ltwguns.com

Hey all,

The gun that got me interested in firearms when I was a kid was the PACHMAYR COMBAT SPECIAL. It was such a beautiful pistol in that 2 tone finish and rubber grips.

Before everyone goes all Law-n-Order on me, I am NOT talking about making a DUPLICATE of the Combat Special. I think the name is protected, but I don't think the actual look is.

I am just curious if there is anyone else out there that really loved the looks of those old 2 tone Combat Specials and decided they wanted one and set out to make it.

If so, I'd like to see your homage to the original. Of course I'd also like to see pics of the originals as well.

I think if you own an original Paul Libenberg will work on it for you and re-furb it if needed. He also sells a modern version of it as well.

Let's see YOUR versions....

Thanks

Nalajr

I built this one last year and it was one of the most fun builds I've ever done.

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Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

That's a nice-looking pistol, with the only anachronism being the Emerson knife. The rest look right out of 1982. But better.

Oh MY!!

That is GORGEOUS!!

I WANT ONE!!


Seriously though, that is something to behold. It's EXACTLY what I am wanting. That reminds me of what I fell in love with all those years ago.
Nothing can match the real Pachmayr Special, but that's the next best thing.

Are there any more pics of it that I can see and save to my computer for future lusting applications...??

Thanks for posting it.

Nalajr

One more thing....

If I were going to start my own Pachmayr Combat Special copy, what base gun should I get? Naturally it will be a Colt, but which one, a stainless NRM, Blue NRM, Series 70 in blue or stainless, Combat Special and already have the 2 tone look?

When I say that I am going to "start" my own...I don't mean that I am going to get the base Colt pistol and tear it down and get out my DREMEL and get at it and then start adding parts here and there. NO WAY am I going to do that. I am just talking about adding small stuff like a barrel bushing, mainspring housing and the guts to it...you know, that kinda thing. Nothing serious. When I got the money I would send it off to have things done to it as I could afford them.

What'cha think?

Thanks Jason, I'll be dreaming about that one tonight!

Nalajr

The Pachmayr CS was my grail 1911 as well when I started out. Because of that, the first 1911 I bought was a first series (the only series back then!) Combat Elite- stainless frame with blued slide, Colt rubber grips, good sights (3 dot), long trigger, flat MS, probably some other touches I forgot about (though I do question why the full wrap pebble or Pachy rubber grips when they serrated the front strap??). I shot this gun for a few years and took it to Gunsite. Wanting it more like a real CS and Pachmayr long out of the pistolsmithing business, I sent it to Steve Nastoff, arguably one of the top 3 smiths working at the time (I say arguably because Steve and I liked to argue..!). I got back a CE with Bo-Mars, Steve's slim front sight for shooting distance, flattened/ribbed slide, checkered rear, hard fit Bar-Sto, light trigger with a sweet trip, 20lpi hand checkered front strap, 20lpi hand checkered flat MS, grip safety, combat mag button (so 'in' at the time!), and a Nastoff hand swaged (lightly) magwell and slim Spegel's to fit. While it was away I saw a tiny ad in the post paper for a Pachmayr Combat Special 45. ("Yeah, right! Another 'custom' .45 with a set of rubber Pachmayrs! Lucky if its even a Colt....). I let it set for a day or so and then decided, WTH, and called. Everything SOUNDED right...I drove up to main post during lunch and met the guy. He opened the box and...damn! It IS a real CS!!!! We talked awhile. He was the original owner, had sent it to Pachmayr for the CS package and then never really shot it much after due to being deployed so much and constantly moving. Being a military guy with a few cool guns, I can now relate. I asked how much, he shot me a smoking price, I countered slightly, he, for some reason- because he had full legal right to do so after I insulted him with a lower price- did NOT punch me in the face, agreed to my offer, I wrote him a check (anyone remember those??), we shook hands, and I left with a Pachmayr Combat Special on a Series 70 Colt. Wherever I lost that lucky rock I must've owned at that time, I'd sure like to go back and find it! A full build Nastoff and a Pachmayr Combat Special in a matter of months. Hell, even if you have the money nowadays, you can't find stuff like that to buy! Yes, I fully realize NOW how lucky I WAS. Great guns, each.

Years ago I picked up a used Colt from a friend. He always wanted a Pachmayr Combat Special, but I guess he came along too late to get a real one. The closest copy of the PCS was the Wilson Gun Shop Master Grade model 130 (I think that's the catalog number, Jason Burton and Anthony Lombardo can correct me if they remember the number). Well, for whatever reason, he couldn't get one of those either. So I believe the story was that he got a young man name John Harrison to build him a Wilson Master Grade/Combat Special gun for him. When I got the gun it was pretty much worn out , the original owner probably had over 20000 rounds through it, and the next owner probably had at least another 5000. It didn't matter, the gun shot like an out of the box pistol. The Bomar sight never fail, it held on for every one of those bone jarring full power ball ammo. I shot it and kept it for about a year or so. I let it go to another forum member. I hope he still has it.

With real Pachmayr grips with the front piece shaved off:



With Colt grips:

The 'Combat Special' Classic is hand built on our new PD frame by Paul Liebenberg to the same specifications as the original pistol. This includes a Bar-Sto match grade barrel, Bomar style adjustable sights, Swenson style ambi safeties, Commander hammer and Pachmayr Combat grips. The pistol is intended to accurately duplicate the original in every way possible. Due to the diminishing availability of high quality pre-Series 70 and Series 70 Colts we are no longer offering the classic on these pistols unless a customer supplies a viable unit.

Pistol Dynamics is here? Cool! Welcome and hope you stay active with us. I have admired Pistol Dynamics work since I first saw it!

During my time shooting IPSC in the early, pre-comp and red dot days, the two guns I wanted most were a Hoag 6" long slide and a CS. Finally found a Master Grade Hoag 6" two years or so ago, but just have not found the CS. Still looking .....

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No good deed goes unpunished.

The looking is, well, maybe not as good as the having, but also enjoyable.... am I right?

There is one on GB but seller only has one previous sale.

Hard chromed not two toned but still a bit on the uncommon side.