ltwguns.com

At SHOT I had two guys that wanted to show me pics of their custom work. I'm happy to report that both had some very nice stuff. One was Richard Fletcher. His site may be of interest:

http://www.fletchercustompistols.com/index.htm

The other guy, when I run across his card, I'll post his info. Can't vouch for anything other than both gentlemen seemed like very nice guys and their work appears to be very nice.

Anybody else that knows of other part-time or less-well-known smiths whose work they know is good, put 'em on in here.

What a great thing to do. I speaks volumes about Ned, his commitment to the industry and is so helpful when so many smiths are so laden with work that they are not taking any.

I've seen and handled Steve Morrison's work from Mars Armament. He does good work and is a good man to deal with. http://www.harduseguns.com . Please don't order anything from him though, I need to keep him all to myself!

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People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.

Oh Cool...I get to beat Jim Keeney and Al Shear on the draw this time in endorsing Dave Sams of Sam's Custom Gunworks in Cartersville, Virginia!! Although I don't own any of his firearms YET...and I repeat YET, I have seen, handled, and shot a couple of his and must say that they rival any I have ever seen or handled, bar none! I'll let Jim or Al fill in all the details of Dave's past, but look no further than several of Jim Keeney's posts on this site for some excellent pictures and honest write-ups of Dave's work. I think that Jim has personally financed the first couple of years of Dave's retirement from the Army Marksmanship Unit!! Dave's website is: http://www.samscustomgunworksusa.com

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"There is a true glory and a true honor, the glory of duty done, the honor of integrity and principle."--Gen. Robert Edward Lee

i am having a ppc 9mm built by dave. its gonna be a sweet gun...

Thanks for the tip! I'm looking for a smith that can do some work with a fast turn around. Hopefully I will get in before this thread makes him famous. LOL

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-Jim Linch

This really is a good idea. I missed the boat on Bob Rodgers a couple of years ago before he got such a waiting list. Back then he was quoting me 6 months. I'd hate to think what his wait is today.

I have a a couple guys that I refer people to for things sometimes when they need something. They are both great shooters and know the 1911 well-- just not sure how much publicity they want. I know at least one has found himself with a waiting list. Both are part time so I know that causes some stress sometimes. JT and BC, you know who you are

I sure am seeing Marianne Carniak's name more and more these days-- I think at this point she's "DQ'd" from being "less well known".

The one that comes to my mind first as someone who isn't mentioned very often isn't exactly unknown (he's president of the APG).
That's Neal Keller of Kustom Ballistics.

I don't know if he's still doing guns, since I haven't heard much about him lately, or seen an ad or anything of his in a while

I don't have anything of his, but used to see a lot of his work around here when I shot IPSC semi-regularly. It was all great work.

He was the first I saw to do "snake scales" instead of checkering, although someone could have been beat him there.

I often hear/see people asking who does custom work on Walther PP-series guns. The last I knew, he was working on PPKs and the like, but don't know if he still does.

Columbus, Ohio area
http://www.shawnstactical.com/

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My future's determined by Thieves, thugs, and vermin
My rights are denied by Those least qualified
Everything's backwards In Americana

I can attest to the fine work of Mr. Fletcher
http://www.fletchercustompistols.com/index.htm
I have two full custom 1911 pistols, many repairs and parts installed to my complete satisfaction.

+1 for Marianne Carniak. Easy to work with, great workmanship and great turnaround.

What about Chuck Rogers old buddy Mike O'hara?

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My future's determined by Thieves, thugs, and vermin
My rights are denied by Those least qualified
Everything's backwards In Americana

If you live in or close to Tulsa, Mike Bay, Trident Precision Machine, does very good 1911 work on duty type guns. If you drop by he'll often do small jobs while you wait. I wouldn't ship a gun to him though, because he is very umm.. time challenged on meeting promised delivery times.

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Ted

Mike Bay is am excellent gun smith,I was told he aprenticed under Swenson., and when Swenson retired,mike was on his list of recomended smiths.i dont live 5-6 mile from his shop,so I need to head over some day and meet him.A friend of mine uses him all the time ,and is very happy with his work,

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sitting here quiet,wanting to learn.

+1 for BC. I will do business with them again.

Alan Tillman of ART Interprises in Austin Tx is also excellent.

David

Be sending off a blaster to him shortly...Robert Miller...
http://www.millercustom.com

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My future's determined by Thieves, thugs, and vermin
My rights are denied by Those least qualified
Everything's backwards In Americana

Me too! Whoever gets pictures back first will have to make sure and post!

Had some revolver work done It was first class work, quick and reasonable

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The only place you will find success without hard work is in the dictionary

Sent my Colt to him a couple weeks ago.

Thanks for the links guys . I love this forum .

I know her name has been mentioned... but I still have to get in a plug for Marianne Carniak in Troy, MI.

I just received my Colt Enhanced Offficer's ACP back from her shop and it is perfect. She re-bulit a lot of the internals and did HAND checkering on the front strap and the main spring housing that is excellent.

I just sent a Delta Elite to Bob Miller and judging from my initial contacts with him, I am going to be pleased with his work. He has been extremely accomodating and easy to talk to.
Marsh

Hey guys, great thread. I am currently having a full house custom Caspian built for me by Marc Morganti. I cannot, repeat cannot say enough good things about Marc as a 'smith or as a person. Very easy to deal with, and always goes out of his way to help, or make suggestions. He has been extremely busy recently due to a recent layout in American Handgunner, and still will take the time to take phone calls and not make you feel like you are bothering him. His website is http://www.geminicustoms.com. Located in Frankfort, Kentucky. He also does some amazing work on Ruger sp101's.

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Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

Marc Morganti indeed is a really nice guy. I feel lucky to have met a lot of these guys in recent years. And I'm also grateful for the way certain of the pistolsmithing icons have treated me over the years.....even well before I was doing this professionally. Richard Heinie and Ed Brown come to mind..... and of course Austin Behlert, who was one of my earliest and strongest influences.

A big +1 for Marc!
He is just finishing up a project for me, I am really excited to get my hands on it soon!

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Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun
"You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman

Gentlemen, getting ready to start on having some work done to my latest acquirement, a 1977 Colt Commander in excellent condition. Once again it's going to my good friend Dave Erickson from Condition-one Pistolsmithing for some polishing up and replacement of some parts. If you live in the Omaha Nebraska area I cannot recommend anyone better.

http://www.conditionone.us



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Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".

Yes, Marc is a super guy that does spectacular work, he'll take good care of you. Along with his 1911 work, I find his little revolvers particularly intriguing...on my wish list for someday.

Haven't had a chance to check out the work of all the others mentioned, but went to a couple of the websites mentioned.....

Dave Erikson's handcheckering looks fantasticly perfect, and his machine work looks awesome.

Fletcher's pieces look exceptionally clean and well styled. Again, really nice checkering!

Steve Morrison's work looks very well thought out and crafted for its intended purpose...hard use!

I have a very astute customer who has a pistol by Bob Miller, and he is absolutely thrilled with it, so that speaks volumes to me. I've had a couple phone conversations with Bob, and he's a prince of a guy that seems very eager to please.

And although he doesn't fit the "lesser known" category, I can't resist saying that I absolutely love the work Bob Rodgers is doing. His meticulouslness and attention to detail are inspiring. In fact, I asked him to build a pistol for me, but his list was closed...serves me right for waiting too long to ask. Nicest guy you'll ever meet to boot!

(Please don't read anything into anyone I haven't mentioned...just haven't been able to check them all out yet!)

Bravo for starting this thread, Ned

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Stan Chen Customs
http://www.chencustoms.com

Keep your eyes open for Matt Davis. He is building a gun for this coming Single Stack Classic.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
http://www.pt-partners.com
@ptpartners_tx