Manufacturer: Colt
Caliber: .45 ACP
Model/Size: Combat Commander
Finish: Hard Chrome
Condition: Pre-Owned
Box/Papers: Yes
Armand Swenson is recognized as one of the pioneering pistolsmiths responsible for the development of the custom combat .45 and the modern custom 1911. Working in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s, Swenson developed a distinctive approach to the Colt Government Model that emphasized accuracy, reliability, fast handling and durability. Many of his innovations later became standard features on high-end custom 1911s.
Swenson's work is identifiable by specialized modifications including his squared and checkered trigger guard, hand-checkered frontstrap, beveled magazine well, bobbed and radiused grip-safety tang, ring-style hammer, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, lowered and flared ejection port, extended ejector, tuned extractor and dehorned edges. Perhaps his most recognizable innovation was the installation of a Smith & Wesson K-frame revolver rear sight into the 1911 slide, paired with a properly fitted high-profile front sight. This provided a fast, highly visible sight picture while retaining the clean lines of the pistol. The K-frame sight became one of the signatures of Swenson's work and remains immediately recognizable to collectors.
Swenson was equally meticulous about barrel fit and accuracy. He developed his own barrel positioner, a specialized hand-fitted system designed to promote consistent barrel positioning during cycling and firing. Carefully fitted barrels and oversized bushings further contributed to the practical accuracy for which his pistols became known. Other distinctive characteristics included the hand-matted slide top, which reduced glare, and the use of hard-chrome finishes for durability and corrosion resistance.
Several of the attributes described above are exemplified in this beautiful pistol customized by Armand Swenson in 1983, a Colt 1911A1 US Army frame dating to 1943 paired to a Combat Commander slide. This distinctive Swenson pistol features a hand-matted top of the slide, French border, classic Swenson ambidextrous safety, S&W K38 adjustable rear sight (with customary shear pin inscribed with the letter “M” denoting the initial of the client’s last name; McLear”), barrel positioner, ramped front sight, classic Swenson beavertail, 30 LPI frontstrap checkering, 30 lpi checkered front of trigger guard, 40 LPI rear slide checkering and a satin hard chrome finish. Unlike The backstrap on The Service Model ACE, the backstrap is only serrated but likewise has the distinctive peak at the center.
Pistol is in excellent condition as you can see in the images (for ultra high resolution photos click on the Google Photos link).
Pistol comes with the original Swenson build sheet, and a copy of the Swenson Shop Price List along with a letter to the original owner and envelope it was mailed in.
For the serious collector, an authentic Armand Swenson represents an important piece of American custom 1911 history—the work of a master pistolsmith whose innovations helped establish the technical and aesthetic foundation of the modern custom combat .45.
Pistol ships FedEx 2nd Day in a gun rug with provenance and (2) magazines.
Click here to view high resolution photos
Manufacturer: Colt
Caliber: .45 ACP
Model/Size: Combat Commander
Finish: Hard Chrome
Condition: Pre-Owned
Box/Papers: Yes
Armand Swenson is recognized as one of the pioneering pistolsmiths responsible for the development of the custom combat .45 and the modern custom 1911. Working in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s, Swenson developed a distinctive approach to the Colt Government Model that emphasized accuracy, reliability, fast handling and durability. Many of his innovations later became standard features on high-end custom 1911s.
Swenson's work is identifiable by specialized modifications including his squared and checkered trigger guard, hand-checkered frontstrap, beveled magazine well, bobbed and radiused grip-safety tang, ring-style hammer, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, lowered and flared ejection port, extended ejector, tuned extractor and dehorned edges. Perhaps his most recognizable innovation was the installation of a Smith & Wesson K-frame revolver rear sight into the 1911 slide, paired with a properly fitted high-profile front sight. This provided a fast, highly visible sight picture while retaining the clean lines of the pistol. The K-frame sight became one of the signatures of Swenson's work and remains immediately recognizable to collectors.
Swenson was equally meticulous about barrel fit and accuracy. He developed his own barrel positioner, a specialized hand-fitted system designed to promote consistent barrel positioning during cycling and firing. Carefully fitted barrels and oversized bushings further contributed to the practical accuracy for which his pistols became known. Other distinctive characteristics included the hand-matted slide top, which reduced glare, and the use of hard-chrome finishes for durability and corrosion resistance.
Several of the attributes described above are exemplified in this beautiful pistol customized by Armand Swenson in 1983, a Colt 1911A1 US Army frame dating to 1943 paired to a Combat Commander slide. This distinctive Swenson pistol features a hand-matted top of the slide, French border, classic Swenson ambidextrous safety, S&W K38 adjustable rear sight (with customary shear pin inscribed with the letter “M” denoting the initial of the client’s last name; McLear”), barrel positioner, ramped front sight, classic Swenson beavertail, 30 LPI frontstrap checkering, 30 lpi checkered front of trigger guard, 40 LPI rear slide checkering and a satin hard chrome finish. Unlike The backstrap on The Service Model ACE, the backstrap is only serrated but likewise has the distinctive peak at the center.
Pistol is in excellent condition as you can see in the images (for ultra high resolution photos click on the Google Photos link).
Pistol comes with the original Swenson build sheet, and a copy of the Swenson Shop Price List along with a letter to the original owner and envelope it was mailed in.
For the serious collector, an authentic Armand Swenson represents an important piece of American custom 1911 history—the work of a master pistolsmith whose innovations helped establish the technical and aesthetic foundation of the modern custom combat .45.
Pistol ships FedEx 2nd Day in a gun rug with provenance and (2) magazines.
Click here to view high resolution photos
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