Imagine a character, called 'Tex', the strong silent Western type, wears a Stetson on occasion, likes leather boots. He originally came from the 101st Airborne and was an operator in 1st SFOD-D/CAG/Delta Force between 1998 and 2001.
He is technically still part of the US Army in our game, which is set in February 2017, but he's now an officer and belongs to a very secret intelligence unit set up to support JSOC operations with actionable intelligence. This special operations intelligence unit has in the past been referred to or designed as FOG/ISA/Grantor Shadow/Centra Spike/Torn Victor/Grey Fox/Orange/MSA, is jokingly known as 'The Army of Northern Virginia', but may be most familiar to people as 'the Activity'.
While an operator at CAG, Tex developed a strong preference for .45 ACP pistols over 9mm pistols, especially becoming a partisan of gunsmithed Colt 1911 models. He retains this preference to the current day. As the Activity comes under JSOC and Tex is an experienced Captain with a close relationship with numerous senior officers, often chosen for missions even more clandestine than 'ordinary' special operations, I figure that Tex is likely to be able to indulge his fancy even if his fellow operators often just carry Glocks.
In game terms, I want him to carry a Fine (Accurate and Reliable) Colt 1911 with which he has a Weapon Bond.
It should have an 8-rd magazine and be capable of running +P .45 ACP ammunication without issues. Obviously, it should be reliable with standard issue GI .45 ACP ball ammo, fancy match ammunition, several different kinds of JHP or other top-of-the-line commerical ammunition and anything else he might need to cycle through it.
A beveled magazine well sounds like a nice addition, unless there are real world problems with having that feature on a carry gun.
It should ideally be usable with a suppressor, which I think precludes a compensator. I think the action of the 1911 cycles poorly with a suppressor, but there are presumably modern gunsmithing solutions to that problem. Does anyone know what they are? If there are special parts you buy? From whom?
I'd like help from the forumites in identifying real-world manufacturers for parts in such a custom gun. It should be recognisably inspired by what Delta Force/CAG was using around 1998-2001, but it's been personally modified for Tex. Tex has Armoury (Smallarms) -14, so any minor modifications and maintenence he can do himself.
The weapon is meant to be his one and only sidearm, meaning it has to be a comfortable carry gun, but it would be good for it to be as capable as possible for any tactical role. He won't put bulky accessories on it and make it into some kind of Frankengun, but anything
useful that won't really make it any heavier or bulkier than a typical custom 1911 ought to be considered.
If Tex expects an actual firefight, he'll carry a longarm, of course. But as he is functionally as much intelligence officer as he is a soldier, he is very often undercover in civilian clothing, where carrying any kind of longarm would not always fit his cover. So he's gotten very used to having to rely on his sidearm in all kinds of hairy situations.
Many people in his position prefer a Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) of some kind, a MP7A2 or a Honey Badger AAC, but Tex, while ruthlessly practical about most things, is a fully paid up member of the Cult of the Colt Forty-Five, though his sect
does at least allow gunsmithing and custom builds.
I'm sure some forumites are fans of custom 1911s. It's a fairly popular gun for collectors and hobby shooters. What kind of gunsmithing would forumites do with one if they had a pretty sizable budget? I mean, maybe not infinite, but at least $2,500+.
I was thinking Caspian frames and slides. A custom trigger, maybe Wilson Combat.
Who should make his magazines?
What kind of sights?
Should the weapon have accessory rails and if so, what kind?
Edit:
This is apparently one attempt to build an 1911 similar to that used by SMU under JSOC at a sligthly later date than 1998-2001.
I'd want to use slightly different components, but it's a good start.
List of components:
World War II Colt GI 1911A1 frame
Ed Brown Memory Grove grip safety
Ed Brown Ambi thumb safety
Ed Brown strong side safety
Ed Brown extended mag release
Ed Brown standard mag release
Ed Brown National Match trigger
Maryland Gun Works sear and hammer
One pair of Maryland Gun Works GI plastic style ambi cut grips (issued item)
One set, Pachmayer Grips (issued Item)
*user installed non issued VZ grips (as pictured)
GI 1911A1 mainspring housing with lanyard loop (modified to smooth 1911 style)
Smith & Alexander mainspring housing with lanyard loop and mag guide
Caspian slide with Novak sights
Two each, TZ ( Israel Military Industries) National Match grade barrels and National Matich bushings both fitted to pistol
Two Ed Brown slide stops
Two military spec firing pins
Two firing pin stops
Two recoil springs
One starlight hard case for transport
One soft side side case to store mags, pistol and cleaning kit and small parts
Eight Wilson type 47 mags
One cleaning kit
Take down tool kit
One GI field lanyard
One pistol lease. telephone cord syle.