Everyone likes something special… whether it’s a special knife, pen, cigar, custom gun, or something as simple as a special blend of coffee. In most instances the ’special’ part is what makes all the difference. And even though every gun we build is unique, on many levels this gun seems to hit that “special” mark.
Part of what makes this gun a bit more special are some of the features I incorporated into the build, many have been seen before but together they’re not something I typically do. But in my mind the big part that helps make this gun really distinct is the base gun it’s built on, a ‘68 AMU Colt Commercial. While often overlooked by some (and certainly not as special as say, Alvin York’s 1911), these guns are seldom seen and distinctive due to the slide configuration that features a conventional round top and the angled “NM” style cocking serrations. Combine those things with the traditional Colt Commercial roll-marks and it becomes a special base gun indeed, if only to me. So when I found this older Colt at a gun shop in Oregon I knew I had to save it for a project a bit more special or one that was at least a small step out from our ‘ordinary’.
On the inside the gun is very typical of what we do in the shop… as with all of our Best Grade guns this pistol got a weld-up frame and slide fit, Kart barrel, Wilson “bulletproof” extractor and ejector, EGW firing pin stop, complete reliability job, complete line straightening, and only the best quality internals throughout the gun. But, being a special project of sorts, there were a couple of special features this gun also got.
Number one on the list of “special items” are the flutes on the rounds of the slide that border our fluted-arrow pattern… if you look closely you’ll see the “serrations” on the slide top aren’t actually serrations but rather miniature flutes. A ball-cut front of the slide was next as it seemed to visually match the flutes on the slide top and along with the standard thickness barrel bushing also helps to give the front of the gun a very trim retro look. Keeping with the retro theme I used a short trigger and ring style Commander hammer that is cupped by a reduced size beavertail grip safety. The rear sight was also trimmed back and cut flush with the slide top to reduce the overall size while still yielding useable sight picture and the ability too reciprocate the gun one-handed. Round everything out with a few more details here and there, a complete de-horn, and finish it in good ‘ol traditional polished blue and the gun is ready to earn some holster miles. Enjoy the pictures!
