Handguns

It started slowly, I am told, with a simple idea. My friend, FBI Special Agent T.C., assigned to one of the Bureau's many Resident Agencies (read smaller satellite office) in New England, is a competitive shooter and firearms aficionado. He has carried firearms as part of his work for his entire adult life, first as an officer in the U.S. Army and now for a large federal law enforcement agency. He is a dyed-in-the-wool .45 ACP fan, and he enjoys a finely made firearm as much as any of us. And that is how it began.

You see, T.C. owns many guns, again like most of us. He procured his first custom-built firearm, a 1911 in .45 ACP, just after moving to New England. The weapon was built for someone else, who did not end up buying it, so he happily stepped in. He likes the gun and displays a real pride of ownership in it. Yet, the gun was not built for him. The weapon started him thinking about what he would like in a custom-built 1911 of his own.

Over the course of the next several years, he mulled over the idea and eventually came up with what he wanted in his "own custom 1911." He wanted to build a high-end 1911 that he could not only carry and use for the rest of his lifetime but that he could leave behind as a family heirloom. One that would make a statement to those he left behind at some time in the distant future. A one-of-a-kind firearm that was uniquely his.

Then he set about getting it.

As the weapon was to be used (T.C. is an avid IDPA and IPSC competitor), it had to be built by a highly skilled gunsmith with the best parts available. As it was to be an heirloom, it had to be aesthetically appealing. He is a federal special agent, after all, so appearance had to be doubly considered. He did not want to create a "sartorial conundrum," as he put it. I am not exactly sure what the hell that meant, but it sure sounded pretty.

So, his first step was a visit to Caspian Arms Limited in Wolcott, Vermont. Formerly located just down the road in Hardwick, Vermont, Caspian is known throughout the industry as the place to go for the highest-quality frames and slides. He went there and met with the Caspian marketing manager, Gary Smith, to elicit expert input on what was available that would fit in with what T.C. was after.

What they came up with, after lengthy discussion and a tour of Caspian's state-of-the-art factory, was nothing short of brilliant. The slide and Commander-style hammer were to be made from Caspian's gorgeous Damascus steel. The frame was to be made from titanium, with an integral Picatinny rail, which is a recent addition to the Caspian catalog.

The combination resulted in a beautiful and sturdy foundation, which could be carried easier than an all-steel 1911 and would accept a variety of aftermarket accessories. T.C. favors the M3 series of weapon-mounted flashlights, all of which fit perfectly on the rail. To further improve the functionality of the weapon, T.C. took advantage of Caspian's ability to cut parts to order. Dovetails for front and rear sights as well as grasping grooves were cut there at the factory.