American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1981 - Jeffersonian

LEFT HANDERS!
Now-the Swenson
Ambidextrous
Safety.
Patent No.
3492748.
For use on all .45 caliber Colt, Mk IV, Gold Cup,
Lightweight and Combat Commanders,'1911 and
1911 Al govt. models, and Vega, AMT Hardballer,
Detonics and Crown City Arms. $40.00
plus $1.50 postage & handling. California residents
add 6% State Sales Tax. Overseas postage
slightly higher. Installation instructions included.
RIGHT HANDERS!
Swenson Ext~nded Speed
Safety for all above
models:
$25.00 plus $1.50
postage & handling.
6% Calif. Sales Tax
for Calif. Residents.
Overseas slightly
higher postage.
Complete installation
instructions included.
THE
COLT .45
AUTO PISTOL
This book covers nearly every facet of
the Colt .45 Auto Pistol. From mechan·
ical training to manual of arms for the
pistol to marksmanship training to
complete detailed inspection, disassembly,
repair and replacement of parts.
Plus drawings on the construction of
repair tools and fixtures. With over 100
pages and over 80 clear photos and
illustrations, this book has it all on the
Colt .45 Auto. A must book for any
gunsmith or pistol owner.
128. . ~4.95
------­
III DESERT PUBLICATIONS
'\I Dept. AH Cornville, AZ 86325
NAME
ADDRESS
SWENSON'S .45 SHOP
Post Office Box 606,
Fallbrook, Ca. 92028
Phorie: (714) 728-5319
I have enclosed $
_
copy(s) of
Please Rush me:
The Colt .45 Auto Pistol
_
._
ClTy STATE__ ZIP _
One tough case
GUN CASES ARE important accessories
to protect a shooter's equipment
investment. Of the many on the
market, I've been hesitant to
recommend many of them and in the
past have used the Dan Wesson Pistol
Case for carrying a lot of cameras,
lenses and iron.
Some really fine cases are available
though; and they are also financially
out of my reach and that of the vast
majority of shooters.
ALCO Carrying Cases, Inc.,
(Walter J. Barker, Sales Mgr.,
601 W. 26th St., NYC, NY 10001) an
established manufacturer of carrying
cases for many industrial and
recreational uses, has stepped into the
highly competitive handgun carrying
case market with a line of high
quality aluminum, lockable cases at a
reasonable cost. Based on the
protection given-they might be called
'dirt cheap.'
Frankly, I was singularly
unimpressed with the Silhouette
Model tested at first glance. It
appeared too lightly constructed and
there wasn't enough foam filler in it.
A short conversation with the
company corrected the hitter-another
layer has been added to assure a
tighter fit providing more security for
your equipment. It can also be
removed and two layers of equipment
utilized with essentially identical
security of the cased items.
The Silhouette Model measures
15.5" x 24" x 6" and will easily hold
J.D. Jones
an XP or TIC unlimited gun,
standing production gun, freestyle
production gun, .:22, spotting scope,
ammo and tool kit. Dimensionally,
I can't fault it and it'll do exactly the
job the manufacturer claims for it.
I've used the sample extensively for
about syven months at this writing
and made absolutely no effort to baby
it. In fact, I'd guess that that seven
months probably equaled several
years use by the average shooter.
At home, I usually fill it up, throw
it in the back of the pickup and let it
rattle around. It has a lot of miles on
it in this fashion. It's survived the
airlines, bush pilots and a 70 mile
raft trip in Alaska. That includes at
least 15 handlings by air baggage
personnel.
It's accumulated its share of
scratches, dents, dings and
"character," but it still works and has
not allowed a scratch on anything
packed in it. In addition to guns, 1
trusted my cameras, lenses, strobe and
film to it for the Alaskan venture.
I have to admit the case is a hell of
a lot more durable than I thought jt
was when I got it. In fact, I can't fault
it at all. At this point it looks a little
beat and I probably ought to clean it
up a little, but I probably won't. I'm
sure it has a few more years service
left in it and if it looks battle scarred
maybe when some of the freight
handlers spot the "Firearms Unloaded"
tag they won't even bother to
see how far they can throw it!
56 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER· JULY IAUGUST 1981