My custom 1911

[WWGunslinger]

A little back story:
This was a custom 1911 build with bare frame and slide I started with my uncle a few years ago. I knew very little of gunsmithing and he was a gunsmith so he was teaching me how to do this as we went a long.

We worked on it mainly once a week, sometimes twice a week if our schedules allowed or we weren't sick or the weather didn't suck.

Last year around end of May or beginning of June he started to have problems with his lungs. The doctor said his lungs were hardening and told him he only had a short time to live. In Mid July he passed away in his sleep.

The 1911 was not completed at that time. We didn't really have much to do yet and I was given all of my uncle's 1911 smithing tools. I tried to finish it myself but just didn't have the knowledge to complete it myself.

I got some recommendations for Mike at Carlisle Gun Works . I took the 1911 to him and explained what was going on and what needed to be done yet. He took on the job and I got it back today.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/543476...7641631150845/

There's some stuff I thought he would have cleaned up better but you can't really see it in the pics. He milled the lines on top of the slide to reduce glare, which was something he did extra that we hadn't talked about nor did i even think of at the time. I really like how that came out.

I know it's not going to be the prettiest thing ever since it was my 1st attempt at building one and we didn't have all pristine parts to begin with anyway.

The smith says it shoots great and that's the main thing. Can't wait to shoot it.

waiting on some different grips for it now though.

Oh and I'm going to get the slide engraved eventually, thinking about "In memory of <Uncle's Name>" with his date of birth and the date he passed away underneath. I'd like to maybe add some kind of scrollwork on both sides of the engraving.

I'm really happy to have the gun back and completed now. I'll have something great to remind me of my uncle and the time we spent together.

[PA1936MN]

Links bad, try again.

[WWGunslinger]

Links bad, try again.

link should work now

[ERMedic]

That looks great! And thank you for sharing your story.

[IronButt]

I like it. I'm kind of a 1911 fanboy. I have three.

[WWGunslinger]

I like it. I'm kind of a 1911 fanboy. I have three.

This is my 3rd one too

[ff36]

Great looking 1911, best of luck with it !

[PA1936MN]

Wow that looks nice and different!

[DClan]

Sweet 1911, nicely done.

[Gunsnwater]

Nicer then you described. Cool gun even cooler with the back story.