Great Gun Stuff Blog

Daniel E. Watters, a well known expert and my go-to man on many of the topics I write about, sent me info and photos of the beautiful 1911 pistols he has built.

I built this .38 Super pistol in late 2000 for use in IDPA's Enhanced Service Pistol division. The frame and slide were from Caspian; each made from 416 stainless barstock. This was during the brief period that they offered barstock frames in addition to their usual cast frames. I had to lap the two together as their rails were purposefully cut oversize.

Starting from the top, the rear sight was the Novak LoMount, mated with a MGW front sight. I was delayed in completing the pistol by the lack of a front sight staking tool. A friend was supposed to lend me his MMC staking kit, but he couldn't find it. Ultimately, he did find it, but only after he had ordered a replacement from Brownells. I did most of the early test firing without a front sight by using the front sight slot as an index. The barrel and bushing were from Bar-Sto. The barrel was ramped, with a Clark/Para lower lug profile. I used a lug cutting kit from Brownells to fit the lower lugs of the barrel. I don't remember where I got the barrel links from, but I ended up having to buy a couple of kits to find an odd-ball size.

The firing pin was from Nowlin, and the oversized firing pin stop was from EGW. As few aftermarket vendors offered a stainless .38 Super extractor, I ended up buying a Colt high polished stainless extractor as that was the only one Brownells happened to have in stock. The guide rod was a two-piece model from Wilson Combat, as were the recoil springs. I bought one of their Spring Caddies that had different weight springs so I could tune it to the loads I was using. If I remember correctly, I ended up settling upon a 15 lb recoil spring.

For the lock work, I used a Wilson #299S Commander hammer as it was one of the few quality aftermarket hammers offered in stainless. This was mated with Wilson's Deluxe A6 sear. The short length Dlask trigger has a magnesium shoe and a titanium bow. A tab on the bow allows the trigger to be adjusted for pre-travel. The sear spring was from Nowlin, as I had previously found it very easy to tune. I ended up settling on either a 20 or 21 lb mainspring from Wolff Springs. After some tweaking and stoning, I ended up with a crisp 2 lb trigger pull. It was still as nice nearly 3 years later. (After a couple more years, the current owner eventually replaced the sear and disconnector with the low mass models from Cylinder & Slide. At last check, he was also considering replacing the hammer with one of the Doug Koenig models offered by EGW.)

The grip safety was a standard stainless model from S&A. While the frame was precut for a .250" radius, it still took little extra fitting to install the beavertail. The thumb safety was another Wilson product: their narrow extended tactical model in stainless. The stainless plunger tube was from Nowlin. The stainless extended .38 Super ejector was from King's. The original magazine release was a stainless extended model from Nowlin, but you can see from the photos that the current owner has replaced it. I used Ed Brown's stainless flat mainspring housing with 30 lpi checkering, which has since been discontinued.

The slide stop was originally one of the oversized EGW models that had recently been introduced in stainless. However, EGW had yet to offer a .38 Super specific slide stop, and occasionally, the follower of the Chip McCormick magazines would slip past the side stop. (A proper .38 Super slide stop has a longer engagement surface than its .45 ACP counterpart.) As a result, I ended up replacing the EGW slide stop with a stainless .38 Super model from Wilson. Oddly, the first Wilson slide stop would not seat flush with the frame. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the slide stop's pin was warped. Thankfully, the shop had a second one to swap out. However, the manager of the shop ended up putting the defective part back into his display case. Speaking of magazines, I tried several different 10 round models before settling on the McCormick. The Wilson magazine was simply too hard to load to full capacity, and the follower of the MagPak magazine actually got stuck in the bottom of the tube once it was fully loaded.

The stocks were the Chip McCormick Slim Carry grips. As the name implies, these are thinner than standard stocks, and require their own shortened grip screws and grip screw bushings. The front strap of the frame was checkered at 30 lpi, which I cut by hand using a checkering file. You'll note that I didn't add any horizontal lines below the cutout for the front of the magazine baseplate. This allowed me to round over the ends of the vertical lines to keep them from snagging. I also beveled the magazine well using files. I prefer a deep angle, instead of the typical 45 degrees. At the time, Colt was cutting a deep bevel, but they didn't continue it to the rear of the magwell. I did a carry bevel on all of the parts, and I rounded over the bottom rear corner of the frame.

I regret that I never got a chance to bead blast the frame. However, at last check, the current owner hasn't done so either.

Funny story: A Highway Patrol firearm instructor moonlighted at a local range teaching CCW permit courses. He was seriously in love with the pistol. After I let him examine it, he handed it back to me, and I put it back in my range bag. We'd continue to talk, and then he would reach over to my range bag, unzip it, and remove the pistol in order to handle it some more. This process was repeated several times until it was time for his class.

UPDATE: Daniel has priced the parts for this pistol in the comments below.

Colt M1991A1 Compact .45 ACP

Hand cut 30 lpi checkering on front strap
Carry bevel, including rounding over bottom rear of frame
Ed Brown - beavertail grip safety
Wilson Combat - narrow extended thumb safety
Ed Brown - barrel bushing
Novak - Carry rear sight
Hogue - Kingwood stocks
King's - short aluminum trigger (black)

I also fit and blended in a S&A mainspring housing/magwell that was not installed at the time of the photo. In the process, I cleaned up the factory's half-hearted attempt to bevel the magwell. Also not visible is the EGW oversized firing pin stop.

Colt Combat Commander (XS Series) .45 ACP

Carry bevel, including rounding over bottom rear of frame
Ed Brown - 30 lpi mainspring housing
Wilson Combat - beavertail grip safety (replacing Colt Competition part)
Heinie - SlantPro rear sight (replacing Colt Competition part)
Ahrends - Kingwood stocks
Videcki - short aluminum trigger

Not visible is the EGW oversized firing pin stop. As before, I cleaned up the factory's half-hearted attempt to bevel the magwell. The short-lived XS series was the product of the brief partnership of Colt with C-More, operating as Colt Competition. The XS series' rear sight, thumb safety, and grip safety were all patented designs from C-More's Ira Kay. When their partnership broke up, Kay took all of his designs with him. This led to Colt's XSE series, which reverted to the parts Colt previously used on their Enhanced series. Of the Kay's designs, only the grip safety lives on. It is now offered by Caspian and is standard on the SIG-Sauer 1911 models. Personally, I hate the design, as its "dragon's tooth" digs uncomfortably into the palm of my hand during recoil.

Many thanks to Daniel for the info and D.A. Murray for the photos.

 

Bersa 380 magazine

I have a Bersa 380 magazine that was engraved and given to me on my 16th birthday. Well it sat there for several years, the only action it seeing is a wipe down with oil every now and then. I finally shot it yesterday.

I must say I was very displeased with it. My groupings were terrible, and all to the right. Not to mention I used the same grip method I use for my 1911 and it would cause the slide lock to lock open after every shot.

I am thinking about removing the magazine safety. I think this would help alot with my groupings. I am also thinking about just putting it back in the safe and let it be.

All in all however I do like the design, minus the magazine safety. I am however going to go back to my Bersa 380 magazines because I am very surgical with them, not to mention I messed around with this girl who I just found out has a psycho boyfriend, so I want all the caliber I can get a the moment. I just think it would take me way to much time getting use to the trigger of the BHP to be worth it.

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Recommended from on high
Wharton at UPenn and USC Annenberg School for Communication both chime in on The Igor Naming Guide.

Wharton at UPenn and USC Annenberg School for Communication both chime in on The Igor Naming Guide.

Check your Weight while you Wait
In Amsterdam, a bus shelter ad for a fitness gym serves up your weight while you sit on the bench.

In Amsterdam, a bus shelter ad for a fitness gym serves up your weight while you sit on the bench.

Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!
Clever title, huh? Just Snark Hunting making a lame joke out of a cheesy pun? If only. Incredibly, the title of this post is, verbatim, an actual recent trademark filing by Sony! Here are the Goods & Services listed for this mark on the USPTO: Video game software; Software for computer games; Optical disc recorded video [...]

Clever title, huh? Just Snark Hunting making a lame joke out of a cheesy pun? If only. Incredibly, the title of this post is, verbatim, an actual recent trademark filing by Sony! Here are the Goods & Services listed for this mark on the USPTO:

Video game software; Software for computer games; Optical disc recorded video game software; Optical disc recorded computer game software; Optical disc recorded game programs for hand-held typed electronic games with liquid crystal display

Gizmodo, which alerted us to this strange trademark filing, speculates on what it could mean:

Oh, what could it be? It sounds like it could be a trademark for the EULA or privacy section of DC Universe Online, the Sony-developed DC Comics MMORPG. Or something related to that game. How else is Sony thinking it can register the name Badman in any kind of trademark filing and get away with it?

That’s the gazillion dollar question: how can Sony get a trademark for “Badman” in a tagline that plays off the kind of Batman-speak bandied about in the old Batman TV series? Seems like whoever owns the rights to Batman wouldn’t take too kindly to this. Could this be the Joker’s dark wit? Maybe IP-Caped-Crusader Marty Schwimmer can get to the bottom of this.

Holy slap in the farce: This strange turn of events inspired me to look-up some of those phrases from the old show, and it’s amazing how downright wacky they are. Here is a sample to get your Dada groove on:

Penguin: Here comes the bride, all bagged and tied!

Riddler: Batgirls wilt just as quickly as other women!

Robin: Maybe you can bully an aging mogul, but not me, Catwoman!

Batman: I’m just going to hang around the bar. I don’t want to look conspicuous.

Robin: Holy bill of rights, Batman!

Robin: Holy haberdashery, Batman!

King Tut: If the caped crumb is here, the cowled creep can’t be far behind.

Commissioner Gordon: You know I’m violently opposed to police brutality.

Penguin [Organizing his election]: Plenty of girls and bands and slogans and lots of hoopla, but remember, no politics. Issues confuse people.

Catwoman: I’m not just pussyfooting around this time, Batman!

Robin: The way we get into these scrapes and get out of them, it’s almost as though someone was dreaming up these situations; guiding our destiny.

Robin [Figuring out a riddle]: The opposite of a girl is a boy!

Batman: Poor devil. Forced to live in an air-conditioned suit that keeps his body temperature down to fifty degrees below zero. No wonder his mind is warped.

Batman: Robin, warm up the Bat-spot analyzer while I take a sample of this affected cloth.

Batman: I never touch spirits. Have you some milk?

Chief O’Hara: When it comes to the human brain, we’re not equipped.
Robin: Holy atomic pile, Batman!

King Tut: [to Nefertiti] How many times must I tell you? Queens consume nectars and ambrosia, not hot dogs.

Batman: Just a second while I retrieve my beanie, my hair, my tweezers, and my notes.

Batman: I’ve just perfected an Electronic Hair Bat-Analyzer which may hold the key to this baffling question.

Batman: Oh, Catwoman, Catwoman, will you never learn?

Robin: Under this garb, we’re perfectly ordinary Americans.

Robin: I couldn’t resist. You were taken in by her, but I’m too young for that sort of thing.

Robin: Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods!

Narrator: Horrors! One lemon!

Robin: Holy oleo!

Catwoman: I didn’t know you could yodel!

Egghead: Woe is me, my criminal career is now egg-stinct!

Batman: Yes, citizen, you may return to your harpsichord.

Robin: We’re on official business!

Robin: Gosh, Batman, what are they dressed like *that* for?

Penguin: Well, I hope you have something special cooked up for that caped creep.

Batman: Let’s go, Robin. We’ve set another youth on the road to a brighter tomorrow.

Commissioner Gordon: Tanks in the street, a horse in my outer office… Has the whole world gone batty?

Shame: Your mother wore Army shoes.
Batman: Yes, she did. As I recall, she found them quite comfortable.

Shame: You big sissy, you couldn’t drive nails in a snow bank.
Batman: Why would I want to?

[Dr. Cassandra uses her alvino ray gun on Batman, Robin and Batgirl]
Batgirl: I feel like I’m getting flat!
Cabala: What a pity…

Robin: Gosh Batman, the nobility of the almost-human porpoise.
Batman: True, it was noble of that animal to hurl himself into the path of that final torpedo. He gave his life for ours.

There are a lot of gems here, but my favorite has to be, “Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods!” Can it be long until Sony files a trademark for it? [Sources: USPTO, Gizmodo, IMDB]

Oregon: Pass right-to-carry privacy
Having been approved by the Oregon House, the bill on concealed handgun licenses as public records now rests in the state Senate. There it ought to be speedily approved. The bill would put right-to-carry permits in the same category as driver’s licenses and lots of other public records: They are off limits to public inspection unless someone makes a compelling case that the public interest requires their disclosure.

FWC requests input on 640-acre-game-farms rule
[4/27/09]

Mexican data overstates weapons traced to the U.S.
Mexico provided the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with serial numbers for less than a third of the weapons that were seized. The National Rifle Association and others contend that various U.S. and Mexican officials have exaggerated the number of U.S. weapons seized in Mexico to push for stricter gun controls in America.

Germany to tighten gun control, ban paintball
The Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democrat Party agreed on Tuesday evening to reforms to Germany's gun laws, which include a controversial ban on war games like paintball or laser tag.

My wife saw a show on the Food Network where the chef prepared a dish that’s known as Beef Wellington. It’s a tenderloin, lightly seared, then coated with a mushroom/herb mixture and wrapped in puff pastry. Throw it in the oven for 25 minutes and you’ve got a meal fit for a king.

I went through a few different recipes online and came up with my own variation. They turn out amazing everytime.

Ingredient List

- 4 Elk/Moose/Deer Tenderloins Cut About 1.5-2″ thick.
- Several Cloves Of Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper
- Fresh Tyme
- Fresh Rosemary
- 6-10 White Mushrooms
- 2 Large Portabella Mushrooms
- 10+ average sized Shitake Mushrooms
- 1 Bunch of Green Onions
- Butter
- 1 egg
- rock salt (optional)
- 1 package puff pastry (2 squares you roll out)
- 1 package “hunter” gravy (optional)

Step #1 Prep The Tenderloins.

Pour about 1 tablesoon of olive oil onto a plate, then crush the garlic, chop sprinkle some rosemary and then sprinkle some salt and crush a bunch of pepper over it to taste. Stir the pasty mixture around some and then coat your tenderloins with it.

Sear your tenderloins on each side for 1 or 2 minutes or until they are nice and brown and the paste we made has cooked into a sort of crust. Remove the steaks from heat, place on a plate and into the fridge to cool… We are done with them for now.

Step #2 Prepare The Mushroom Mixture.

Take all of your mushrooms and dice them really fine, I like to use a braun food processor for this as it’s nice and fast. Once you’ve got the mushrooms diced place them in a bowl and set aside.

Now you need to cut up your Green Onions, Crush another Clove or Two of Garlic, and Finely chop up some more of your rosemary and tyme. Melt some butter in a pan and stir fry the whole works…

Cook it until the mixture is really soft and most of the moisture has been cooked off.

Step #3 The Puff Pastry

Sprinkle some flour on the counter and roll out your puff pastry into a rectangle… and cut in half. You’ll need your pieces of pastry to be large enough to wrap completely around the tenderloin.

Step #4 Wrap Up The Tenderloins

Now that we’ve got the pastry ready we can now spread out the mushroom mixture about 1/8-1/4″ thick on the pastry and then top with your tenderloin. Wrap it all up tightly and then use a basting brush to put an egg wash over the pastry to seal it… Lastly I sprinkly some rock salt on top and then lightly scribe a few lines across the top with a knife for a fancy look once it’s cooked.

** Important Trick. After making these a few times this is critical. Before placing my Wellingtons onto a baking pan I first cover a cookie cooling rack with tinfoil and poke a bunch of little holes in it. I then place this onto the cookie sheet so that the wellington isn’t cooking in a bunch of juices.

Once you’ve got them ready to go into the oven throw them in your oven for 25-30 minutes on 350-275 degrees until they are done to your liking. Use a meat thermometer for accurate temps. I serve this dish with mashed potatoes and asparagus in a dill sauce.

Enjoy….

Carl