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Mount Rushmore of Current 1911 Custom Gunsmiths

5.1K views 128 replies 59 participants last post by  Rana  
#1 ·
I want to hear what our Addicts feel are the Mount Rushmore of current 1911 Custom Gunsmiths. Recent being having built in last 5 years & still alive. Being Mount Rushmore you can only name four Gunsmiths to fill your carvings.
 
#92 ·
Hell of a lot of names being dropped

Hell of a difficult choice just singling out four
These lists are all ways extremely subjective
One must consider that the difference between most of these high-end builders is simply their personal style.

A few high-end builders make an amazing product, but either their business practices and history get them booted from the list immediately.

My top four……..in no particular order;

Burton
Chambers
Yost
Christensen
 
#97 ·
Krebs
 
#128 ·
This is a lot like any list of "best Rock & Roll bands", sports stars, etc. and I think that is a good thing. There will always be some greats left off any list. "Gunsmith #5" that just missed the cut will have bonafides that are stunning.

Alas, I am honest about my inability to say who is "best". I know who I would love to have a gun from right now and like Liebenberg, I know whose name I would love to have on a gun that was built 20 or more years ago. Sometimes ability, "people skills", business sense, etc. are a million miles apart.

You must have Chuck Rogers in Mt. Rushmore. I don't know how Ned Christiansen could be left off. Then you have guys like Haken Spuhr. Wow. Pete Single. Jim Milks. Bruce Gray. Rob Schauland. Dave Panciotti. I don't mean to take away from so many that aren't listed, but I have doubled my four without naming Alex Zimmerman or so many others. Stan Chen is still pretty cool and I think that guys named Burton, Yost, etc. have something to say in it all.

I'm just thankful to get to shoot some of this stuff. I have accepted my place in the "custom" world and a seat at the kid's table beats the hell out of standing outside, looking in the window.
 
#129 ·
This is a lot like any list of "best Rock & Roll bands", sports stars, etc. and I think that is a good thing. There will always be some greats left off any list. "Gunsmith #5" that just missed the cut will have bonafides that are stunning.

Alas, I am honest about my inability to say who is "best". I know who I would love to have a gun from right now and like Liebenberg, I know whose name I would love to have on a gun that was built 20 or more years ago. Sometimes ability, "people skills", business sense, etc. are a million miles apart.

You must have Chuck Rogers in Mt. Rushmore. I don't know how Ned Christiansen could be left off. Then you have guys like Haken Spuhr. Wow. Pete Single. Jim Milks. Bruce Gray. Rob Schauland. Dave Panciotti. I don't mean to take away from so many that aren't listed, but I have doubled my four without naming Alex Zimmerman or so many others. Stan Chen is still pretty cool and I think that guys named Burton, Yost, etc. have something to say in it all.

I'm just thankful to get to shoot some of this stuff. I have accepted my place in the "custom" world and a seat at the kid's table beats the hell out of standing outside, looking in the window.
The best way to not leave anyone off the list…is to name less than 4….

WTBS, naming more than 4 completely nullifies the intent in my opinion.