here's a NAVY 1911A1 that isnt QUITE a REAL Navy....

[Ltdave]

i started this project about 13 years ago and life (i.e. new daughter, job lay-off, family travel, distractions, other priority spending etc) got in the way...

woulda, coulda, shoulda...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/XO0A7401a_zps5ebf61ca.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/XO0A7401a_zps5ebf61ca.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/XO0A7400a_zpsa5026163.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/XO0A7400a_zpsa5026163.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/XO0A7405a_zps300aa824.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/XO0A7405a_zps300aa824.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/XO0A7402a_zpsf09aeded.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/XO0A7402a_zpsf09aeded.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/XO0A7404a_zpsf07021af.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/XO0A7404a_zpsf07021af.jpg.html)

my dad served in the Navy from jan51 to jan55. he didnt carry a 1911A1 during his normal duties since he was a boiler technician but he would draw one when he stood deck watch when in port. he always liked it except for the empty cases crossing his field of view because he's left handed...

he always would comment on the commerative pistols in the American Rifleman magazines; the ones with all of the gilding on them but he would never buy one for himself, so i had this one built....

it started with a Caspian matched slide and frame with his Navy Service Number and initials for the serial number. then i sent it to one of the best 1911-smiths i know Marianne Carniak of Carniak Customs (her dad was Russ Carniak 'the accurizer' who taught Marianne the trade) for some preliminary clean up and polishing. Todd's Customized Creationz did the laser engraving and then back to Marianne for finishing...

i wanted to fill the engraving with silver but Marianne was afraid the detail in the fouled anchor would be lost. does anyone have any thoughts on this or on what i could use?

anyway, here it is 'in between' his 65th anniversary of enlisting and separation so it'll be a father's day gift next week...

i have some other grips on it right now but dont feel like taking the time to dig out the set-up to reshoot these. they are half checkered with the navy seal laser engraved on them. look up navy grips 1911 on gunbroker for examples if youre curious...

NOT QUITE a 'Holbrook Navy' 1911 but kinda sorta close!

[randy langford]

That's about as nice of a fathers day gift I have ever seen !!!

[Griff Murphey]

I would predict a couple of tears in your pop's eyes next Sunday. What a wonderful gift!

[Major Tom]

What a tribute to your Father!

[SloopJohnB]

That is very very cool. I'd love to be presented with such a gift! I see your dad served on the Mt. Olympus, I was on the U.S.S. Eldorado AGC-11 in 1957 - 1959.
Nice job!

[Ltdave]

i moved the pics after posting them and need to re-post them from the new folder...

danged photobucket...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/M14%20type/XO0A7400a_zpsa5026163.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/M14%20type/XO0A7400a_zpsa5026163.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/M14%20type/XO0A7401a_zps5ebf61ca.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/M14%20type/XO0A7401a_zps5ebf61ca.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/M14%20type/XO0A7405a_zps300aa824.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/M14%20type/XO0A7405a_zps300aa824.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/M14%20type/XO0A7404a_zpsf07021af.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/M14%20type/XO0A7404a_zpsf07021af.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/ltdave/M14%20type/XO0A7402a_zpsf09aeded.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ltdave/media/M14%20type/XO0A7402a_zpsf09aeded.jpg.html)

his time on the Mt Olympus was ALMOST a full 3 months. the Walter B Cobb (APD 106 converted on the ways from a DE) was to transit the panama canal from little creek to coronado island to take on a newly formed UDT team (it had frogmen and UDT on board while he was with it) just prior to his ETS. the Navy didnt want to pay his train ticket from san diego back to michigan so they off-loaded him to the Mt Olympus. he was only a PO3 but when he got on board the Chief told the PO1 that was there, that Dell has "command". you have any questions or concerns, you talk to him. this is HIS fire room. and out he walked...

[1563621]

Nicely Done!