High-End 45 ACP Follow-Up: Michiguns Commander Custom

In the April 2009 issue, our test team shot and evaluated three high-end custom full-size 1911s: the Combat Custom, $2895, from Luke Volkmann of Volkmann Custom Inc.; Wilson's CQB, $2550, and Les Baer's Premier II Super-Tac, $2280. Attempting to pick the best one was anything but easy. They were all excellent. But we graded the Wilson CQB as the best of that trio.

What began life as a Colt 1991 A1 has been altered by Ned Christiansen at Michiguns into what you see here. Every piece of metal on the gun has had his touch. With a Bridgeport mill, hand stones, specially made cutters, and lots and lots of patience, Christiansen makes the gun jump through whatever hoops the buyer requests. The buyer needs to be long in the pocket and mighty patient, waiting up to six years for such work. We especially liked his Conamyds, which provide traction on the straps and elsewhere. Some parts, including the front and rear sights, the mag well, and the mainspring housing are made entirely from scratch. This is gun work of the highest order. Note the front serrations, which don’t just plow through the slide, but stop, following the contour of the slide bottom. He also works on other guns, like AR-15s, and sells some task-specific safety and other tools for the AR-15, including a very useful and popular tool called the MOACKS II (Mother Of All Carrier Key Stakers) for the AR-15. There are also good photos of Christiansen’s innovative work at his website, www.m-guns.com.