Stages for a P7's Transformation

[Richard S]

First purchase a Grade A "retiree" from the State Police of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) in Germany and add a set of Karl Nill's Walnut Rhomlas grips, just for "show":

Have the piece recoated in CobraChrome by Virgil Tripp (just before he stopped accepting replating orders to concentrate on other aspects of his business), obtain some virtually indestructible Micarta grips from Pete Foldyna and some great gunleather from Matt Del Fatti (ISP-4 shown) and Kevin Manley:

Finally, send it off for a full action job by Teddy Jacobson ("Actions by 'T'"):

And a retired "heeler/squeezer" is now again ready for prime time with an action as smooth as silk and a trigger that breaks crisply at 3.5 pounds -- a fitting and compatible EDC primary to the R9 in the pocket.


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[yankee2500]

Richard,
    Great looking P7, grips and holster and a wonderful story as well.

John

[Josey Wales]

RS,

Very nice indeed!

[birdman]

    Great and very informative tale. The photography isn't too shabby either. I'm going to look into that trigger job a little more, sounds like something I'd like on mine.      Gene

[tracker]

That is just a superb aesthetic and functional transformation, Richard.

[yankee2500]

Gene,
    You might as well get this one the way you want it or you might have to buy another.  

John

[kjtrains]

Gene.  Go for it!    

[Richard S]

Thank you, gentlemen.

I mentioned above the holsters from Matt Del Fatti and Kevin Manley, selecting a photograph of Matt's ISP-4 for inclusion in the post. It occurs to me that I should give equal exposure to Kevin's work, which is absolutely superb. So, this is his shark-trimmed Adjustable Paddle Defender, which I configure for cross-draw and use for long automobile trips. It is here shown configured in the vertical position:

This P7 project of mine has spanned more than three years from start to finish but with Teddy Jacobson's amazing action job it is now complete. Permit me therefore to close out with the following photograph. It has been posted before, but it sums up the goal desired and the results achieved:

[Dino]

Man Richard, very, very, nice indeed!  

Wore my P7 last night with my new crossbreed holster and was very satisfied with the carry position and feel.  However your holster is art work at it's best. Nice job.  

Still waiting for my wood grips but love the gun and most of all love the way it shoots!
Carrying with Federal Hydro-shock 147's.

[birdman]

      Richard, I talked with Teddy Jacobson for quite a long time yesterday (isn't he a fascinating person to talk to?) he remembered working on your gun and said to say "hello". Anyway, I talked with him about getting the same action job that you had done on yours. He said that when I get it back that I should try it out and if I still wanted the trigger job done to call him. I'm pretty sure I'll want it done. I found that the hardest thing about talking to Teddy was getting off the phone. He's quite a talker. Thanks again for the names and information.       Gene

[Richard S]

Gene:

TJ is one of what I fear is a vanishing breed -- a gunsmith nonpareil who settles for nothing less than perfection in his work.

[Newt]

Great job on that P7 Richard, it's beautiful. I let my just turned 18 year old daughter shoot one of my P7M8's this past weekend and now she wants one.

[Richard S]

Great job on that P7 Richard, it's beautiful. I let my just turned 18 year old daughter shoot one of my P7M8's this past weekend and now she wants one.

Newt:

I congratulate you for introducing your daughter to the P7M8, and I congratulate her for her obviously fine taste in firearms.

[Aglifter]

Threads like this make me regret selling my P7...  (I'm shooting open now, and have decided to just shoot 2011s/1911s...)