Monday, July 26, 2021

Why this is, I have no idea. It simply is ....

A modified 1911 & a Colt Officer's ACP

"With so many light years to go"

What you are looking at might be described as evolution in action. The pistol on the top is a modified model  of 1911 which, as the number indicates, came into use 110 years ago. Actually, the pistol originated in the late 1890s, was revised here and there and improved, and formally was adopted by the U.S. Army in March 1911. It reigned as our military sidearm until October 1986.

Special operations groups continued to use the 1911 until 2016, but dropped them then except for Marine Corps Recon battalions which still have the 1911 stockpiled. Some die-hards undoubtedly will carry them forever. A civilian variation became available no later than 1913, and a number of police officers carry them when allowed.

The slide on this particular pistol is a Colt with a Colt barrel and other internal parts. It dates to the 1960s and I obtained it in 2013. The frame is an Auto Ordnance. It came with who knows what for internal parts. It also dates to the 1960s and I obtained it in 2014. I swapped out the parts from the frame for some I prefer and think are of better quality.

All-in-all, that makes it a very modified 1911 ....

In an evolutionary sense, the lower pistol is a Colt Officer's ACP. It was introduced in 1985 and is a smaller variation of the full-size 1911. This particular one is vintage 1987, which I obtained "unfired" for a "pretty penny" in 2014. Other than the grips, it is a full-blood Colt through and through.

I designated the pistol with the mountain lion grips a one-of-a-kind commemorative a year ago when one of the big cats was captured on a trail camera about 40 yards from the Dakota house. I later acquired the eagle grips on the officer's model to spiff it up a bit. Although I shoot reasonably well with these grips, I do most of my firing using Hogue rubber grips with palm swells.

Both handguns are in .45 caliber and each has had a few hundred rounds put through it during the past few weeks. For some of us, there is nothing like trigger-time and burning ammo to relax/unwind/feel alive/put life into perspective/regain self-confidence and, most simply, to feel good about ourselves ....

Why this is, I have no idea. It simply is ....

"Lewis is still a good shot, and it is still a pleasure to watch him. 'I think my release is passing over into Zen,' he said once. 'Those gooks are right. You shouldn't fight it. Better to cooperate with it. Then it'll take you there; take the arrow there.'"

Novelist, poet, teacher James Dickey put those words into the mouth of Ed Gentry in "Deliverance," a story of four middle-aged men on a three-day canoe trip down a soon-to-be-forever-lost river. He was, of course, talking about archery.

Being an avid "old-school" archer, I can appreciate the notion of perceptually traveling with an arrow to a target. I also can identify with the concept in the sense of traveling as a bullet from a firearm to a target. With a bit of "perceptual tinkering," I even can place myself on the tip of the projectile.

With apologies to the Beach Boys: Fun fun fun unless big daddy takes the pistols away ....




18 comments:

Kelly said...

Having watched the film version of Deliverance years ago, I finally got around to reading the book a few years back. (I hadn't realized it was a book first, nor did I know the author was a Poet Laureate) I found the book and film on equal par, so it was clear that Dickey worked closely on the film.

I have a bow (compound), but haven't really used it much. Dogs in the way, and all...

Anita said...

Deliverance is a very good movie !
Are the pistols both Colts?Pretty that mountain lion and eagle as a grip!
I dont know nothing about guns only Smith and Wessons old ones
I do know the feeling og self asteam beeing out there and do the thing
Training at beer boxes!Well that was when I was young ,wearing a -Buffalo Bill Jacket!

Nice music !First thinking was immediatly Dovregubbens Hall av Edvard Grieg! I think Sergey Prokofiev was listening to those old masters

Bt w sometimes You make me smile !Have you ever listened to Eugene Porter .The way you write and talk is similar to the super intellectual man very cute too

Ok see you around!

Fram Actual said...

Because of my association with canoeing and archery, when I think of James Dickey I associate him with "Deliverance," the novel immediately and then the film. My later thought is with poetry, for which he is better known by most and I felt a tad guilty for not listing poet ahead of novelist.

"Falling" and "The Firebombing" cause me to shudder when I read them. In addition to "perceptually traveling" with an arrow or a bullet, I also am a bit adept at pulling myself within written words or visual images such as paintings and photographs.

By "old school" archery, I mean recurve bows (Bear and Browning) like the ones in the film. I am the same way about firearms and, although I own a few Glocks, will always prefer wood and steel over plastic and fancy colors. I have shot compounds, but never owned one.

I was going to get a few bales of hay and shoot in my back yard until I learned shooting bow and arrows is illegal throughout the entire metropolitan area in this neck of the woods. So much for that ....

Thank you, Kelly, for being here and for writing here. I now will occasionally think of you as Audrey Hepburn shooting an arrow into the air from a window as Sean Connery lies dying ....

Fram Actual said...

The slide on the top pistol is Colt and the frame is Auto Ordnance. Many of the internal parts are neither Colt nor Auto Ordnance, which makes it an extremely "modified 1911." Dozens of companies make 1911 parts which are interchangeable. The bottom pistol is entirely, 100 percent Colt except for the grips, which are Altamont on both guns.

I agree. The music of Sergei Prokofiev often is reminiscent of Edvard Grieg. I enjoy both composers, and I especially like the way Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night and a number of others have put lyrics to Grieg's "I Dovregubbens hall." The Rainbow rendition of "Hall of the Mountain King" is superb.

As for Eugene Porter, I had no clue who he might be and when I tried to find out, so many popped up I had no idea which among them might be your guy. I guess that answers your question .... no, Anita, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, I never have listened to him. Maybe I should ....

Thank you, Anita, for being here and for writing here. From this point forward, when I see photographs from your treks on the streets and in the countryside around Bergen, I will "look very closely" to see if the spirit of Grieg is accompanying you ....

By the way, I have seen photographs of the site where the ashes of Grieg and his wife are interred and think it might be a fine place for you to visit with your camera if ever the Old Norse gods favor it for you .... while there, you could greet them (both the Griegs and the Gods) from me ....

Rajani Rehana said...

Awesome blog

Fram Actual said...

Thank you, Rajani Rehana ....

Rajani Rehana said...

Your next post

Fram Actual said...

My next post will come when it comes, Rajani Rehana .... and, yes, I owe you a visit ....

I have ideas bouncing and ricocheting in my mind, but no definite plans for a post at the moment. I have been spending considerable time watching the Olympics. I very much enjoy the competition, although at times find the intensity of it troubling until it ends and usually see the losing competitors congratulating the winners no matter the nationality or other differences. Although I understand why all matters between competing individuals or contending nations cannot be handled in this manner, it puzzles me why they cannot.

So, my next post may (or may not) touch on the Olympics. We shall see what we shall see ....

Smareis said...

Boa noite Fram!
Eu não entendo nada de armas de fogos, mas essas pistolas deve ser uma arma muito importante e valiosa, pois se os grupos de operações especiais já usaram, então deve ser bem poderosa. Pela época que elas têm deve ser difícil pra comprar, e o preço deve ser bem salgado. Elas são bem bonitas e conservadas.

Fram disse:
Para alguns de nós, não há nada como o tempo de disparo e queima de munição para relaxar / descontrair / sentir-se vivo / colocar a vida em perspectiva / recuperar a autoconfiança e, simplesmente, para nos sentirmos bem com nós mesmos ....

Eu percebo que você é muito apaixonado por armas de fogo. Não é só um hobby, as armas fazem parte de você, está no seu DNA. Você deve ser um excelente atirador. Tiro o chapéu pra você!

Sobre o vídeo: Esse foi um grande clássico do Rock mundial que influenciou gerações inteiras. A música dos anos 80 sempre dominará o mundo, foi umas das melhores até hoje.
Essa apresentação foi de arrepiar. Eita música linda, isso sim é que é show!
Estou feliz em ver que você continua atualizando com frequência seu blog, e as postagens são excelentes. Lia a anterior e depois eu volto pra deixar minha opinião risos.

Nesse mês de agosto desejo tudo de bom pra você Fram . Minha vida anda um pouco bagunçada, por isso ando um pouco ausente, mais daqui a pouco passa um vento forte e coloca tudo de volta no lugar, assim eu espero. Dando risadas.
Mando sorrisos pra ti!

Fram Actual said...

In a very general sense, Smareis, firearms fall into two categories: Those meant for shooting and those which are for collectors. I do not own any which are in the collector category, but I have a few which are "top of the line" in the shooter category. The Colt Officer's ACP is one of them.

Imagine buying an unfired pistol in 2014 which is 27 years old. It is the equivalent of purchasing a 1987 automobile which never has been driven in 2014. I will leave the "pretty penny" to your imagination.

I do not know if being in one's DNA is a logical explanation for owning and shooting and "loving" guns, but it must be something like that. As far as being an "excellent marksman," I would say I am with a handgun and pretty good with a rifle, but only mediocre with a shotgun. I do have a couple of pistols which seem to be a natural extension of my arm and my hand.

It puzzles me why the band Europe never gained "upper echelon rock status" in the United States. Rolf "Joey Tempest" Larsson certainly has the voice and the looks and the stage presence to be among "giants," and the musicians are first class. As for "The Final Countdown," I think the magic is in the melody and the sentiment. It truly is one of "anthems" of the era .... I dance whenever I hear it, whether standing or in a chair ....

My own mood might be described as skirting the doldrums in many ways, including the sea of blogs. I really do need some manner of significant change in my life.

After "a strong wind passes and I (you) put everything back in place," Smareis, send it northward to me, along with as many of your smiles as you are able .... your smile is the sunshine for me .... take care / be happy / stay safe and strong / and be afraid of no one or nothing, Smareis ....

Fram Actual said...

Still watching the Olympic Games, Rajani Rehana .... just saw a "neighbor," Molly Seidel from Wisconsin, pick up the bronze medal in the women's marathon. Thank you, for your visit and your comment ....

Vicky Cahyagi said...

Great article. Have a nice weekend and I followed your blog now. Thx

Anita said...

I would love to see you dancing Mr.! ;)

Fram Actual said...

Thank you, for your visit and your complimentary comment, Vicky Cahyagi.

I see you run four blogs and I admire you for your ability to do so. I have a difficult time keeping up with a single blog. I wish you good health and prosperity.

Fram Actual said...

Thank you, Bergensjente, for your return visit and comment.

Well, since my dancing shoes are about worn out and since I dance just like some of my friends do, until I come up with replacement shoes I hope a video showing them doing a "dirty dancing routine" will suffice:

https://youtu.be/_08dPI9wbsc

Stay safe and healthy and happy, Anita .... and, when are you going to sing a song for us?

Anita said...

The link do not work.It only shows" how to clean fish'
But this onee is nice
https://youtu.be/rbE53XUtVw0

Anita said...

No body home as usual here -I can write write and have alot of funfun for myself !! :)))

https://youtu.be/qrO4YZeyl0I

Have a nasty happy weekend :))))

Hilsener fra hjemlandet!

Fram Actual said...

Any comment which is made two or more weeks after a post is published on my blog is held for approval, Anita, and I very/very/very seldom look to see if any are being held.

It surprises me that the link does not work for you. It works fine for me. Go to any YouTube video marked "judo dance" and you will see what I mean.

Cute bear ....

As for "Bad Romance," I prefer it by the crazy crew of Sershen & Zaritskaya .... hope this link works for you:

https://youtu.be/7bnW7Gywtq0

Ja, jeg antar at Norge er mitt hjemland ....

Something special ....