Cabot Precision 1911s – Lefty Too! – SHOT Show 2013

Authors Brian Jensen SHOT Show 2013
Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
Here’s one example of the craftsmanship you can expect from Cabot. The American Joe was a custom gun created and designed by Joe Faris

Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
Notice the mirror-like finish on this handgun. Believe it or not, this is a pretty basic model, too.

Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
These it is, Bianchin’s “Dare Me” pattern on the trigger face of the American Joe.

Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
Here’s one example of the craftsmanship you can expect from Cabot. The American Joe was a custom gun created and designed by Joe Faris

Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
Here are some of the Cabot models that were rolled out last year.

Cabot Precision 1911s - Lefty Too! - SHOT Show 2013
A unique gun from Cabot is the South Paw, a truly left-handed 1911.

Cabot Guns
https://cabotgun.com/

By Brian Jensen

I saw something incredible today when I met Cabot Guns CEO Robert A. Bianchin. His company may not be a household name among gun enthusiasts, yet, but this niche manufacturer builds some of the finest 1911s I have ever held.

These are not old-school 1911s you shoot every weekend, or toss into the back of your trunk irreverently. They’d handle it and be utterly reliable, but you just wouldn’t do that to these handguns.

These are, as Bianchin put it, a functioning piece of precision art. These 1911s are developed and made by engineers, to critical tolerances, using standards typically reserved for the aerospace industry or in a nuclear lab…I’m not kidding. They are also utterly reliable.

It might help to go into the background of Cabot Guns, which only started 20 months ago. In 2008, when the financial crash hit, the employees and engineers of Penn United Technologies (a scientific engineering/high-tech manufacturing company), needed a project to boost morale. They decided to develop a pistol from the original designs. The only logical choice was the 1911 because, well, it’s America and it’s a 1911–need I say more?

So what happens when a bunch of aerospace and nuclear engineers get together with machinists from the same areas of expertise to create a 1911? You get a pistol scientifically engineered to incredible tolerances and specificity. These are not hand-fitted guns. At these tolerances you can take the parts from one gun, put them on another, and the fit and function is perfect. So no “fitting” is necessary. Needless to say, it wasn’t long until Cabot Guns became a portion of Penn United.

I can honestly say, I have never seen any pistol that combines this level of research, attention to detail and artistry. Beyond that, these guns are buffed to an almost absurd shine. I don’t remember ever seeing such a perfectly polished and blued surface. The company employs two professional hand polishers, who are more like artists. A Cabot 1911 usually takes four months to complete, and 70 specialists are involved in the process. Tool-and-die journeymen are important members of this team, as are professional shooters, engineers and others who continue to develop new ideas.

Bianchin showed me one of his prouder achievements, a knurled trigger face that was done using special systems and tools designed by Cabot personnel. He said, “I call it the Dare Me Pattern, because I dare anyone else to copy it.” After seeing his company’s progress in the last five years, he is excited to see where it goes in the next five.

Needless to say, the price tag on something like this is hefty, $5,000 to $10,000 a pistol. But this gun feeds thriving niches among 1911 enthusiasts, people who value high precision, or high-end collectors.
I will say, I have never seen anything their equal, and hope to someday own one. It would be a great family heirloom, a piece of art passed on by generations. And that’s just the way Bianchin likes it.

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  • John February 8, 2016, 11:57 am

    Once upon a time, people owned & used the guns as a necessity. Now, you can set yourself apart by showing someone at your home this expensive custom made piece, because it is not going to happen at the range with your shooting prowess? Jesus, “These are not old-school 1911s you shoot every weekend”, but even funnier is the “scientifically engineered”!

  • Don Scherenberg August 8, 2014, 10:56 am

    I just bought a Cabot Jones 1911 for $6250.00 …including shipping, extra magazine and a gold dot front sight on 8/6/14 ….it is a beautiful piece of art I must say; but one that I will shoot also. Mike is the gentleman that I dealt with. I give the gun , service and Mike 5 stars ….Don Scherenberg (Apopka, Florida)

  • Slinkey December 11, 2013, 9:45 am

    Would rather have 2 Wilsons or 2 Ed Browns or 2 Les Baers or 2 Clarks or 2 Hayes, these guns are made by true gunsmiths.

  • John Plichta Sr. January 31, 2013, 8:03 pm

    Man, I own J&R Guns Sales and service and I have never had anything like the American Joe in my shop. WOW it’s hot, I want it bad.

  • outdooreg January 30, 2013, 8:33 pm

    I’ll stick with my springfields.. . . .nice piece though

  • aydene militello January 30, 2013, 5:05 pm

    I’ll have to laugh at this one. I am left handed and “never” had a problem with a M1911 throughout my time in the Service. Don’t own one of my own and if I did wouldn’t be able to pull the slide with my arthritis. Haven’t found any Mickey Mouse knock off that I can pull on. A Gunsmith told me it is possible to shorten the return spring so long as it isn’t overdone. He suggested redcuing it by up to 2 lbs.
    Any thoughts???

  • Longscout January 30, 2013, 11:16 am

    They will have to retool all over again if they want to sell anything in New York State…until the NY-SAFE Act is repealed, that is!

    Will it be repealed? Take a look: http://api.ning.com/files/n9PWw31tPWzFsDUNca279ZmH610cOig-pcTjc0NUVMYxwrGrm9I-PaA7g5aDZF8Wr9cQGbeBa*vTlG1oWCf2sleRTEOJo1qc/SAFEActLetter.pdf

    Outstanding police officers these deputy sheriffs who stand up on their hinds and speak truth to power and on behalf of us all!

  • Danny P January 30, 2013, 9:45 am

    I agree the prices are high. However,it’s like comparing a Studebaker to a Mercedes. Lately I’ve been seeing simple Taurus and Springfield 1911 s selling for 1500 to 3000 dollars at auction. You will pay 2000 3000 dollars for a colt and 3500 to 6000 dollars for Wilson. When you look at those numbers the cab it doesn’t seem quite show extravagant, especially when considering what you get for your money.I can’t wait to check out the South Paw myself! hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream!

  • Marshall January 30, 2013, 9:08 am

    I thought Wilson’s were out of reach, but these are over the top.

  • John E January 30, 2013, 8:18 am

    Hey, there is a little window appearing at the left edge of your pages with links to like and post to social media. It is half hidden but the visible half obscures part of the text, making it hard to read the articles. I have found no way to dismiss this annoying thing.

    • Administrator January 30, 2013, 8:46 am

      What browser?

  • Rob January 30, 2013, 7:21 am

    Phew! For a minute there I thought this blog would cost me some money on that Southpaw model. Then, I saw the price tag. No worries, there…

    • Administrator January 30, 2013, 7:31 am

      Agreed. 😉

    • 2WarAbnVet January 30, 2013, 11:30 am

      I’d dearly love to have a left-handed M1911, but not at $5,700!

  • Jon January 30, 2013, 3:57 am

    Yeah so what… Guns for Millionaire only, not going to make a living selling them to the average shooter Joe.

    • Jim Sutton January 31, 2013, 11:39 pm

      Just how many millionaires are buying guns these days? I think if the average millionaire (if there is such a thing) is worried about personal security, he or she would hire professional bodyguards and I doubt that many millionaires spend much time at the range or on hunting trips bragging about their $5k-$10k 1911s.

      I love 1911s, but I want to carry mine, not stick them in a display case or gun safe.

      • Administrator February 1, 2013, 9:25 am

        Oh please Cabot is probably a year back ordered, before the boom.

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