New Volkmann Combat Custom

[gunrun69]

Hello all, I'm a new guy here, I've been lurking and reading a lot. Based on all the good reviews posted here, I just ordered a new Volkmann Custom Combat Custom in Diamond Black (ion bond finish) with high grip cut, magwell, fixed night sights, no tactical rail or FCS, flush crowned barrel and may be sending Luke a threaded barrel to fit to the gun. I still haven't decided which grips yet.
I'm really looking forward to it. I've designed it as my "go to weapon" and hope it shoots like a house on fire!
I'll post pictures and give a range report when I get it.
Thanks to all of you who posted reviews and pix of your Volkmanns. I was really going back and forth between a Nighthawk Enforcer and a Wilson Combat CQB Elite.

[Marine24]

Congratulations on the choice. You definitely can't go wrong with one of Luke's pistols. Build sheet your described sounds like you have a sweet one coming. Look forward to seeing the pics.

What was Luke estimating as the build time?

[gunrun69]

He actually wouldn't estimate the wait. He is waiting on some stainless parts for some other customers guns, if they come in quickly, mine will have to wait. I got the usual 16 weeks quote. I'm really excited as this is the first pistol I've had built to my specs just how I want it....pretty cool! :appld:
I do however wish Luke provided them with 8 rd mags instead of 7s. Who wants 7 rd mags anymore? The only negative comments I've really found about his guns was from the slide not locking back on those mags. I figure I'll just replace em with some Shooting Stars soon.
Waiting on your build is like waiting on a kidney isn't it? So hard to be patient....

[Marine24]

I have 10 of his magazines that I picked up with my Combatant Carry. One of the 10 had the problem of the slide not locking back but Luke swapped it out and they all continue to run flawlessly. He is a firm believer in all steel components and I actually prefer them to the Wilson 47Ds and ETMs.

I prefer the eight rounders as well, but maybe he'll offer them in the future and if you are lucky around the time you take delivery of yours.

[Deadman]

welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the soon to be Volkmann.

personally, I don't think Luke will offer 8 rnd mags.
he comes from Ed Brown, who used to use the same 7 rnd Metalform round top followers.
but then he didn't offer IonBond awhile ago when I got my pistol either.

[CO1911Carry]

I have a Combatant Carry that is great so far. I have the three mags that came with it and one of them intermittently fails to lock the slide back. I know Luke will handle it. I have some XS big dot sights coming in for this pistol and Luke said that he's willing to put them on.

I field stripped it after 220 rounds went through it. I was surprised to see several parts inscribed with the last three digits of the pistol's serial number.

I think it is so cool to be able to talk to the person who is actually making, or has made, your pistol. I live in the Denver metropolitan area and have met with him. Like most of the participants on this website seem to be, he also seems to be a genuine human being.

[Koda]

Congratulations!!

Luke will be building mine May-ish, so hopefully I will get in at the end of May beginning of June.

[gunrun69]

Thank you, I can't wait to see what this "bad boy" is capable of.

[Ottoshmotto]

My Combatant Carry has performed flawlessly since its arrival here in Ohio July 2009. It is my daily carry pistol and it is holding up just fine. I thought it was very cool to see some of the internal parts with the serial number on them as well...its the attention to detail that comes with a custom firearm. Be sure post pics when it arrives. You can see mine by clicking on the camera in my profile.

SMB

[gunrun69]

Ottoshmotto, that pistola is pretty!
I'm hoping to get mine by my birthday in late June.
What grips do you guys think I should choose? I'm getting the gun in Diamond Black (ion bond) finish.

[Bornfightin]

Congratulation and welcome to the forum! :appld: Please post pics when it arrive.

I'm about to receive my signature series in the next week or so, and the Combatant Carry some time after that. ;) :D Looking forward to the range.

Volkmann owners should gather and suggest John to place the Volkmann Customs in the manufacturers list (same as Wilson, Brown, Les..etc..)

[Deadman]

nope, they belong right here in Customs.

not enough made to justify it, and he's ceratinly not going get to the volume the others do, being a one man shop.
while the other will do custom work, and they are fine pistols, they are " semi customs ".
( without wishing to get into semantics )

[Warrior1]

I have a Combat Custom (the way I want it) and love it. Had a little hiccup with extractor a tad tight but Luke is awesome when it comes to customer service and it was fixed in a sinche. I have about 1k rds through it since then and had no problems...

Luke said he's was working on 8 round mags so will see if it works out...

[Bornfightin]

:( :( It was just a thought!

[gunrun69]

I talked to Luke yesterday and told him that I'd be happy to be the first guy to get 8 rounders with my gun.... I guess he doesn't have a supplier worked out yet, but he is looking into it. He (like me) isn't into plastic followers etc and want's an all metal mag. Maybe I'll get lucky. If not, I'll get some Chip McCormicks when I get my new "baby".

[Deadman]

here's what my money says he goes to if at all...

http://metalformcompany.thomasnet.com/item/pistol-magazines/0-45-caliber/pn-1003?&seo=110

made by the same company Metalform, rounded metal follower like he uses now.
I think these are what Ed Brown now calls " 8 packs ". the problem will be the additional cost per unit, adding $60 to the pistol since Luke supplys 3 magazines. ( like everyone should ).

the other " issue " is he likes a flush fit mag. testing new 8 rnd flush fits when he's only one guy will cost him bench / build time.

[gunrun69]

So, the latest update in my Volkmann saga..... I decided to go with a KKM Precision threaded barrel for a second barrel fitted to the Combat Custom. I'm having it threaded to fit a Silencerco Osprey. http://www.silencerco.com/Silencerco/#/osprey/
I've spent so much on the pistol having also added an extended mag release button and extended slide release, that I don't know how long it will be before I can actually afford the can. But I'm gonna have one very nice kit once I'm done! I can't wait to post those pictures.

[gunrun69]

Man 16 weeks is starting to seem like 16 months...... it's soooo hard to be patient. I'm hoping to get my new shooter in before the "Revolution" starts... :appld:

[Bornfightin]

Gunrun69,

I ordered my Signature Series first week of December was told 14-16 weeks for delivery and I'm still waiting :confused: Last month I was told that if I still wanted my Signature with the hard chrome frame, Luke will not know when it will be finished/delivered.

I was told that the person who does the hard chrome finish was way behind in work, so Luke offered me to change the frame to Stainless (to match with the slide) instead of the hard chrome, with the promise that it was going to be faster to delivery - still don't know when it will show! :mad:

But again if the gun is anything like my Combatant carry, it will worth the wait :D

Jai

[Rio Vista Slim]

Bornfightin,

You have just discovered one of the "flys in the ointment" difficulties encountered when exotic finishes are required on custom-made pistols. The maker (in this case Luke Volkmann) is at the mercy of the sub-contractor doing the finishing work. Luke is to be commended for offering you the same gun in stainless steel, rather than endure the wait for the hard chrome.

For what it's worth, Nighthawk has had continuing problems with whoever does the Diamond Black finish on those guns ordered by customers desiring that feature.

[gunrun69]

Well that doesn't make me feel any better.......I'm getting the Diamond Black ion bond finish on my gun!

[Rio Vista Slim]

Well that doesn't make me feel any better.......I'm getting the Diamond Black ion bond finish on my gun!
Allow me to elaborate.......
For what it's worth, Nighthawk has had continuing problems with whoever does the Diamond Black finish on those guns ordered by customers desiring that feature.
I should have used "past tense" verbage in my response. I haven't heard of any problems, lately. :D :D :D

[gunrun69]

Whew! :rolleyes:

[Bornfightin]

Bornfightin,

You have just discovered one of the "flys in the ointment" difficulties encountered when exotic finishes are required on custom-made pistols. The maker (in this case Luke Volkmann) is at the mercy of the sub-contractor doing the finishing work. Luke is to be commended for offering you the same gun in stainless steel, rather than endure the wait for the hard chrome.

For what it's worth, Nighthawk has had continuing problems with whoever does the Diamond Black finish on those guns ordered by customers desiring that feature.

Steve, No complaints from me.. :).
There is no difference on $$$ for the Stainless frame, actually I like it better that way both slide and frame Stainless and polished. All I have for Luke is praises, so far excellent services and the Combatant Carry I received 2 weeks ago is the best so far of my collection, 350 rnds without problems. As I mentioned in my last post I'm looking forward to receive the Signature and the Combat Custom soon.

[Deadman]

Rio Vista Slim :
Bornfightin,
" You have just discovered one of the "flys in the ointment" difficulties encountered when exotic finishes are required on custom-made pistols. The maker (in this case Luke Volkmann) is at the mercy of the sub-contractor doing the finishing work. Luke is to be commended for offering you the same gun in stainless steel, rather than endure the wait for the hard chrome. "

exactly, I mean it's not like your 16 weeks over your " anticipated " delivery date.

I have a High Power out to Don Williams at Action Works. instead of the standard bluing Don does in house I opted for Black T from Birdsongs.
Don advised me his work would be 30 -40 days, but once Birdsong had it who knows. they usually turn it around fairly fast, ( another 30-40 days ) but they have the finish on all the FBI HRT Springfield Professionals.
when those come in he is at their mercy...

waiting, waiting...

[Marine24]

Recently talked with Luke on a new build and he was quoting a turnaround of 20 to 24 weeks and that was a blued 1911 that he subs out the finish on. Wait is tough, but when you have one guy crafting your 1911 it isn't unexpected.

I'd prefer enduring another month or so as opposed to having Luke hire more pistolsmiths and losing the individual craftmanship that he is noted for.

[Deadman]

I'm with you Marine, losing that " one man " touch would be a shame.
that's what took me to Luke in the first place over a Brown.

those of us that got in early were spoiled by our anticpated delivery dates.
I was told twelve weeks, got it in ten.

the increased wait can only mean more business for Luke, and the press he's getting is well deserved and helps, but the cat is out of the bag now.

[Marine24]

Deadman: Spot on. Luke's 1911s are probably the best value on the street. If you ordered a Wilson Supergrade that only has one Master Pistolsmith working on it, you are in the $4K range. I really like my Wilson's but naturally reach for the Volkmann.

Prefer putting up with the wait compared to higher prices to control demand and reducing wait time.

[gunrun69]

I spoke to Luke Monday and he said my parts (including my KKM threaded barrel) were in a bin on his bench and he should be starting to work on it by midweek......which is today! Yahoo! The anticipation just keeps building. I can't wait to see this beauty I dreamed up that Luke is gonna bring to life. I sure hope it's a shooter......based on the reviews I've seen that everyone else has posted of theirs, I'm pretty sure it will be. :D

[gunrun69]

I spoke to Luke last night, went over how I want the Ion Bond finish done. My build is progressing. :eb:
Sadly, the thread protector I purchased for the threaded barrel won't work, the threads aren't deep enough. (no, I didn't get it from KKM precision who made the barrel, they don't provide them!)
Does anyone have a suggestion as to where I might get a good one for a reasonable price?

[gunrun69]

Well it's here.....and it's flippin sweet! I'll be posting pics and range report soon. More to follow. :appld:

[Traxxis]

Hope you have a decent photographer! :)

[gunrun69]

Well, I just got done cleaning my new Combat Custom.... it shot great as expected, I hope to hone my skills and tighten up my groups as time progresses.
I shot approx. 200 rds today and not a single problem, fed, ejected and shot perfectly! You can shake it all you want and never hear a rattle, it is tight. I haven't tried the threaded barrel yet, saving that for next time. I can hit a dot the size of a quarter shooting one handed or two at 15-20 yards.... I think that will suffice for combat.
I'm very pleased with my new shooter. I'll have pictures and more of a review soon.

[gunrun69]

I have posted pictures of my pistol in the Volkmann picture thread (sticky) and I got to try out the threaded barrel and it worked great. This is one sweet pistol. I feel very confident that if I need to depend on this weapon to defend my life....it will come through with flying colors! Over 300 rounds down range and still no hiccups of any kind.

[Bornfightin]

Congratulations... Beautiful gun.. :appld:

[GMPHK]

Nice looking pistol! How do you like the ion bond finish?

[gunrun69]

Oh.....that's right! I forgot to post the picture of the huge smile I couldn't wipe off my face for days! I love it. It isn't as pretty as hard chrome....but I wanted the most durable finish I could get...and the pictures don't really do it justice.
There are a couple of blotchy spots, if you look close enough, it's not as evenly refined as a nice blued finish or the hard chrome. I guess when you are bonding at the ion level, it's harder to control such things.
But, as I've said all along, I designed this to be a hard use "go to" weapon that I can count on when I need it. If I'd wanted a "pretty" BBQ gun....I'd have gone a different way. I plan to shoot the heck out of this gun! ;)

[GMPHK]

Try using a silicon cloth to polish it a little. The ion bond on my Volkmann looks far better than the two NHC pistols I have it on. It is his polishing process that gives it a slight bit of luster compared to the Nighthawks. See my pictures that I posted. They are done with a point and shoot and do not do it justice.