Custom Colt Commander built by D&B Co. Tulsa

[offrdmania]

That frame is a re profiled GI frame you can see the GI proof on the trigger guard on the other side is the triangle with VP

Not GI, just a standard 1973 Series 70 steel Combat Commander made for retail sale. That is an inspection mark from the Colt factory when it was made.

 

[Ryan500L]

That’s a really nice old school 1911.
I like the two tone pistols.
What is the metal finish on the frame?

Looks like hard chrome to me

 

[Buzzdraw]

I had nice work done by D&B when they were on 11th at S. Yale. One, a Gold Cup, had the Eliason rear welded up, slide reserrated, then machined for a Bo-Mar. Slide bottom marked the same. Also had them put a S&W K on an AMT Hardballer. Great work. If you ever run into AMT s/n 151 that's it, don't buy as it won't run due to poor metal choices made by AMT. Butch and Darrell (sp) were the smiths as I recall. Yes, D&B did a bit of contract work for Wilson early on in his volume gun building history. At same time, Mike Plaxco and Richard Watson, both of AR, also did some of the operations. All three produced top drawer work.

 

[HiredHand]

That’s great information thanks for sharing. I’m glad that I’m not the only person that’s heard about the Tulsa connection to Wilson Combat.

The other part of that connection was that a machine shop(s) in Tulsa also made parts for WC.

*and on a side note: I got a copy of Mike Plaxico’s book in the mail the other day. I got a good deal on it off of EBay.

 

[offrdmania]

I had nice work done by D&B when they were on 11th at S. Yale. One, a Gold Cup, had the Eliason rear welded up, slide reserrated, then machined for a Bo-Mar. Slide bottom marked the same. Also had them put a S&W K on an AMT Hardballer. Great work. If you ever run into AMT s/n 151 that's it, don't buy as it won't run due to poor metal choices made by AMT. Butch and Darrell (sp) were the smiths as I recall. Yes, D&B did a bit of contract work for Wilson early on in his volume gun building history. At same time, Mike Plaxco and Richard Watson, both of AR, also did some of the operations. All three produced top drawer work.

Great info! Its funny that you mention Wilson, I reached out to Bill about this mark and he said he didnt recognize it, but he did say there were many quality smiths in the Tulsa area during that time.
Bill probably had dealings at the time with the shop but didnt necessarily see the mark that was left since his guns wouldnt be marked the same way. Either that or his memory was starting to fade lol

 

[Buzzdraw]

Gun makers sometimes farm out work to outside sources when the job isn't one they want to do at the particular time. For example, at one time, an East Coast maker had work done at a Tulsa area machine shop through an area firearms manufacturing firm. That's all I will relate about things of this nature or what manufacturer(s) might have had what work done in various undisclosed Tulsa machine shops. Trade secrets need to stay that way.

 

[HiredHand]

Buzzdraw, does the name Cliff Holt ring any bells? I spoke to one of the later owners of D&B and he thought there Cliff might have been someone doing 1911 customizations at one time.

 

[Buzzdraw]

Buzzdraw, does the name Cliff Holt ring any bells? I spoke to one of the later owners of D&B and he thought there Cliff might have been someone doing 1911 customizations at one time.

Yes. He was the other smith at D&B. Cliff did excellent work on 1911's. Don't know where I came up with the name Darrell.

 

[offrdmania]

Gun makers sometimes farm out work to outside sources when the job isn't one they want to do at the particular time. For example, at one time, an East Coast maker had work done at a Tulsa area machine shop through an area firearms manufacturing firm. That's all I will relate about things of this nature or what manufacturer(s) might have had what work done in various undisclosed Tulsa machine shops. Trade secrets need to stay that way.

Or maybe he knew and didnt want to tell me

 

[Hooper]

Gun makers sometimes farm out work to outside sources when the job isn't one they want to do at the particular time. For example, at one time, an East Coast maker had work done at a Tulsa area machine shop through an area firearms manufacturing firm. That's all I will relate about things of this nature or what manufacturer(s) might have had what work done in various undisclosed Tulsa machine shops. Trade secrets need to stay that way.

At least till the patent runs out. Other than that it is just a trade secret, only as good as the employees word.
A Man who can keep a tight lip and his word of promise is a rare and valuable Man.