The story of my (probably) ‘sale proof’ SS Colt’s Government Model - MK IV - Series 80 - Enhanced - .45 ACP 1911
It started when I was visiting one of my favorite gun stores outside of Seattle WA circa 1994. The owners knew that besides being an industrial designer I was also a graphic designer and they wanted a logo for their new business venture. They wanted to build an indoor shooting range and club house/gun store that would have various membership levels. Since they were seeking investors in their idea they needed a professional graphic presentation to sell their idea. I knew an illustrator that could provide a rendering of the facility and I could create a brochure with charts & graphs etc. along with a logo.
At the time their in-shop gunsmith was the excellent Tom Matz. I said I would trade my work for a Tom Matz .45 custom Colt. They asked which model 1911 I wanted and I said the newly introduced Enhanced Government in stainless. They said they didn’t have one in stock to give to Tom to modify but told me if I could find one they would pay me back for the pistol and then have Mr. Matz do his magic on it. So the deal was done.
A few weeks later I got the call that Tom had my gun ready to pick up. I was surprised to see what had been laser engraved on both sides of the slide… that content and layout was left up to the gunsmith.
I forgot to mention that another part of my payback was a Life Membership in the new Eastside Sports Club and since it was the 7th one (which I didn't know)… “007” was on both sides of the slide. The left side also had a (non full color) E.S.C. logo. The right side had: 1. the logo of the current gun store, 2. “Made especially for:”, 3. my full name (in caps), 4. “ESC” MEMBER - 007, 5. BY TOM MATZ
So, much like a lot of facial tattoos that as you get older start to not look as ‘cool’ as you once thought, this Colt gets by on how well it handles and shoots. Now that is GREAT.
Well one of the grandsons will like it. Eventually.
The kicker: The Gun Range/Club was never built.
