The M5906 ESQ by Guzzitaco

[Ampoyet]

So today I got my custom M5906 from Guzzitaco. There are simply no words. Just a beautiful work of art that was several months in planning and in the making. I am fortunate enough to live near Guzzi so that allowed me to get deeply involved in the planning and execution of the project.

From the start we wanted to do something different and at the same time pay homage to the classic SW 3rd Gens. We started with a stripped and banged 5906 frame from Centerfire Systems. I then sourced an old 915 slide, barrel and internal parts and we had the foundation. The next step was to figure out what to do...

After several brainstorming sessions it started taking shape. We decided to start by doing the "Guzzi scallop" and front serrations but with a small twist, the serrations would be on the scallop, much like a PC40/PC35 competition pistol. After much discussion we also decided to cut the front of the dust cover at an angle to match the angle and placement of the scallop to give it a more modern yet streamlined look.

Since we're no spring chickens, we thought we'd add a red dot for better and faster target acquisition and decided to also make a custom front post to be able to co-witness (luckily we have a MetalSupermarket nearby to get the right steel). Add to that front checkering in the guide rod, an extended mag release button and Guzzi's custom trigger job and voilá, a masterpiece was born.

Since I'm an attorney by trade we decided to call it The 5906 Esquire or 5906 ESQ. I'll be posting later on this thread some pictures of our work throughout the project, but for the time being, enjoy the finished product. I can't thank Guzzi enough for his help and for his artistry. He's truly one of a kind.

 

[Shorty03]

Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!

 

[stansdds]

Beautiful pistol and a fitting name.

 

[Green Frog]

Those mini serrations at the front scream out class... quietly!
It's little touches like that I look for to know the gun was designed and executed by an artisan. Friend Guzzi just keeps going to new levels of cool.

 

[skjos]

The dust cover cut matching the scallop angle is awesome.

 

[JohnHL]

"The Esquire" is a great name for competition inspired, customized pistol for an attorney and member of the "landed gentry".

It behooves you now to retain the services of Artisan Guzzi to build you a one-off, compact, defensive pistol aptly named "The Advocate". . .

John

 

[Heymatt]

Followed by a no nonsense .45 one called "The Jury"

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nice....................... but..... for a EDC carry gun


I'll stick with my Squidsix built 6915..... a 6906 lower mated to a 915 upper !!!!

For gaming I've got a 1990s Performance Center DPA 5906


That said ...................... nice gun I'd be proud to own!!!

 

[JohnHL]

Followed by a no nonsense .45 one called "The Jury"

I like the name "The Jury"

But I like it better for a 12 shot pistol like the 6906.

As in, "Better to be be judged by 12 than carried by 6."

Some might say the 6906 pistol is in reality, a 13 shot.

But hey, a jury has got to have an alternate, right?

A no nonsense 45 should be called "The Judge", but somebody already thought of that.

John

 

[BAM-BAM]

Nice....................... but..... for a EDC carry gun


I'll stick with my Squidsix built 6915..... a 6906 lower mated to a 915 upper !!!!

For gaming I've got a 1990s Performance Center DPA 5906


That said ...................... nice gun I'd be proud to own!!!

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Guzzi texted me those pics a couple of days ago . I told him I want my 5906 to look like that . He's got my 5906 frame that he totally went through and polished out any imperfections . Now I just need a slide , but I'm pretty sure I have one that will work .He's got my 908s with a blued slide , but it's got an LPA adjustable on it . Let us know how that baby performs on the range !

 

[Ampoyet]

As promised, I'd like to add some context to the level of work that was required to bring to life the M5906 ESQ. It all started with a call from Guzzi..."There are a couple of 5906 frames for sale at centerfire Systems for $70 each. They may be a little banged up but, I promise we can restore them. You won't regret it. A steel frame is nothing like you've ever shot" Mind you that Guzzi had been preaching the Gospel of Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson for years while I refused to get out of M9 land, so I said to myself "OK, why not?". So this is pretty much what we got...

I originally wanted a 5906 slide but weeks later I got a deal on a pretty banged 915 slide and parts so I decided to go for that and try a two tone for once. After a first clean and some work on the slide this is what the initial assembly looked like. I was beginning to like where this was going.

Now it was time to think what to do with it. From the start I know I wanted something different. I looked at the newer PC M&P pistols and the old 3rd gens. I looked at 1911s from Nighthawk and Heirloom and I was then sure what I wanted: discreet serrations on the scallop. Guzzi looked at me with hesitation and with the word "blasphemy" at the tip of his tongue". That is not a traditional 3rd gen look. It was only after seeing the PC40/PC35 competition pistol that he somehow agreed with a warning "those are tough serrations to make, much more difficult and precise than regular serrations because you want to ensure that they go at the exact depth and length over the scallop, they can't be too deep and you need to ensure proper distance with the front and angle of the scallop". I laughed, knowing that he was capable of pulling it off and he did, masterfully:

In the next post I'll tell you about red dots and making a custom post for co-witnessing. Hope you enjoy.

 

[rosewood]

Followed by a no nonsense .45 one called "The Jury"

I was thinking if it has a 6 round magazine, you could call it the Pall Bearer.

 

[GaryS]

If it had a 10 round magazine, would it be The Grand Jury?

I was thinking if it has a 6 round magazine, you could call it the Pall Bearer.

 

[Nacho Man]

I don't know how to describe when I seen this lol. A little too excited

 

[CALREB]

Very nice work. All the fellows here that do this type of work to S/Ws really do a nice job..

 

[Transamconvert]

In the next post I'll tell you about red dots and making a custom post for co-witnessing. Hope you enjoy.

Awesome pistol.

Please do elaborate on the dot setup I'm looking into this myself presently.

 

[4506517]

That is one sweeeeeeet pistol.

 

[jschmidt]

Beautiful!

 

[pdcrig]

Pretty outstanding. I'm starting to wonder why I've never owned a two tone pistol.
Very sharp.
Looking forward to more project pictures.