Jerry-R
Bearcat
Well, it took me almost a year, but I was finally able to purchase a Ruger SR1911 late this spring. I was pleased with the pistol in general, but wanted the front strap checkered. I really liked the way John Harrison creates a border on his FS checkering. I went to his web site and found that the Ruger was not on his list of “suitable pistols”.
So I sent him an email and asked if he would consider the Ruger. I received a very quick, very polite response stating that he was not taking current work due to his backlog, but he asked what I wanted to have done.
We exchanged a couple of emails, and he finally said, “Since you live close, why don’t you bring it over and let me take a look at it.” We agreed on a time, and I drove to his shop. After showing me around, he took the Ruger, and before I could blink it was in pieces on his work bench. A couple of hums, and he said, “Take a look at this.” He showed me a few things he liked about the pistol, and a few things he thought I should consider changing. He finally said, “Why don’t you leave it with me and think about what you want done. I think I can get to it by September / October if that would be okay.”
To say I was excited would be an understatement. So, I left my unfired Ruger SR1911 and went home to browse his web pages and ponder my options.
We exchanged a couple more emails – I really tried not to be a pest – and we agreed upon a build. Since this would be his “First” SR1911 I decided to pretty much give him a free hand. My son Steve also had some input, “Dad, get rid of all the black crap!” He’s in his 40’s and not very subtle. I said the black stuff was not crap, but agreed that two-tone was not what I wanted on this pistol.
So now there aren’t many removable Ruger parts left. I think just the frame, slide, barrel, and firing pin.
I found John Harrison to be a well-spoken, knowledgeable gentleman and a consummate professional. The quality of his work speaks for itself.
The list of things we agreed upon was:
Remove existing rear sight, fit and install new Harrison Design Extreme Service rear sight for Novak cut, 2 tritium lamps, std. height.
Machine existing dovetail for new sight, fit & install SDM dovetail front sight blank, machine blank for profile and height. Hand shape ends of dovetail front sight to match radius of slide’s top. Drill sight & slide for vertical roll pin in dovetail front sight. Install tritium lamp in dot configuration with white ring in non-serrated sight blade.
Test fire and regulate sights to POA/POI with Federal Ball ammo.
Machine large bevel on lower edges of slide.
Machine ball cuts on front of slide’s spring tunnel.
Machine French border at top of slide flats, with deluxe interrupted cuts.
Fit H-D logo barrel bushing and spring plug set, S/S Gov’t.
Face off barrel flush with barrel bushing and re-crown with deep dished, high polish crown.
Function Reliability Package !!
Fit and install extended EGW ejector, .45 ACP, S/S.
Fit H-D Extreme Service Slide Stop, .45 ACP, S/S & add E-Z In modification.
Fit EGW oversize firing pin stop, S/S, Series 70, .45 ACP.
Fit and tune Wilson Bulletproof extractor, S/S, Series 70, .45 ACP.
EGW 11 piece S/S hardened pin set.
Perform Duty/Carry Trigger Job using Harrison Design Extreme Service Trigger for 1911, long, smooth face with fixed over-travel stop, natural finish, and Harrison Design Extreme Service ignition set, EDM’d tool steel, slotted Commanded Hammer, sear, disconnector, and Extreme Service Hammer strut. Trigger job to be done with full power springs. Trigger pull average is 4 pounds 11 ounces – ten pulls with Lyman digital gauge. I requested a trigger pull between 4.5 and 4.75 using full power springs.
Checker front strap 25 LPI – Includes high grip & truing front strap with unchecked lower border. This is my personal “Goldilocks Syndrome”. 20 LPI is a little too coarse, 30 LPI is a little too fine, but 25 LPI is “Just Right” for me.
Fit Wilson 6SN extended thumb safety, S/S.
Weld up frame tangs to repair for over-fit beavertail, or to enhance for loose fit. Machine frame, fit & blend EGW bar stock beavertail grip safety, S/S.
Fit Harrison Design Extreme Service extended magazine catch, S/S, to frame.
Install Extreme Service grip screw bushings and Allen head grip screws, S/S.
Fit Ed Brown Maxi-Well mag well and blend to factory beveled mag well opening.
Perform Carry Bevel Package.
Countersink slide stop pin hole & recess pin.
Blank the slide and sand off factory markings beneath dust cover.
Refinish stainless steel pistol in matte texture with brushed slide flats.
While John was working on my pistol, I contacted Sarge and asked him to make a set of Exhibition Grade Desert Ironwood Grips for the Ruger. I asked Sarge if he would inlay the Ruger Medallions for me. “Yes”. So I popped the medallions out of the factory grips and sent them to Sarge along with a check. The grips in the following pictures are the ones he created for me. Definitely NOT Ruger Factory Grips.
And now, the obligatory pictures.
Just a “Pretty” shot
Close up of the bevel on the bottom of the slide / Slide release / extended magazine release (left a little oil on the slide - sorry)
Blended Magazine well
Flush cut, re-crowned, beveled and polished muzzle
New Beavertail grip safety
Sarge’s Grips – Exhibition Grade Desert Ironwood with original medallions inlaid
Front Strap trued, high-cut, and bordered checkering at 25 LPI
Ball Cut on slide
“Deluxe” French Border with interrupted cuts and counter-sunk Slide Release
Tenth shot is “Just Posing”
So I sent him an email and asked if he would consider the Ruger. I received a very quick, very polite response stating that he was not taking current work due to his backlog, but he asked what I wanted to have done.
We exchanged a couple of emails, and he finally said, “Since you live close, why don’t you bring it over and let me take a look at it.” We agreed on a time, and I drove to his shop. After showing me around, he took the Ruger, and before I could blink it was in pieces on his work bench. A couple of hums, and he said, “Take a look at this.” He showed me a few things he liked about the pistol, and a few things he thought I should consider changing. He finally said, “Why don’t you leave it with me and think about what you want done. I think I can get to it by September / October if that would be okay.”
To say I was excited would be an understatement. So, I left my unfired Ruger SR1911 and went home to browse his web pages and ponder my options.
We exchanged a couple more emails – I really tried not to be a pest – and we agreed upon a build. Since this would be his “First” SR1911 I decided to pretty much give him a free hand. My son Steve also had some input, “Dad, get rid of all the black crap!” He’s in his 40’s and not very subtle. I said the black stuff was not crap, but agreed that two-tone was not what I wanted on this pistol.
So now there aren’t many removable Ruger parts left. I think just the frame, slide, barrel, and firing pin.
I found John Harrison to be a well-spoken, knowledgeable gentleman and a consummate professional. The quality of his work speaks for itself.
The list of things we agreed upon was:
Remove existing rear sight, fit and install new Harrison Design Extreme Service rear sight for Novak cut, 2 tritium lamps, std. height.
Machine existing dovetail for new sight, fit & install SDM dovetail front sight blank, machine blank for profile and height. Hand shape ends of dovetail front sight to match radius of slide’s top. Drill sight & slide for vertical roll pin in dovetail front sight. Install tritium lamp in dot configuration with white ring in non-serrated sight blade.
Test fire and regulate sights to POA/POI with Federal Ball ammo.
Machine large bevel on lower edges of slide.
Machine ball cuts on front of slide’s spring tunnel.
Machine French border at top of slide flats, with deluxe interrupted cuts.
Fit H-D logo barrel bushing and spring plug set, S/S Gov’t.
Face off barrel flush with barrel bushing and re-crown with deep dished, high polish crown.
Function Reliability Package !!
Fit and install extended EGW ejector, .45 ACP, S/S.
Fit H-D Extreme Service Slide Stop, .45 ACP, S/S & add E-Z In modification.
Fit EGW oversize firing pin stop, S/S, Series 70, .45 ACP.
Fit and tune Wilson Bulletproof extractor, S/S, Series 70, .45 ACP.
EGW 11 piece S/S hardened pin set.
Perform Duty/Carry Trigger Job using Harrison Design Extreme Service Trigger for 1911, long, smooth face with fixed over-travel stop, natural finish, and Harrison Design Extreme Service ignition set, EDM’d tool steel, slotted Commanded Hammer, sear, disconnector, and Extreme Service Hammer strut. Trigger job to be done with full power springs. Trigger pull average is 4 pounds 11 ounces – ten pulls with Lyman digital gauge. I requested a trigger pull between 4.5 and 4.75 using full power springs.
Checker front strap 25 LPI – Includes high grip & truing front strap with unchecked lower border. This is my personal “Goldilocks Syndrome”. 20 LPI is a little too coarse, 30 LPI is a little too fine, but 25 LPI is “Just Right” for me.
Fit Wilson 6SN extended thumb safety, S/S.
Weld up frame tangs to repair for over-fit beavertail, or to enhance for loose fit. Machine frame, fit & blend EGW bar stock beavertail grip safety, S/S.
Fit Harrison Design Extreme Service extended magazine catch, S/S, to frame.
Install Extreme Service grip screw bushings and Allen head grip screws, S/S.
Fit Ed Brown Maxi-Well mag well and blend to factory beveled mag well opening.
Perform Carry Bevel Package.
Countersink slide stop pin hole & recess pin.
Blank the slide and sand off factory markings beneath dust cover.
Refinish stainless steel pistol in matte texture with brushed slide flats.
While John was working on my pistol, I contacted Sarge and asked him to make a set of Exhibition Grade Desert Ironwood Grips for the Ruger. I asked Sarge if he would inlay the Ruger Medallions for me. “Yes”. So I popped the medallions out of the factory grips and sent them to Sarge along with a check. The grips in the following pictures are the ones he created for me. Definitely NOT Ruger Factory Grips.
And now, the obligatory pictures.
Just a “Pretty” shot
Close up of the bevel on the bottom of the slide / Slide release / extended magazine release (left a little oil on the slide - sorry)
Blended Magazine well
Flush cut, re-crowned, beveled and polished muzzle
New Beavertail grip safety
Sarge’s Grips – Exhibition Grade Desert Ironwood with original medallions inlaid
Front Strap trued, high-cut, and bordered checkering at 25 LPI
Ball Cut on slide
“Deluxe” French Border with interrupted cuts and counter-sunk Slide Release
Tenth shot is “Just Posing”
