F7837B5A-877E-40F5-BC63-57CDFD590EEE.JPG187.57 KBJerrod Bales was like a brother to me. We were born one month apart and practically raised together. Like many friends do, we drifted apart over the years and didn't keep in touch as much as we wanted to. But we always picked right up whenever we did get to talk or see each other. This past summer It had been a couple years since I had last seen him when I heard about his health issues. He had been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and due to contracting COVID had experienced a significant acceleration in the reduction of his lung function. Doctors told him he needed a double lung transplant or would only have months to live. When I heard all of this I was floored.
Another good friend of ours put together a GoFundMe for Jerrod and his family to help offset the growing medical costs and cost of a potential lung transplant. I felt like I needed to do something. Had to do something. So, I reached out to some of my friends and mentors in the 1911 world and asked them to help me build a one-of-a-kind pistol that we could raffle off and donate the proceeds to Jerrod and his family. I was overwhelmed by the response I received. Below is a list of all the donors as well as the pistolsmiths who contributed their time and labor.
I had wanted to put this pistol in Jerrod’s hands before it went to raffle, but unfortunately his condition worsened. He had contracted pneumonia which with his IPF was very serious. On June 29th after a week and a half in the ICU on a ventilator and showing no signs of recovery, Jerrod’s last wishes were honored, and he became an organ donor and passed into the hereafter.
Jerrod leaves behind a wife, two daughters, and countless other family members and friends who will miss him every day. This build had always been intended to help him and his family financially and everyone involved agreed from the outset that should the timing work out the way it has, that the raffle would still take place and 100% of the proceeds would still go to his family. The love put into this build by everyone involved is evident in the quality of craftsmanship you see. I can say with near certainty that there has never been a pistol like this built before, and likely never will be again.
- Josh Hamilton
Since this raffle is limited to 1000 tickets, we politely ask that no individual buy more than 40 tickets to ensure that we allow participation by as many people who wish to participate as possible.
The Prize
ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM 1911
This is a classic 5" 1911 chambered in 45 ACP in carbon steel. The upper has been blued and the lower has been hard chromed, with polished flats and matte rounds. The front strap, mainspring housing, and trigger under guard have been hand checkered at 25lpi. The beavertail has been brilliantly converted to a hardtail. The trigger is a lovely clean 3.25lbs. The magwell has been beautifully installed and blended to the frame. The stainless barrel has been fit to perfection, flushed and crowned. The slide has been ball cut and flat topped with a spear pattern on top of the flat complimented by a custom set of sights and a lovely set of custom wood grips. And last but not least, the entire pistol has been masterfully beveled and complimented with elegant hand engraving. Every piece of this pistol has been hand-fit and tuned by master pistolsmiths to ensure absolute perfection. The winner will receive the pistol, a fitted Italian leather case, six magazines, and a custom elephant leather holster. A850_5000.JPG3.57 MB
