Clark Combat Colt 1911

Long before Bill Wilson ever checkered a front strap, James E. Clark had found a way to glue a pistol into a competitor's sweaty hand. Jim Clark had been customizing pistols for eighteen years when Ed Brown decided to become a part time gunsmith. Jim Clark was a founding member and the first President of the American Pistolsmiths Guild. As a competitor, perhaps he was proudest of being the only civilian trained national bullseye champion. In 1950, Jim Clark founded Clark Custom, and began a career of producing no bull shit competitive pistols based on the 1911. One must remember that surplus GI pistols were the raw materials of building a race gun then. There were few parts on the market to augment a gunsmith's ability. If a man could not weld, fabricate and create, he could forget being a gunsmith. In this environment, Jim Clark Sr. flourished, laying the groundwork and ideas for the many permutations of the 1911 pistol that were to follow. His son, Jim Clark Jr. continues his father's legacy at Clark Custom, but as a North Louisiana resident, I always hoped to find a gun made by Jim Clark the Elder. Even in the piney woods of North Louisiana they are precious heirlooms, as rare as turtle teeth, or priced like golden boudin when they appear.

Finally, after years of perseverance, fortune would shine on me, and I found a Jim Clark the Elder gun that I could afford. This pistol was ordered from Jim Clark by an anesthesiologist in 1981. It is built on a Colt Mark IV Series 70 base gun. He shot a "box or two" of ammunition through it and put it away. Eventhough this pistol does have a King's extended safety and slide stop, they were impeccably fitted by the old man himself. The lockwork on this pistol snicks back and forth with a precision and an ease that belies it's close tolerances.

In this gun Jim Clark was not attempting to build a beautiful gun. It is almost ironic that he inadvertently did. Nickel was laid across this pistol not to provide additional glitz, but to effectively prevent rust in the sweltering Louisiana heat. When Jim Clark needed a competition trigger, he simply took the original Colt trigger, drilled and tapped it for a set screw, and then adjusted the length of the stirrup by welding a polished shim at the back to achieve a zero take up, minimal over travel trigger. The pull was adjusted through polishing the trigger stirrup, adjusting the sear angle, hammer hooks and sear spring. This pistol has a trigger that breaks consistently at three pounds with no wiggling around in the trigger guard.

To cement the gun in the shooter's hand, Clark applied his trademark stippling to the front strap and mainspring housing. Clark's technique is not as pretty as Ted Yost's perfect checkering, nor as fashionable as Ed Brown's reptilian scales. Clark's stippling is incredibly effective however. Grasping it is like holding a rasp in your fist. When the little metal teeth created by Clark's chisel bite into one's calloused hand, this pistol is not going to shift under recoil.

In 1981, Clark offered low mounted Bomar adjustable sights, or Smith & Wesson K frame adjustable sights. Like many early shooters, my anesthesiologist friend opted for the S&W sights. They were a known quantity with an available parts supply, and when mounted correctly, they compliment the lines of the 1911. Indeed, they almost look like the Gold Cup's Eliason sight. It is indicative of Jim Clark's craftsmanship that not a hint of the original rear sight dovetail remains to be seen through the nickel finish. Unless the hammer was placed beside an original, the bobbed hammer is just as stealthy. Clark paired the Smith & Wesson rear sight with a ramped hardball front sight, into which he grafted an orange plastic insert. The orange portion of the front sight precisely fills the rear notch. There is no more nor less than necessary.

Today, when Clark 1911s are mentioned, many people visualize the incomparable Clark Meltdown. Clark Custom is not founded on the Meltdown, but rather on guns that work. Jim Clark was not known for building beautiful guns. Indeed, Armand Swenson was the man to go to for a beautiful custom Colt in those days. Jim Clark was known for building effective guns. When I purchased this pistol, the seller also supplied me with the original paperwork. This pistol received Clark's "Combat Conversion", consisting of an accuracy job, trigger job, the S&W rear sight, front strap stippling, ramp work, lowered ejection port, and mag well bevel. The seller had also requested the extended safety and slide release, stippled mainspring housing, orange sight insert, and white outlined rear sight. The 1981 base price for the pistol was $352. The Combat Conversion and extras cost $393.50, for a total of $745.50 in 1981 money.

Even today, Clark guns are commonly the homeliest gun on the line at any competition. Their effectiveness, however depends solely on the shooter. They make no excuses. Jim Clark guaranteed a three inch ten shot group at fifty yards. Today, other manufacturers, most notably Les Baer, make the same guarantee. They, however, manufacture their own frames and slides on CNC equipment. Jim Clark honored his guarantee on a Colt 1911 that he peened the rails on, and welded up and refitted the factory barrel on himself.

When I took this pistol to the range with a couple of boxes of 230 grain hard ball, Jim Clark's work spoke for itself. This pistol shot like a hellcat. It had no stoppages and tossed the empties neatly to my right. The pistol shot every bit as well as I was able. It came to sights quickly and accurately. It placed every shot exactly where I aimed it. In 1981, Jim Clark created a pistol that continues to impress twenty five years later. That is nothing short of amazing.

More

Smith & Wesson Model 17-4

There once was a time that I did not understand. I favored high capacity 9mm handguns back then, and eschewed revolvers all together. Revolvers were guns for fat old men in khakis and Oldsmobiles. A .22 caliber revolver was doubly stupid to my way of thinking. It was an underpowered, overpriced antiquated anachronism.

Finally, one day, I crossed the line, and discovered the pleasures of the wheelgun. It was not easy. The double action revolver trigger is unforgiving. It is perhaps the most difficult trigger to learn to use. Smith & Wesson wheelguns taught me trigger control. The S&W triggers improved my shooting across the board.

Having the immediate and undeniable feedback of holes in a target is a crucial training aid. Being able to launch a bullet for a couple of pennies suddenly began to make sense. The Smith & Wesson K-22 and subsequent Model 17 are .22 caliber revolvers built to the same standards and specifications as every K framed Smith & Wesson. Thus, by shooting a K-22, for pennies you can improve your shooting not only with the double action revolver trigger, but every trigger you use.

I found a S&W Model 17-3 with a six inch barrel, and it was good. Even so, I did not hesitate to purchase this Model 17-4 when I found it at a fair price. It is a pinned and recessed Target Masterpiece with an eight and 3/8 inch barrel.

I was forced to simply admire it for a few days, until today, when I could finally take it to the range with a box of Federal bulk ammo. The trigger had not been lightened, but it was a smooth consistent pull all the way back.

I was not prepared for the accuracy I tapped from this revolver. The extra sight radius made it a precision hole puncher. I am not certain I like the big assed target grips, but they did not hinder me. For now, they will stay on the gun. I paid $400 for this revolver. It is worth every cent of that price.


More

Smith & Wesson Model 34-1 .22/32 Kit Gun

When I went to the gun show, I was hoping to find an affordable S&W K-22. I found a Smith & Wesson in .22 long rifle, but it wasn't a K-22. The revolver I found was a Model 34-1, or a .22/32 "Kit Gun". A "kit gun" is a small handgun designed to be taken backpacking, camping, or hiking. In other words, it can fit in one's "kit" or knapsack.

The first .22/32 Kit guns were built on an I frame in 1935. The inexpensive ammunition and high quality craftsmanship made the little shooter an enduring combination. There were some improvements over the years, and in 1957, the .22/32 Kit Gun was assigned a model number of 34. In 1960, the J frame was adopted.

This Model 34-1 is easy to date as a 1968 revolver because it has no diamond on it's grips, and it does not have a letter prefix on it's serial number. That combination only occurred with the Model 34 in 1968. In addition, it is a round butt, pinned and recessed gun. When one considers that it can be carried in a pocket, and it digests the cheapest ammunition available, it is amazing this revolver can still be found for sale! The closest revolver offered by S&W today is the Model 317. Even so, the alloy framed modern rendition cannot hold a candle to the older gun.

Due to work constraints, I had to wait a few days to try out my new kit gun. After work today, I finally had the time. I thought about taking it to the range after work, but that just did not seem appropriate. Instead, I tossed the gun and a box of cheapo Federal ammunition into a rucksack, and I headed for a secluded spot along the river. I loaded up the revolver and walked among the willows looking for moccasins or at least a couple of dangerous tin cans to dispatch.

The snakes were avoiding the hundred degree heat, but I soon came face to face with a tomato can. It was a large Italian son of a bitch. It stared at me with an empty heart and piercing eyes. I took aim with the micrometer adjustable sights on my precision can killer, and I ventilated that empty can with a full cylinder of red hot .22 lead from a distance of 20-25 feet. The can tried to escape as I quickly fumbled six more rounds into the cylinder. I blasted away again as I approached the can, dispensing cold hard can justice on the soggy riverbank.

Because of it's size and caliber, it is inevitable that the S&W Model 34-1 will be compared to less expensive revolvers such as the H&R 923. The model 34 Kit Gun is indeed a premium handgun for the person who wants a .22 pistol in their pocket. I paid $300 for this model 34. A used revolver similar to this H&R 923 usually sells for $50-100. There is a huge difference in the craftsmanship, trigger pull, and ease of use that elevates the Smith & Wesson above the H&R. The H&R, however, carries nine rounds instead of six. Is the Smith six times better than the H&R? Hardly. The Smith, however, is worth $300. I have a feeling it will be traveling with me for a long time to come.

Smith & Wesson Model 19-4 Nickel

In 1954, Smith and Wesson asked Bill Jordan of the US Border Patrol to design the ultimate peace officer's sidearm. Jordan simply took the K38 Combat Masterpiece and directed S&W to chamber it in .357 magnum. The Model 19 Combat Magnum was born. Over the years, the Model 19 was available in blue and nickel, with wood or rubber grips. It was truly a wonderful compromise between a midsized carry gun and a powerful magnum revolver.

As with all compromises, some problems did occur. The Model 19 developed a history of cracked forcing cones, usually occurring at the 6:00 position, where the barrel is relieved for the cylinder rod. The cracks occur much more frequently with 125 grain .357 magnum ammo, as does flame cutting of the top strap. Over time, problems with excessive endshake will develop on a steady diet of full house .357 magnum. The Model 19 was meant to be carried with magnums, but it needs .38 specials for practice. Smith and Wesson later concurred with this opinion. Today, there are no more Model 19 barrels at S&W. A cracked forcing cone means the demise of a fine gun. Care must be taken not to use 125 grain .357 magnum ammunition.

A couple of weeks ago, I found this pristine example of a nickel Model 19-4 Combat Magnum in a local pawn shop for $279. I did not hesitate to place it on layaway. The seller even threw in a suede lined holster to go with it.

Today, the Model 19 remains the epitome of S&W craftsmanship and design to many shooters. It is built on the beloved K frame, and has all the features of the hallowed K-38, with the addition of occasional .357 magnum capability. Yep, I finally got my nickel Model 19-4 off layaway. It's a good 'un!

Butch Kent's research on the forcing cone issue.