ltwguns.com

For some reason, the vast majority of the pistols showcased here tend to be full-sized, five inch guns. While that is great, with the exception of the occasional Commander, folks tend to forget about the smaller pistols based upon the 1911 platform. That's really too bad because there are some very nice smaller guns out there. Here is one of them.

I picked this OACP up at a gunshow a couple of years ago and it was well broken in, to say the least. It was pretty ugly cosmetically and the barrel fit was terrible. Looking past the thick layer of ugly, I saw potential and sent it to the kind folks at Yost-Bonitz for a make over. I'm not sure how many of the Yo-Bo artisans had their hands on this little blaster, but they did superb work. Before I shipped the pistol, it had a set of McCormick internals, a Videki long trigger and an S&A alloy mainspring housing. Here is a list of the mods performed:

-Install Storm Lake match barrel and bushing
-Install Novak rear sight and gold line front
-Brown grip and thumb safeties, suitably trimmed
-Machine bevel mag well
-High cut front strap
-Dehorn
-Bead blast entire pistol, reanodizing alloy parts and bluing steel
-Install Colt medallions in furnished McCormick thin rosewood grips

The recoil system is not stock, but I don't know whose it is as it was installed when I got the pistol. Anyway, here is the finished product:

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Wayne Miller

Outstanding gun. I too am fond of Compact platform for the easy of conceal and carry.

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Brian

Wayne,

That was one the first ones I did at Yo-Bo. The only thing that I would correct you on is that all of our magwells are hand bevelled.

I'm glad that you like it. It is what convinced me to pick one up the next time that I saw one.

I'm almost done with a series 80 officers (non-enhanced) for myself that will be at the SHOT show. I'll post some photos when it's finished.

Tim also seems to have a fondness for the small pistols if you check out his Sidewinder.

Best,

Ray

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http://www.harmscustomdesigns.com

Very nice. I agree, as I carry all day every day, smaller guns are easier to carry.
Your's is first class.

Thanks for the update, Ray. This little gem is pretty much my constant companion in Kramer leather. I also have a Defender that is, at the moment, a project gun that Dave Berryhill and I are discussing. The previous owner had a local smith cut the gripframe down to Detonics length. It still needs some work and refining (which is where Dave comes in), but it has great potential. When we get it done, Dave and I will post the results.

The odd thing is that the Defender seems to have LESS recoil than the shorter and lighter OACP. Strange.....

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Wayne Miller

I think that is due to the dual spring Seecamp style recoil spring system that the Defender has. One of the things I'd like to experiment with is to compare 2 Officers side by side, one with a stock or aftermarket guide rod and one with a Seecamp style recoil system. Springfield Armory makes a 3.5 inch Seecamp recoil system that should work.

Congrats on your new roscoe and nice work Ray!

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

Real nice! I think the conventional wisdom about the shorter guns being less reliable is true, to a point, and depending on the make and model. OACP's have the potential to be very reliable in my experience, but often are not, due to having been poorly put together at the factory. They can even be accurate, usually not with the stock barrel, but sometimes. I have worked on a few Defenders and have found them to be so well made, other than the horrid exterior sharp edges, that I'd almost say they were produced at a whole different location. As you can imagine in both cases, the function window is smaller than with a 5-inch-- basically all the same things have to happen, only in less time, since the stroke is shorter. The ultra-short Springfields, now this is based on a very limited sampling, seem more finicky, and, indeed, their slide travels are shorter than either of the above Colts. Anyway, personally I see very little advantage in a slide shorter than the Officers except for fanny pack or coat pocket carry. Other'n that I find the OACP a good compromise; well-barrelled you can do 2-3" at 25M, comfort, especially in LW form, is great, and when high-gripped like yours, unless you've got outlandishly big hooks, it's totally adequate in terms of ergos and control. In fact when I handle a 5", it's almost like "what's with all the extra gun sticking out below my palm?"

I've seen a few OACP's that'd had the recoil springs changed out by the owners, for springs that were too long. Result-- slide motion is stopped by the spring going coilbound. I believe this may just be from whence came the idea that factory recoil spring plungers on Colt OACP's are breakage-prone, because this condition would tend to overstress this part big-time. Anybody have actual first-hand, eyes-on experience with these breaking, in a situation where it it's a sure thing the recoil spring was not too long?

Mossyrock,

That's a great looking LOACP you've got there. An "all-the-time" gun that works well and has the added benefit of being in an effective caliber is a very nice added bit of security. Until last weekend, I had never even touched a LOACP. Witherspoon, Chip Brezee, has one that was done over I believe by George Smith at EGW. Needless to say, the gun is very nice and makes an outstanding carry piece. Chip also put ivory on it, which makes it a bit more... elegant. I think if I ever had one done, I'd lay it out just like yours. Nothing ya' don't need.

I have a stainless Detonics Combat Master that's awaiting Ned's magic wand. I think I'm still about 7 or 8 months out on that one though. I'm very interested to see what Ned will do with it. I had originally set a fairly low budget on the labor since I already had the parts, but that might have to change. Whaddaya think, Ned?

Ray,
Great job on that one. You guys must have a heck of a team going on out there. A little friendly competition makes for high quality, and it shows in what's coming out of Yo-Bo. Not that you guys compete to see who can do what better or anything.

Happy New Year to you all, and GOD bless.

~Jim Keeney

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"I'd rather die on my feet than keep living on my knees." - Emiliano Zapata, Mexican Revolutionary

Nothing like a small and light piece that throws medicine balls out the end.

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

Really nice work Ray. I always liked the OACP's.

Ned, I had the same experience with the SA Micro Compacts. They looked nice, but had some serious reliability problems, I haven't seen any lately, but was steering potential customers away from them as a result.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

Interesting theory Ned. Sometimes you can't even find the springs when the tab on the spring plug breaks. If I were going to stay with the stock recoil system for a carry gun, I'd still feel more comfortable replacing the stock spring plug with something like Clark makes: http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/1911dtl.htm#woh It has a sold front and a shoulder on the rear instead of the tab that the Colt part has (I don't like the way the stock part looks with the slotted front anyway).

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

You guys are killing me.
I have the hots for a small carry gun. I have several custom 45's Clark, Tripp, Alex Hamilton Gold Cup, Fred Kart and a Tussey. Most of the 45 are set up for Bullseye. Is it possible to have just an upper built and installed on one of the lowers? I want something around 3.5 inches kinda like Ct's Sidewinder. Since I'm a Bullseye nut how about taking a Pardini Gt 45 a 2 inch at 50 yards gun with a great trigger. then cut the barrel, slide and install an Ed Brown Kobra style grip. A small ten round compact?

Thanks
TJ