sinnsyk

I've thought about a D/A trigger that would actually feel good. Rob, can you check what the production rules are and if you're even allowed to switch the trigger out? Either way, it may have to be designed as a separate trigger because of a much larger movement.

I agree. I will continue with the "shoe" idea and make the trigger as short as possible and add "shoes" or "pads" onto it. I will talk with the CAD designer early next week to see what he has for ideas. What do you guys think; would two attachment screws work? That way the shortest trigger is just the trigger itself, but with two tapped holes that various shapes and lengths can be screwed onto. Or other ideas for attaching it? I'm thinking of keeping it as simple as possible (machining)

I see quite an interest still in a curved trigger. I like the though of a trigger "shoe" / "pad" of various sizes and shapes. It may happen and the way to go. We'll see after we get the first trigger done. The other thing I've thought about, but not added to the poll is lines / checkering or something like it to give the trigger a firm feel. Or should it just be smooth? Post a couple of pros / cons / opinions about it and if it seems to be something to do a poll for I will.

Thanks Cliff, I added your response into the poll.

I've lived with my "SuperSight" on my Limited gun for many years and though it may work pretty good, I have had issues and never feel I can completely rely on it. So I've started the process of manufacturing a new sight. I will also make one for the Match even though I don't shoot my Match guns I don't like those sights that much either. I've got to make at least a 100 of each so just want to get a feel for what you guys want. I know I want a better sight. State your opinions and thoughts ;-)

If you'd like another color (I am colorblind...) then please post your suggestions. I am pretty much offering the colors available from my anodizer, but you can always state your color pref and I'll see what we can do.

Charlie The only practical way to accomodate is to use putty. I can make what I think is perfect, but it'll be different from someone else. Putty is fairly easy to use and you can modify to your hearts content. I can make a thinner or thicker grip to start, but it comes down to qtys.

We're designing the new trigger these days so your input is helpful to us. Most of the features under #3 will be included, but not sure if we can come up with a good way to do an adjustable trigger position. Another option is to make a few different lengths so what you tell me can determine what I'm making. At least for the first run through.

Alright... we can make anything and telling me what you like and don't like helps steer me in the right direction. Your input is highly appreciated.

The grips are physically a little bit thinner than factory, but feel a lot different because they are contoured to fit your hands better. I have thought about making both a thick and super-thin grip. I have material enough to take off 0.020" on the grips on each side. It'll feel really small. I can also build up the grip to whatever. However I wear size 10 gloves which is a fair size hand, not small. Of the feedback I've gotten, the grip seems to fit a large variety of hand sizes. If anyone who has tried them - strongly - would like even smaller or larger grips please let me know. Next time we run grips we can try to accomodate it. I make about 50-100 pairs of grip of each kind every time I run them and lately 90% of my grip orders have been for the checkered ones. I'm almost - almost ready to not make any more smooth grips. Hey... I'm gonna make a poll ...

On all my guns now I've gotten rid of the front strap checkering on the grip. I still like the rear checkering since a large portion of my palm touches it. The checkered grips takes care of the rest and it feels easy to grab the gun and shoot. Very simple and a good, solid friction to make the gun stay put while I shoot. Plus with a colored grip the gun looks good when it sits in the holster. I have a blue grip on my open gun and hard gray on my limited, and I've shot with red, gold and lime green. Lime green and red are really pretty.

He he.... was waiting on a comment on it.. Well, I sat down on the toilet and tried to figure out where to put it so it would be easily reachable and Emma said... right there... on the door. Ha!

In the works these days... will be avail soon

Hey Mick It'll happen.

Emma was installing an extra outlet when I was taking the pictures. She was very excited about the shower curtains... as you can clearly tell from the picture... Also note the trim around the door... It's local Aspen trees, cut to fit. My brother helped me on those when he was visiting a few months back. Emma and I did the final install.

Huge thanks to Leo and John for making these super-cool stainless steel curtain rods for my bathroom. I sketched up an idea and Leo started bending stainless rods until it all came together. John welded it all together and I got them at the US Nationals. Emma and I had to do minor tweaking, but we got everything installed tonite and tomorrow morning will be the first shower without spilling water all over the floor... that's a big event... Note the sandstone behind the mirror. Rock off of Lyons, Colorado was glued and bolted into the wall and we glued the mirror onto the stone after it was on the wall. Let's just say we spent the evening holding the mirror until it stopped sliding down... Came out really nice and we now have a comfy bathroom. I'm sure my mom can appreciate it, she's visiting from Norway so she's got the guestroom with this attached bathroom. She's a trooper, working on my house every day... slave-labor, can't beat it... ;-) Pic's from tonite:

From the poly coat I've seen it looks like it's flaking off. At least that was the case of several guns I saw at the Europeans last year. If it was a standard blue I would have gone for that over chrome, but between poly-coat and chrome I'd pick chrome. I had all my guns re-done in IonBond. Some of which also have shown to wear. Supposedly IonBond is the shit, but the quality has been varying of what I've seen and heard of others who had theirs done this year. If they can deliver the correct Ionbond finish that last it would be my #1 choice.

Prototyping is done. Materials are in and we are heat treating the materials now. To give the front sight some strength we are heat treating the 4140 to about Rockwell 40. As soon as it's done I'll take it to the machine shop and we'll start production. Expect production to start mid to end of this week. I'm making up a few hundred to start. I'm of course putting it on all of my guns and I've received lots of interest in it already. CAD Design on both the mag well and the flat trigger is moving forward, had a long talk with my CAD guy on Friday and we're coming up with some new ideas for the flat trigger to make the pre-travel and over-travel easier to adjust and correct as opposed to the current factory adjustments which are 3 steps forward, 1 back. If you've done the pre-travel adjustment on it, you know what I'm talking about..

Hey Paul That's true and that is a thing I'd also like to get done. I was hoping to have them made in a Swiss machine, but because it's off-centered they told me they couldn't do it. The factory part is cast which of course I'm not going to do. What I might be able to do is to have it partially made on the Swiss machine and then machine the rest. That would be pretty cool. I'd rather have a hardened Stainless mag release tapped for a mag button. I've also talked to a 1911 manufacturer about just getting the buttons. How about making it a 2009 project after everything else is good and dandy?

True... I've stopped waiting on the factory, but they do listen. They always have. And suddenly it's just there. And then everybody will want to switch back again. Let's give 'em a chance until hmm.... February/March maybe? And there are rumors that Stock II will be available ... [next year?] I am assuming it's be available in all calibers, 9, 40, 10, 38, 45. And to start all will be in large frame. If they can solve the 9mm issue then they'll probably never bring in the small frame again in the US. And we won't be sorry as long as it works. It'll be much easier to have one set of parts that fits all.

Jim Of course, you're right. That whole small frame thingy is a separate project. I will make small frame extension pads and a "frame conversion kit" that allows the use of small frame mags in the existing 9mm guns. BUT before I go to those lengths I will see what the factory has up it's sleeve. I got an email from Tanfoglio a few days ago saying they are working on new magazines. They know of the 9mm magazines in the large frames and they are trying to fix it. EAA wants to only import the large frame guns which I can understand from a uniform platform perspective. If the factory can create good magazines then we'll all only want the large frame. And we'll want conversion kits for everything.. So before I walk down that path and develop super-special grips that I'll sell 10 per year... I kinda want to see if the factory can get it right. Either way I'll probably make small frame magpads just because and I'll have 28 round sticks for the small frame 9mm 170mm mags for those who shoot those guns. In Europe they it's pretty common to see Eric V12 9mm small frame open blasters.

Magazine Well The magwell is also being designed these days. I'm having a pro CAD designer do it up for me. We've all been busy, but this project is in it's design phase and I'm hoping to have a finished drawing in a few weeks. The plan is to have the Fiber Front Sights finished and then jump straight on to the magwell. Trigger After the magwell it'll be a straight trigger. This is something I'll probably design at the machine shop hands-on. I've got a few ideas and I want to do away with that stupid trigger return spring the way it is today. Also want easier adjustment for over- and pre-travel screws. I'll be gone most of November due to Area 2 and New Zealand Nationals so probably will be something I'll get on to in December. Guide Rod Also have a few other things I'd like to get done. I don't like the way the current guide rod creates burrs in the frame. This can be eliminated by making a guide rod that meets the frame with a bigger surface. Started on this project little over a month ago, but have to go beat the machinist in the head to finish my prototype. If you're ever experienced problems with removing the upper from the frame it's most likely because the guide rod have created a burr inside the frame that the barrel link has a hard time moving past. Don't like it and I will fix it. Rear Sights A Quality Rear Sight for the Limited's special Tanfoglio-LPA cut and the Match models process have started. I've had a few problems with the "SuperSight" over the years. Nothing too dramatic, but it's not that great of a sight. The rear blade has come loose / broken off, elevation adjusted itself and the windage come loose. Not something you want when you're about to shoot a 40 yard standard! Because the sight cuts are slightly different from LPA's etc there aren't any other aftermarket sights to put on them. Well... what do you guys think? We can't have troubles with our sights, can we? If you guys want it, I'll get it made and it might happen pretty quick. Anything else? Hmmmm... I have gotten some quotes on various springs and it's something I'm considering doing. I don't see a lot of sales from this so it's easily money out for years before I can see any return from it. I would however like to make a few different competition springs. Other than that... bring me ideas... ;-)

I'm working on a higher quality rear sight as well. With a set screw for the elevation adjustment etc. It'll be made to match the 0.090" front. The typical front/rear setup will be 0.090" front and 0.110" rear. I like a lot of light so I might make a 0.120" rear as well. We'll see. Biggest thing will be to get a quality front sight. Once the fiber is made I'm considering making up some non-fibers as well in 0.090". btw. it's nice to have a good machinist, just a pleasure to see the quality of his work.

So after a busy month with some actual shooting... Texas State limited, Colorado State and the two US Nationals I'm back in the machine shop working on new products. The very first pre-prototype of the new Fiber Optic Front sight was ready today and it's looking good. I rode my motorcycle for the first time this year up to the shop which is located in the beautiful Rocky mountains. My good man as always didn't disappoint and had the first outline for what will be the first aftermarket sight for our Tanfoglio / EAA pistols. I made a phone call to Rich at Canyon Creek to discuss a few finer points and here's what the current dimensions look like: Width 0.090" Height 0.165" Fiber 0.040" Material 4140 The front will be serrated and have a 0.040" hole with maybe a 0.050" recess dip for the fiber to grab on to from both ends. The screw will be located in the center instead of the front as it is on the factory sight. This will give us a longer fiber and more light - brighter dot. I'll have a finished prototype by early next week and we'll start production very soon. ;-)

My mags used to work perfect for many years, and then the gun suddenly started being infrequent about it. If you ask experienced 1911 shooters, most of them have removed the slidestop function altogether. All for the same reason. You cannot rely on the slide stop to lock back only on empty, they just don't do that. Plus you can accidentally hit it with your hand. So I just use a pin. I now have the TiteFit pin in stock which besides being a tough little thing, pushes the barrel up into lock more so that the factory and the EGW pin. With that you will always have the slide going forward, even on empty. But you'll know it will. I can see for you 10 rounders that the slidestop function is very convenient. For Limited and Open shooters we don't care about it as much and rather have it being acting the same way every time.