied to BCGs and SS barrels but I suppose it could be applied to 1911 slides. It looks very slick and very wear resistant, just might be the ticket for two tone or a corrosion resistant SS gun that you want black.
If the Lotto ticket in my pocket works out I will take 2. Very nice.
Jason Burton
09-11-07, 00:17
Very nice work Jason!
Some of you may not be old enough to remember why 2 tone guns came into being, so please endulge me.
Simply, it was because all of the IPSC type shooters used the guns so much that you couldn't keep a "Blued Finish" on the frame for very long, and corrosion became an issue. Hard chrome was one of the the first finishes tried, and it is still being used and serving its purpose well. I actually prefer it to any of the "Coated Finishes" sold today like "Armour Coat" etc. It just wears better.
I believe Pachmayer was the first to start doing 2 tone guns, but not 100% sure.
Yup, two-tone 1911s are a classic gunman’s piece and so popular they were once almost required in IPSC circles, HA! ;) As I recall the Pachmayr Combat Specials were the first guns to really showcase the classic practicality of a two-tone finish... and now that I think of it these pictures may have been better with an old Sparks 1AT as opposed to the Summer Special. :)
Have you tried experimenting with the new IONBOND finish?
I've played with it some but have yet to have one of my personal or customer's guns finished with it. The guns that I have seen/examined that wear the DLC finish have shown excellent abrasion resistance when compared to bluing or most other "black" finishes for that matter. The DLC appears to wear very well abrasion wise and in that regard it is much like hard chrome. That said, it is my understanding that there is little corrosion advantage to DLC over that of conventional bluing and in order to get a more rust resistant finish the DLC should be applied over hard chrome... DLC over stainless would appear to be a great advantage.
Again this is all from speaking to people who have used the finish and from seeing/examining a half dozen or so guns that have been coated with the DLC finish. One of which, however, was heavily used (read 70,000+ rounds) and the finish, which had been applied over stainless, appeared to be holding up quite well.
The DLC thus far looks good but being the simple guy that I am I still prefer my carry guns with a good ol' polished blue finish. :)
toddackerman
09-11-07, 18:07
Yup, two-tone 1911s are a classic gunman’s piece and so popular they were once almost required in IPSC circles, HA! ;) As I recall the Pachmayr Combat Specials were the first guns to really showcase the classic practicality of a two-tone finish... and now that I think of it these pictures may have been better with an old Sparks 1AT as opposed to the Summer Special. :)
I've played with it some but have yet to have one of my personal or customer's guns finished with it. The guns that I have seen/examined that wear the DLC finish have shown excellent abrasion resistance when compared to bluing or most other "black" finishes for that matter. The DLC appears to wear very well abrasion wise and in that regard it is much like hard chrome. That said, it is my understanding that there is little corrosion advantage to DLC over that of conventional bluing and in order to get a more rust resistant finish the DLC should be applied over hard chrome... DLC over stainless would appear to be a great advantage.
Again this is all from speaking to people who have used the finish and from seeing/examining a half dozen or so guns that have been coated with the DLC finish. One of which, however, was heavily used (read 70,000+ rounds) and the finish, which had been applied over stainless, appeared to be holding up quite well.
The DLC thus far looks good but being the simple guy that I am I still prefer my carry guns with a good ol' polished blue finish. :)
Gosh it's great to hear from someone who even knows what a Sparks #1AT is. I have 2. One with custom stitching, and a second that is engraved with our local IPSC Team Logo "PSAC", (Pratical Shooting Association of Colorado) and the #2 on it. It was an award for final ranking that year. There were 10 of them (#1 -#10) made by Milt Sparks himself. The #2 represented my rank at the end of 1981 for the state of Colorado.
Why wasn't I #1...because Ross Seyfried, (1979 IPSC World Champ) lives here. Arghhhhh!
Tack
wow!!!!
i want one too :D :D
toddackerman
09-11-07, 19:21
wow!!!!
i want one too :D :D
Gotta get out of "B" class first. :)
Tack
Wow, that is one damn impressive 1911.
I love it, and I usually don't like two-tone 1911's.
Jason Burton
09-11-07, 23:42
Gosh it's great to hear from someone who even knows what a Sparks #1AT is...
Oh yeah, the 1AT was and still is a truly classic and versitile holster... albeit not the most concealable rig, it's well suited in many areas. I'm a tried and true IWB kind of guy but the 1AT is probably one of the neatest holsters ever designed... it's a great rig to use on a range deck.
Wow, that is one damn impressive 1911.
I love it, and I usually don't like two-tone 1911's.
Thanks allot :) ... ya' know every 1911 guy has to have at least one two-tone gun... :cool:
Oh yeah, the Sparks 1AT was and still is a truly classic and versitile holster... albeit not the most concealable rig, it's well suited in many areas. I'm a tried and true IWB kind of guy but the 1AT is probably one of the neatest holsters ever designed... it's a great rig to use on a range deck.
For we uninitiated, any chance of posting a pic?
toddackerman
09-12-07, 16:17
For we uninitiated, any chance of posting a pic?
Jmart...I'll try to get you a pic, but right now I'm up to my butt in trying to get a job. I was laid off on May 30th from the High Tech world, and it is so much tougher these days to , or find a new position that comes close to what $$$$ I was making.
Tack
P.S.,
Shoot me an email so I'll remember.
Good luck in your job search.
Yes, I've always had a thing for 2 ton 1911s too... This is one I used to have:
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1684/pdp6tp7.jpg
toddackerman
09-13-07, 21:07
Yes, I've always had a thing for 2 ton 1911s too... This is one I used to have:
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/1684/pdp6tp7.jpg
Nice Comp. Gun. I'll bet that thing never let the sight picture move from the A ring!
I haven't seen a lot of Bo-Mar adjustable sights lately. Are they still being used? They were the Gold Standard of sights back in the 80's.
Tack
Well, I got this one in the mid 1990s - It was very similar in looks to the one used on Nash Bridges. That's why I had bought it.
Very cool JB - there's just something special about a proper two-tone 1911. :cool:
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