1911

[John Sabato]

This is a repeat post for me... but since 1911's are the discussion topic, and I haven't seen one mentioned,

...Padre, I have a twin to your Remington Rand, but here is my personal favorite:





This is a Steel Framed Colt Combat Commander personally converted for me to true double-action by Lewis W. Seecamp Sr. in 1976.

Mine was probably one of the first guns he converted for sale.

This is my carry gun. She isn't a lightweight, but she will last for the long haul. If you ever see one... I recommend you buy it. The Seecamp double-action conversion was only done on the Steel version of the 1911A1 frame in either standard or Commander length.

It is a pretty unique conversion. I doubt he converted more than 50 or so. At some point the patent was sold to a company in New Jersey whose name I can't seem to remember and they attempted to market the gun in both blue and stainless, but I have no idea how successful they were or if they got past the prototype stage. Perhaps someone with a grounding on one of the 1911 websites might read this and fill us both in.

The conversion creatively hangs a mechanism similar in nature to the P-38 into machine cuts made into the right side of the frame and the double action trigger is added. The gun functions in both single and double action modes and in the event of a combat type loss of one of the double action parts, they can be readily removed and the gun returns to single action.

I would guess that the weight of the double action pull is similar to the P-38 but I have never measured it. The trigger is wide and smooth like a S&W combat revolver trigger and is a joy to use...

Lewis Seecamp's designs are still produced in smaller calibers, but this is the gun conversion that put him on the map. I had the conversion done shortly after an article appeared in one of the Gun magazines in the same year about his accomplishment.

-John

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

This is a Steel Framed Colt Combat Commander personally converted for me to true double-action by Lewis W. Seecamp Sr. in 1976.

There is a pic of one with the sideplate removed & drawbar resting on the slide in Nonte's book Pistolsmithing...Not too clear (B&W pic)...I remember reading about the conversion, and Nonte states that the conversion only cost $100 (book is dated 1974)...

My inflation calculator says that is $466.16 in todays dollars...

Anybody got a good pic of one with the sidecover removed???

Ah! Here's one...Hmmmm...That's from an auction -

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/842330...-commander-.45

Went for $950...