Over the last decade or so, the 1911 has enjoyed something of a resurgence. While the clichés still flew from people who probably never even owned a 1911, the classic pistol was once again in the spotlight. Many gun-makers brought on new lines and designs as the market demand grew. People also began to rediscover an often-overlooked realm inside the firearms community: high-end 1911 builders. Such companies existed long before Gaston Glock started tinkering, and they will be around as long as there are serious gun collectors and shooters.

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Cabot Guns Innovation

While many of these shops have their own take on what goes into a special 1911, something unusual was underway with Cabot Guns. With an eye on going far beyond what the industry considered excellence, a team assembled with some help from Penn United Technologies, considered the “MIT of the tool and die industry.” What came from this venture was a series of 1911 pistols built with a new standard of uncompromising quality and precision. Cabot 1911s have extremely tight tolerances, to the point where they’re considered “aerospace quality.”

To say the people at Cabot Guns are perfectionists would be an understatement. According to Rob Bianchin, “At Cabot, we know that how you build something changes the essence of how it works. Which is why we’re control freaks who have spared no effort or expense when it comes to each and every phase of the design and manufacture of our 1911 pistols, from the ultrasonic testing of the raw materials down to the striping on the finish. And we don’t just do it because we love it. We do it because nobody else can.”

Space Invader

Cabot Guns burst onto the national and international stage when it released its “Big Bang” pistols, which are the first ever constructed from meteorite iron—specifically, the famous Gibeon meteor that fell in sub-Saharan Africa in prehistoric times. The pistols are forged from the meteor, which is composed of about 80-percent iron and a mix of cobalt, phosphorus and other materials.

“From a space rock, we crafted a complex and precise mechanism. We unlocked the ancient secrets of a lifeless hunk of iron-nickel alloy, formed it and gave it breath with which to speak, showcasing an otherworldly creation to the world. Billions of years through time and space are perfected now into an ultimate achievement of American design, willpower and can-do spirit.”

Now that is how you describe a gun made from a space rock estimated to be over 4 billion years old!

One of a Kind

While many think that the Big Bang pistols are Cabot’s magnum opus, I believe they are just stepping stones. Cabot continues to develop guns that are breathtakingly beautiful as well as functional and accurate. Their ability to think beyond traditional building materials is one of the driving factors of their success. It shows no sign of slowing down. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind 1911 that can be a family heirloom, or you want to spec out a special gun, Cabot Guns should be on your speed dial.

For more information, visit cabotgun.com.

This article is from the April-May 2019 issue of Ballistic magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. For digital editions, visit Amazon.