Things are not as easy as they used to be.
Five minutes really talking shop with Kase about 1911 Gunsmithing will set you in your place. There is a lot of complexity you never imagined. I’m privileged to have one of his worked over 1911s. I have learned to really appreciate it and the expertly fitted Bar-Sto barrel.
I have this old Colt Official Police .22 RF 6” made in 1935, about 90% and not abused. The Official Police is basically a fix sighted Python without the mirror polish and gnat’s butt fitting. Due to the nature of the Colt lock-work it functions OK, locking up tight as a vault at the moment pf pressing the trigger. But until that point, it’s a bit loose feeling. Side to side play, not really a timing issue. Colt’s lock at the rear face of the cylinder ejector plate where a large “cylinder latch bolt pin” fits into the recess under light spring pressure. Thumbing or working the hammer, the hand takes over and holds the cylinder tight against the locking bolt to fire, when in battery. Many old Colts have lazy cylinder hands, it won’t reach the locking bolt and recesses when thumbed slowly. Fast, and the inertia will carry it on through. There is a skillful technique of “stretching” the hand to make it fully reach and time out correctly. I have done it several times myself, sometimes ending up with two pieces! It’s a learning curve. I have also fitted the hands on some Colt DA’s. Not for the faint of heart as the hand does about 5 functions you do not consider while working on one aspect. It can really swarm on you. A real problem is there are not many Colt gunsmiths left. Even then, if you work on a guys’ rig half-a-day are you going to charge him a hundred dollars to fix a $400 gun? Very possible if not more.
I finally got one expert to respond to my inquiries. It’s not his fault but the shipping requirements his situation demands cost close to $100, there is a $40 deposit to get in a waiting cue backed up until July 2025. I’m not joking. I have decided to educate myself and do the work myself. I’ve sort of done it before and Its MY gun so I’m trying to make it fun. You never learn less.
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Bottom line is, take care of your local Gunsmith. They are a dying breed, those who do more than take parts off and bolt new ones back on. It might be profitable to stay clear from any old Colt DA that are not 100% functioning, buy a S&W. LOL
Back a hundred years ago an old fart traded
in a Colt Officers Model Match revolver in 22 LR. Heavy barrel, adjustable sights, feather light trigger, original fine checkering on the grips etc. Like a class 4 moron I put it in the showcase and sold it in about 5 minutes.
There have been so many special guns traded in or we bought in an estate thru the years and every one of them I said I need to hang on to this, but as my mentor Lee Jurras told me one day while we were both talking about guns and after he told me about some special Auto Mags that he had sold, he said "I got in the business to sell guns, not to keep each one that made me drool". I have gone by that ever since and hated it every time I sold a special gun.
Just thinking back there were...
a Ruger #1 in 45-70 S model (years later I found another and kept it)
Auto Mag in 41 Auto Mag (I had 3 of them, ended up selling all three. One was so special and accurate I damn near cried when the guy that bought it walked out the door)
Grizzly in 45 Win. Mag. (eventually found another but sold it too, ended up with 2 of them, but eventually sold both).
custom XP-100 in 458 American (I built it and sold it but later made another just like it and sold it too)
my first full custom XP-100 in 224 Weatherby. Loved it but sold it on here to help pay for a $27,000 Cape Buffalo.
Very early 357 Magnum Coonan. A trigger like a feather and super accurate. Sold it too. Heard they were coming out in 41 Mag so planned on buying it, but it never came out.
SKB model 600 O/U shotgun in 28 Gauge, it fit me like a glove..sold it for some stupid reason.
Several more Auto Mags. Had 11 of them at one time. Somehow they ended up in the showcase and disappeared.
Had a 30 caliber Auto Mag...one of a kind but couldn't get it to shoot well so it went bye bye.
Built a Ruger #1 in the 460 Weatherby short. Beautiful gun, but kicked the snot out of me so it went bye bye too.
Had a Remington model 700 in 22-250 Improved. Extremely accurate. We moved to Florida and the varmints there were rare so it went adios too.
And the list goes on and on. If you sold a gun or two that you should have kept, be a man and tell us about it.
And the list goes on and on. If you sold or traded off a very special gun, be a man and tell us about it.
Boy my list is long...
But I must remind myself that many trades went on to allow me to gain others, and gain experiences, adventures. Also I have way more than I can enjoy now. I'm very blessed.
Alas, the Ruger No.1A in .243 that was rebored to .257 Weatherby. I still know the guy I sold it to. I also had a 98% Colt Pocket Positive Flat Top Target in .32 New Police. Probably should not have sold it. The AMP that originally was a .357 that I topped out as a .44 AMP and played with. But I sold it to sponsor a big HHC hunt. No real regrets. There are a bunch more.
One Reeder I let go, that I should have bought was Stonecolds .475 LB. I was having a bad time when he decided to sell. It was not to be. MY .475 LB I sold to sponsor a new Custom to my specifications in .510 GNR. But it was my first custom. I even had it re-built to better specs. I should have kept it... And bought Doug's too, he let it go likewise.
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