Cylinder and Slide closing

Wow, just wow. This is a tremendous loss to our world. I'm a little bit in shock I think.

Anyone wanna go halvsies?

Another era passes...

Wow…..never thought this would happen

Karl Beining said:

Anyone wanna go halvsies?

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My immediate thought was that they'd sell vs close... even a bad deal beats nothing.

That is a bummer to hear. Their Trident 1911's were always on the short list of 1911's I wanted to get and to my eye their checkering and high cut front strap was among the best in the industry.

On a positive note, I have a Defender build in the final stages-gun has been finished for a bit now, but the are re-engraving the slide (outsourced to their engraver as has been normal) as the pony had really light roll marks.

I also saw the FaceBook post this morning, and in a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone sent an immediate email to the rep that’s been handling my gun in the final stages, Randy Laughridge. Got a specific and reassuring answer about 15 mins later. Seems like they are-as always-committed to treating their customers the right way

Definite bummer. Hate to see a long-established, well-regarded family company close. From all accounts Bill Laugrtidge has always been a class act and ahead of his time, especially with short 1911s. I suppose I'll never have a moustache-marked slide now.

Bill Laugridge is a class act and a friend. He and the team have built multiple guns for me, all stellar.

The C&S team will be missed.

Jim

Karl Beining said:

Anyone wanna go halvsies?

Click to expand...

Yes

Wow. I had the pleasure of being their customer and have them work on my guns. I thought they would be there forever. Felt the same about Robar. Sad to see these great institutions closed.

I was just at Alex Hamilton's Ten Ring Precision Shop in San Antonio to pick up my Smith and Wesson 625. He commented that real gunsmiths are aging out,and with plastic guns taking over the market true revolver and pistolsmiths (he named colleague Bill Laughridge specifically) are retiring.

sinister said:

I was just at Alex Hamilton's Ten Ring Precision Shop in San Antonio to pick up my Smith and Wesson 625. He commented that real gunsmiths are aging out,and with plastic guns taking over the market true revolver and pistolsmiths (he named colleague Bill Laughridge specifically) are retiring.

Click to expand...

This is unfortunately true. A "gunsmith" these days seems to be anyone with a punch set and sight pusher, "building" AR15's and hot rodding Glocks.

Dang, that’s really a shame

Wow, that's a shocker. I wish him well in retirement.

I’m really surprised that they aren’t carrying on with Bill’s son Randy at the helm. He must not have been interested in running it by himself, though I thought he was pretty much running the place already.

😫😫😫

I NEED another BHP enhancement kit!

It is a end of an era. It is my understanding Bill has not built a gun in a long time. I always assumed it would be handed down or sold but in the end often these old school shops are not as profitable for the owners as we believe them to be. RIP C&S. Yet another BHP custom variant just went up in price.

This one hurts a bit, I have to admit.