Manufacturer: Colt
Caliber: .45 ACP
Model/Size: Government w/ 6 inch Barrel
Finish: Blued over Hard Chrome
Condition: Pre-Owned
Box/Papers: No
Armand Swenson was one of the most influential of 1911 pistolsmiths because his guns laid the foundation for combat modifications rather than the more prosaic bullseye “accurizing” modifications that were more typical of the era. Of Swedish descent, Swenson was a former professional boxer and avid speedboat racer. He built individual pistols with no set “build sheet” or “package.” The three Swenson pistols presented here are typical examples in that they’re all different. Even consecutively numbered pairs were not identical, although there were some clearly identifying hallmarks of Swenson’s work.
As an example of his fighting pistol focus, Swenson invented and patented an ambidextrous safety, an important advantage for a defensive pistol but utterly useless for bullseye shooting. Swenson also recognized the need for low-profile sights on a gun to be carried concealed, but he wanted the practicality of adjustable sights to zero for the user’s ammunition and preferred sighting distance. His solution was the Smith & Wesson K-sight, able to be machined into the slide unobtrusively. Accuracy was still important, but rather than fitting a match barrel as tightly as a bullseye gun, Armand used a small bead of weld on the slide to bear against the barrel’s hood to tighten the fit without relying on squeezing the frame-to-slide fit, which could be unreliable in combat conditions. Swenson built pistols for servicemen headed to Vietnam.
Swenson usually chose Bar Sto match barrels, but also used stock Colt barrels. He was known to install 6-inch barrels for IPSC competition shooters to get extra velocity. He hand-checkered front straps and mainspring housings, often finishing his pistols in two-tone with hard chrome frames and blued slides. Operating first out of Gardena and then Fallbrook, Calif., late in his career Swenson invented a fixed sight he called the Swensight. While the big Swede usually worked alone, he employed shop helpers and apprentices, one of whom would go on to become a highly successful pistolsmith in his own right, Wayne Novak.
This particular Swenson features: Extended Bar Sto barrel, Classic Swenson beavertail, hammer, squared trigger guard with front checkering, beveled magazine well, “Swensight" rear sight, 30 LPI front strap checkering, serrated arched MSH and Herrett’s stocks.
Ships 2nd Day FedEx with gun rug and (1) Colt mag.
Click here to view high resolution photos
Manufacturer: Colt
Caliber: .45 ACP
Model/Size: Government w/ 6 inch Barrel
Finish: Blued over Hard Chrome
Condition: Pre-Owned
Box/Papers: No
Armand Swenson was one of the most influential of 1911 pistolsmiths because his guns laid the foundation for combat modifications rather than the more prosaic bullseye “accurizing” modifications that were more typical of the era. Of Swedish descent, Swenson was a former professional boxer and avid speedboat racer. He built individual pistols with no set “build sheet” or “package.” The three Swenson pistols presented here are typical examples in that they’re all different. Even consecutively numbered pairs were not identical, although there were some clearly identifying hallmarks of Swenson’s work.
As an example of his fighting pistol focus, Swenson invented and patented an ambidextrous safety, an important advantage for a defensive pistol but utterly useless for bullseye shooting. Swenson also recognized the need for low-profile sights on a gun to be carried concealed, but he wanted the practicality of adjustable sights to zero for the user’s ammunition and preferred sighting distance. His solution was the Smith & Wesson K-sight, able to be machined into the slide unobtrusively. Accuracy was still important, but rather than fitting a match barrel as tightly as a bullseye gun, Armand used a small bead of weld on the slide to bear against the barrel’s hood to tighten the fit without relying on squeezing the frame-to-slide fit, which could be unreliable in combat conditions. Swenson built pistols for servicemen headed to Vietnam.
Swenson usually chose Bar Sto match barrels, but also used stock Colt barrels. He was known to install 6-inch barrels for IPSC competition shooters to get extra velocity. He hand-checkered front straps and mainspring housings, often finishing his pistols in two-tone with hard chrome frames and blued slides. Operating first out of Gardena and then Fallbrook, Calif., late in his career Swenson invented a fixed sight he called the Swensight. While the big Swede usually worked alone, he employed shop helpers and apprentices, one of whom would go on to become a highly successful pistolsmith in his own right, Wayne Novak.
This particular Swenson features: Extended Bar Sto barrel, Classic Swenson beavertail, hammer, squared trigger guard with front checkering, beveled magazine well, “Swensight" rear sight, 30 LPI front strap checkering, serrated arched MSH and Herrett’s stocks.
Ships 2nd Day FedEx with gun rug and (1) Colt mag.
Click here to view high resolution photos
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