....a local fellow herebouts did the work, he worked in Army/National Guard armories until retirement from the service.

We started with a Springfield G.I. to which he fitted a selection of parts that I had acquired over the past two or three years. Everything MIM is now machined barstock save for the Kings ambidexterous safety, which I believe is cast then machined. The new parts are a mixture of Ed Brown and Fusion, along with a retro rear sight by Ted Yost. A larger profile front sight was staked in place as well.

The grip safety is an older machined G.I. that I have had for a number of years waiting in the wings. I am one of the fortunate few who has never had an issue with hammer bite, and prefer the looks of the original A1 style.

To compliment the grip safety, we used a nicely checkered beavertail spur hammer, as well as a long, solid trigger. Iffen y'all have not figured it out by now, this is a very retro A1 .45, save for the ambi-safety dictated by my southpaw tendencies.

Prior to turning it over to my local gunny, I had sent it off to Harrison Custom for his round butt frame and mainspring housing modification. It is not as rounded as those done by Terry Tussey, but it is a significant improvement over the sharp rear corner of a standard frame. Mr. Harrison also fitted a set of nice ivory paper micarta grips that follow the rounded butt perfectly, covering the mainspring housing pin in the process. It makes for a much nicer carrying gun under a jacket, and saves the elbow from unnecessary ouchies. It also gives it a softer appearance somewhat reminiscent of a Colt .32, that whole retro thing again.

The one thing we did not touch (yet) is the original barrel, link, and bushing. It shoots quite nicely as is, and until such time as my shooting skills warrant a better barrel, it will serve. Of course in the event of some failure of the barrel, etc, I will likely improve to a higher grade of tube.

I have sooo many holsters here for a 1911 that it is hard to pick just one, but in a nod to Uncle Jeff I intend to give a long hoarded Yaqui slide a few spins around the block.

This whole exercise has served to point out something Rob mentioned recently, I now have a burning need to duplicate this firearm in an aluminum framed 1911. For some reason I am having hot flashes 'bout a two-tone Commander (black top and controls, silver frame) with the same grip safety and spur hammer as my larger steel version. It just never ends!