[Jeffvn]

I wanted to show off my new .45. It is truly a work of art, from custom 1911 builder Dane Burns. Notice how the take-down pins are all flush-fit on the off side of the slide. CMC hard-chrome frame, Caspian Slide. WORK OF ART!!!

http://www.burnscustom.com/

Photobucket is still down, I hate it when technology prevents me from showing off my stuff!!!!!

Here they are from my back up hosting service

 

[FLEA]

Very nice!!!

Thats what I love about the 1911.....you can truely build one just the way you want it. I will be building a custom one myself in the next year or so.

 

[mele]

Yes! Agreed! It is a piece of Art! Very beautiful pistol, thanks for showing us.

MEL

 

[Jeff_850]

very nice
looks great
hows it shoot?

 

[Bead Drawer]

Very impressive. Burns is a good choice too. I noticed you went with the standard thumb safety.

I have to ask why the triggers in the two pictures are of different lengths, did you have it changed?

A few questions: is it reliable? how does it shoot? Could you give us a ballpark estimate of the cost? how long did it take to get? what was the overall experience with Burns like? Do you use 7 or 8 round mags? Hows the balance?

I am considering a custom 1911 myself, and Burns is high on my list of possible smiths.

Congratulations on your new arrival

 

[TOPO-sniper]

Sweet 45, shootin shorties this weekend?

 

[Jeffvn]

Range Report on Jeff's Burns Custom "Best Grade":

250 rounds of 230 grain hardball, mixed manufacturers NO feeding or ejection problems whatsoever. Using CMC 8 rounds magazines (came with) with no problems at all.

Bead Drawer - yep two different triggers in the pictures. Blue background original trigger, (short trigger) wood background. So far it exceeds my expectations, which were damn high. Shoots sweet - microscopic creep, no overtravel, 3.5 lbs pull.

Flat serrated top makes sights appear taller (visual only) but makes it VERY easy to aim and acquire target.

Cost - if you have to ask you can't afford one of Dane's "Best Grade". But seriously, there are currently 4 of Dane's pistols listed on Guns America Classified under the custom pistol category (one Arena, one custom for his wife, one used and one new, but not a current project gun). If you are still interested in one after that, go to Pistolsmith.com, look Dane up in the index see if he still has a "best Grade"ready to sell (he did as of 9/14/04), and tell him you'll take the one he has left.

It took me 1.5 months to get - it was already finished and I bought it after talking with Dane on the phone.

Originally I was going to get a Tsunami, but the 4 year wait made me reconsider waiting for a Jeff's version of a Best Grade or Tsunami from Dane.

 

[Bead Drawer]

Thanks for the info, I checked it out, a bit more than I can afford at present, but something to save for. Still, if I am going to drop that kind of money, I want it built just the way I want it. Which gives me ideas......

 

[Jeffvn]

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Then again a 4 year wait will potentially cause you to adjust what you want to have built. This is almost exactly what I was actaully going to have built.

 

[Jeff_850]

4 year weight?
i die over the 14 day state law wait here in Ct
why so long?
if it was 4 days id go crazy!!! how did ya manage

 

[Bead Drawer]

Looks pretty sexy, and fairly unique. Four years is a long time though, a really long time. I guess it just gives you that much more time to pay for it, *grin* you'll need it, I hear the Tsunamis cost a pretty penny. All that will go away when the hammer falls on the first round. Thats one you can pass on to your kids.

 

[Yimmy]

re

4 years isn't really that bad...

Most people buy more than one gun anyway; so put your order in for the 4 year wait, while at the same time buy a bog-standard pistol, which will serve you until your second gun arrives.

 

[Jeffvn]

I'm not really patient enough to wait 4 years for a pistol project to be built (I was about to pull my hair out when I waited 8 months for my Hammonds Custom rifle to be built). I was willing to TRY and exchanged emails with Dane about deposits and pistol transfers from my FFL, but then the two tone that you see in the pictures above came available. It had part, but not all of what I wanted, but I was willing to "sacrifice" some of my wants for a finished product that short-cut the 4 year waiting list. Oh yeah it was also offered at a pretty significant discount from the list price on Dane's site.

The combination of discount and 6 week turn-around time convinced me to jump on it with both feet. I did and here we are.

JeffVN

The only problem with this project is that I'm now already looking to build a semi-matched pair of carry pistols for my wife and me (semi-matched since hers is built on a Colt officers frame with a commander slide and mine is all commander) They are going to be AWESOME!! I still have not decided whether to go with a 9x23 for mine or a standard .45 - still thinking about it - .357 power and more reliable than a .45!!!! hmmmmm

 

[Bead Drawer]

My vote is for the 9x23. Its an amazing cartridge. Not to be sacriligious, but forget the .45.

 

[Jeffvn]

I couldn't possibly forget the .45!!!! My Burns custom will need to be run through its paces at least 2 to 3 times a month on a continuing basis, not to mention its frequent adventures with the Beamhit laser target for practice. I couldn't possibly buy something that gorgeous and then let it sit in the safe.

Then again I'm still leaning towards the 9x23 for my pure carry piece.

JeffVN

 

[Yimmy]

re

What about 10x25?

 

[Jeffvn]

I forgot to respond to the earlier post about what modifications were performed by Dane in building the .45. Here is the list that Dane generated for purposes of establishing the insurable value of the firearm:

CMC match frame
Caspain match grade slide
Finished is two tone, with hard chromed frame and parts.
Blued slide with matte round and highly polished flats.
Slide is flat topped, French bordered and finely serrated @ 40 lpi.
Frame is very high gripped and 25 lpi checkered on the front strap, 20 lpi on the back strap
BarSto stainless match barrel.
BCP tool steel hammer, sear, disconector and titanium hammer strut.
Hex head grip screws and magazine release pin.
Magazine release is hand cut to medium length.
Slide raceways are polished.
Carry bevel on every edge of the entire gun.
BCP fixed sights
(The rear notch is .125” x .125” with a .125” width front)
Match AFTEC extractor is installed.
Rear of the slide is qualified and cut flush as is the barrel, slide and bushing.
BCP hard use trigger without a setscrew.
Hand picked, double diamond coca bola wood grips
The ejection port was lowered and flared ejection port front and back to enable ejection of a live round of ball ammo.
Barrel throated and flush crowned as a BCP trademark.
Single sided Brown safety trimmed to BCP specs.
Beveled magazine well into the main spring housing

SWEET!!!

JeffVN

 

[SpEcTeR]

That is an impressive list of mods! :shock:

 

[Jeffvn]

No doubt!!

As I sit here looking at it, I see that he left at least one visible modification off the list. The rear of the slide is serrated at what looks like 40 lines per inch, same as the rear sight.

JeffVN

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

My vote is for the 9x23. Its an amazing cartridge. Not to be sacriligious, but forget the .45.

I have used a 9mm pistol and other various 9mm caliber weapons to defend myself and others numerous times.... to be quit honest it just doesnt do the job as quickly as you need it to be done. The 45 Auto gets it done and then some.