ltwguns.com

The starting point for this project was fairly simple in theory, but more difficult in practice... build a 1911 that felt different, without losing what makes the platform what it is.

Like most, I looked at the work of guys I consider masters... Ned Christiansen, Bruce Gray, Chuck Roger, Jason Burton, etc... as a general source of inspiration. Not to replicate anything specific, but to understand the level of thought and execution that has already been applied to the platform.

From the beginning, the intent was for Hakan to have full latitude as the “artist” on the project. The request wasn’t to copy, but to interpret.

The basic parameters were straightforward: Colt base, Carbon steel construction, .38 Super, Integrated compensator, Custom roll marks... Where things became more involved, was in working through the sighting system. I was initially undecided between a traditional iron sight setup and a modern optic. Hakan suggested the Aimpoint COA, which led to a broader discussion around flexibility.

The goal became a system where the COA could serve as the primary optic, while still allowing for other configurations: RMR, ACRO, or even a return to irons (Bomar or fixed). Hakan indicated he would work through a solution that would both function properly and remain consistent with his overall vision for the pistol.

We also discussed the compensator. Ned's Zen Ten has always stood out as one of the more well-executed examples, so I reached out to him for his thoughts. His response was straightforward, if Hakan was building the pistol, he didn’t see an issue with pursuing something in that direction. From there, Hakan developed a one-piece barrel/comp design to meet the intent.

There are also a few elements that draw from established ideas... such as a welded magwell and a hardtail treatment in the style of Bruce Gray’s work. These are not new concepts, but it will become apparent later in the thread that the methods used to execute some them are somewhat different and totally Hakan!

One consistent point from Hakan early on was that the 1911 should remain a “round” gun. That guided the overall direction... no tri-top, square trigger guard, or angular treatments... He wanted to keep the lines traditional while integrating more modern features.

That was the starting point... The second component was the CAD drawings laying out the layout and how everything would essentially come together... At least from the sight system and barrel perspective.

Plate System and Optics/Sights









Barrel/Comp

As I work through organizing and uploading photos, I’ll do my best to provide context for each step along the way.

This is the .38 Super that was sourced as the base for the project.

Given that Hakan is in Sweden, suitable 1911 base guns are not readily available, so the approach was to source what we could and work from there

Step 1: Source Base... done

Thank you for posting that, and the more the better!

The lucky poster is known to me and I've already seen some of the details on this masterpiece in progress. I'm so happy to have it under discussion here, and even more so so say that the other day I saw that Håkan had signed up for LTW and I vetted him in. Hope to hear from him soon but I think he's one busy Swede.

I don't want to over-introduce Håkan, maybe he will and maybe he won't want to do that, but his company's products, and his reputation for innovation and excellence, are know across many categories of firearms products and accessories. To American precision rifle enthusiasts and PRS competitors, the SPUHR logo is very well known:


There are other aspects to the company that I will save for later or let someone else reveal, but "fascinating" and "impressive" come to mind.

I don't know how much he is or has been into 1911's but I think he's pretty much into everything firearms.... for a living and as a hobby. One of his projects that fascinated me was a Luger he customized (as I understand it) for his wife. This is just a little taste of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6tOZRgt-1Y

Mr. Cundiff, you mentioned some Bruce Grey inspiration. Did you see where Bruce Grey himself called Håkan, "The best gunsmith in the world?"

BTW, Håkan is spelled, H- alt0229, k, a, n. And yes, of course I hadda look that up! He told me in our one phone conversation that in Sweden it is pronounced something like HAWK-on or HOKE-on or something in between, that I think American English speakers might need a little practice on.

So THAT's the gun I've been seeing him post teaser pix of on (un)social media! Nice to see some more details on the overal concept. Hakan is truely a master in metal and wood. Glad to hear that he will have a presence here.

Bobby this looks like it will be an amazing pistol. I look forward to more post as the build progresses.

_________________
And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Note that the barrel and comp are one piece. The whole thing is whittled out of one piece of steel.

Bobby, tell me that was from a barrel blank-- right? I mean, he didn't take a chunk of steel and and drill-ream-rifle it, did he?

Ned, I did not hear that but, it doesn’t surprise me. There are very few gunsmiths I have interacted with that have a technical know how on doing the things Håkan (fixed) does. Guys like yourself or Chuck… Gray, Single, Burton. Outside of that, I am not certain I can think of any. One thing that does ring true is his background starting as a tool and die maker. Something about the guys that started there and innovation and vision they have is just a little different.
Bill… that’s the one. I hope Håkan jumps in and can provide even deeper insights to his process vs my limited explanations.
Yes, it’s a project that will be cherished. As I say often, the gun will be the special, but the relationship and friendship Ive made/gained through the project is really what its all about for me!
Ned… perfect timing! Yes… he started with a Lothar Walther blank and went to work… post coming on that shortly.

Before getting into the barrel work, it’s worth noting that the original base gun required chrome removal, as shown in the post above. The pistol had previously been chromed, so the finish had to be stripped back to bare material before any further work could begin. Mission accomplished:


One-Piece Barrel / Comp... Initial Machining

Following up on the CAD portion, this next step focuses on the one-piece barrel and compensator.

Håkan started with a Lothar Walther rifle barrel blank and machined it down to suit the 1911 platform. As shown in the photos, the process begins with turning the exterior profile to establish the basic dimensions of the barrel, including the transition areas that will ultimately interface with the slide.

From there, the work progresses into forming the barrel ramp etc and compensator as a single, continuous unit. The chamber area, and locking surfaces are all developed from the same blank, rather than assembling separate components. This allows for full control over concentricity and alignment throughout the entire length of the part.

You can also see the machining of the lug area and lower geometry, which is critical in establishing proper lockup and timing within the 1911. These surfaces are being worked with the final slide fit in mind, rather than simply cut to nominal dimensions.

The compensator itself is also formed directly from the same piece, rather than added later. This approach removes variables associated with threaded or pinned comps and keeps everything aligned with the bore axis... a process I personally have not ever seen done

Overall, what stands out here is the amount of time spent to arrive at a finished handgun barrel from a blank, all while maintaining the tolerances required for proper function in a 1911.

More to follow as this progresses.

The barrel alone trumps pretty much any work done by 99% of the pistolsmiths out there in the world.

Cutting the locking lug recesses alone is some impressive cutter path programming.

Pat-
I agree... its pretty amazing seeing him go to work on this project!

Ned-
Not to muddy this thread up, but I found one of the Lugers Håkan did (I believe this is the one that was for his wife)

Slide to Barrel Fitment – Cutting & Initial Lockup Work

At this stage, Håkan started cutting the slide to properly mate with the one-piece barrel and compensator assembly, which is where the mechanical foundation of the pistol really starts to take shape. You’ll notice he’s using soot from a flame rather than layout fluid to track contact. It’s a more traditional, old world method, but it provides a very fine, even transfer that makes high spots immediately visible as the parts are brought together and worked. The feedback is extremely precise, which is critical when everything is being fit this closely.

The slide is being opened up and relieved in very small increments, with constant assembly and disassembly to read those contact points. Nothing here is being cut to a fixed dimension and left alone... this is a fully iterative process where each adjustment is based on what the parts are telling him. The barrel and slide are essentially being developed as a matched piece, rather than two separate components that are expected to work together after the fact.

You’ll see areas where material is being added back in through welding. Instead of accepting the limitations of the starting point that the original slide dimensions give, Håkan is building up specific areas so they can be re-machined and brought into exact alignment with the barrel. This allows him to fully control engagement surfaces and geometry, rather than compromise fit to what was originally there. It’s a slower approach, but one that will ensures that lockup, alignment, and timing are all driven by intention rather than tolerance stacking.

At this point, the work is centered around establishing proper upper lug engagement, maintaining concentric alignment with the bore (especially important with the one-piece comp) and developing consistent lockup as the system cycles. The foundation for timing is also being set here, even if it’s not fully finalized yet. Everything is being worked by hand, step by step, to ensure that the barrel returns to the same position every time and that all contact surfaces are doing exactly what they should.

It still looks early, but this is one of the more critical phases of the build... I would argue the most important. This is where a large portion of the pistol’s performance is going to be determined.

More to come as the fit continues to be refined etc..

That Luger is a meeting of steampunk with IPSC.

Incredible craftsmanship!

I've enjoyed following along as this project takes shape... and I am looking forward to seeing more!

_________________
Heirloom Precision
http://www.heirloomprecision.com

Progressing along…

At this stage, you can really start to see where this pistol separates itself from anything even remotely considered “custom” in the traditional sense. This isn’t parts swapping, shaping, or even basic fitting, it is a complete rework of the foundation of the gun by Håkan. What stands out immediately is watching him handcraft each part or component of this 1911 from a block of steel. Is that necessary? Probably not. But I do know Håkan has told me on several occasions how much he’s genuinely enjoying every step of this process, down to the smallest detail. I’m sure there are others capable of doing this, but at this point in what many call the 1911 “golden age,” I’m not aware of anyone else actually making every single part/component by hand. For me, that’s what makes this so fascinating to watch... it feels like a throwback to the original smiths who had no choice but to create everything from scratch. The difference is that these parts are not crude or even "odd" looking due to limited machining skill... That alone gives this build a level of character and soul that I dont recall seeing elsewhere.

Hardtail
Starting with the hardtail work, which again is all hand-built. The rear of the frame is being completely redefined, with material added through welding and then reshaped to achieve the exact geometry Håkan is after. Again, not just cosmetic blend, but structural work that changes how the gun interfaces with the shooter. After welding, the frame is carefully machined and hand-shaped to restore its natural lines while maintaining strength and symmetry. Given the heat introduced during welding, this requires a careful, methodical approach to ensure nothing moves out of spec or warps. The end result is a cleaner, more intentional profile that ties the entire rear of the gun together both visually and functionally. I’ve seen many attempt this hardtail modification. There are only a few smiths I personally feel have consistently executed it correctly... Gray, Single, and Ned are really the only ones that come to mind. There are several newer smiths that have attempted it (more recently), but when you really dive into the details, the work often comes off as harsh. They miss the proper blend at the pivoting section, and it ends up looking like something done with the expectation that the end customer will accept as “good enough” instead of perfection.









Slide and Frame Weld and Refit
With the frame rails, what stands out immediately is that Håkan isn’t working within the limitations of what was there, he’s eliminating them entirely. He’s welding material back onto the rails in-house, not just to address wear and loose fit, but to completely "reset" the geometry so nothing is dictated by prior use or issues Colt had with machining extreme tolerances. From there, the frame rails are recut, trued, and brought into perfect alignment with both the frame and slide. This is where Håkans background really shows... everything is referenced, everything is done with intention. The end result isn’t just a tighter slide-to-frame fit, it’s perfectly straight and properly aligned. Some would argue that parallel is more important than tight, and if you’re after truly smooth, repeatable movement with zero compromise, that argument holds a lot of weight.

At the same time, you can see the slide rail corrections being worked through. Again, this isn’t just cleanup, it’s a full re-establishment of how the slide interfaces with the frame, which ultimately affects barrel lockup and the overall interaction of the gun. The rails are being machined to match the newly established geometry, ensuring that both components are working together as a "system" rather than being individually “fit” to one another. This precision is what I hope for in custom 1911's. It’s often attempted, but in my opinion rarely achieved. It’s the difference between something that feels good and something that feels and runs perfectly.








Guide Rod/Guild Rod Plug/More Machine work
The guide rod and guide rod plug work further reinforce that nothing on this 1911 is being left to chance. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf components, Håkan is turning a custom guide rod on his lathe, dialing in dimensions so it runs perfectly concentric and true. The plug is then machined to match, creating a fully integrated setup that properly supports the recoil spring and maintains alignment throughout the cycling process. This refinement allows for control over how the gun behaves under recoil, eliminating unnecessary movement and ensuring consistency shot to shot.











Throughout all of this, what has stood out to me is the level of control in every operation. The setups of the tooling are rigid, the cuts are all very deliberate, and everything is referenced back to a true baseline. There’s no chasing tolerances later because they’re being established correctly now, with every single part. It’s a process built around eliminating variables rather than working around them.

This is still foundational work in the grand scheme of the build, but it’s arguably the most important phase. If this part isn’t perfect, nothing that follows can be. With Håkan’s process and his ability to create each part from the ground up, you can clearly see the goal isn’t just to make it work, it’s to make it right from the start, resulting in a truly complete and perfectly functioning 1911.