USMC POW Commemorative Pistol Suggestions

I wasn't in the Marines but I was an 11 Bravo in the 101 over there.
Tell your Dad I'm glad he made it home.

Gold plate the pistol.
 
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Damn that is awesome. The placement and size of the emblems will be perfect. Understated enough to not be gaudy but will definitely stand out.
The Gold oak leaf on the top of the chamber is awesome as well as the dog tags info.
 
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Thank you for your father's amazing story and service.

For the pistol, I'm a torn between modern and a little more old school to represent the era. I was thinking maybe more traditional hammer and no beaver tail. And solid trigger as already noted, maybe with gold plate. Just brainstorming.
 
Got a call from the Custom Shop manager yesterday. They're wanting to bring our family to the plant for the presentation of the pistol. We'll be able to tour Epping, NH with them as well as the factory.

The pistol will be completed sometime in February, but they advised against coming in winter. Looks like we'll target going sometime this summer when we can all make it up there. They will be producing a video to release of the presentation for National POW Remembrance Day (third Friday in September).
 
Incredible man and an amazing story. If there is any way to find room on that 1911 for his NavMac w/ V and Purple Heart with a "4" on it I'd be sure to have that engraved. For those who don't know what the Navy-Marine Corps Medal is - just google it. And to get it with a Combat "V" - WOW!

@Grim Ask your dad if he ever knew Col Charles Shelton.

Since I have to make him aware of the project now, I plan on asking him about Col. Shelton this weekend.
 
Since I have to make him aware of the project now, I plan on asking him about Col. Shelton this weekend.

I didn't know Col Shelton personally, but have met his wife a number of times through some friends who did know Charlie and were working with her to find out what happened to him after he was shot down in Laos. She was still receiving live sighting reports in the mid-80s and finally gave up hope in 1990 and committed suicide. Such a loss and another casualty of the Vietnam War.
https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/s/s134.htm
 
I didn't know Col Shelton personally, but have met his wife a number of times through some friends who did know Charlie and were working with her to find out what happened to him after he was shot down in Laos. She was still receiving live sighting reports in the mid-80s and finally gave up hope in 1990 and committed suicide. Such a loss and another casualty of the Vietnam War.
https://www.pownetwork.org/bios/s/s134.htm

That's an awful story. Dad always spoke about others that were left behind. From what I had heard, many American POWs still were there in Laos and Cambodia, and were never returned. Most of the POWs were constantly moved so US forces couldn't locate and remove them.
 
Just received an update. Some of the engraving designs have been changed up a little, but they did not elaborate on the changes. I'm supposed to get a call in the weeks before SHOT to describe the engraving embellishments. Everything is on track to be completed sometime in February, so maybe I'll have photos next month.

Presentation is looking like some time in June/July, to ensure they have good weather in NH.
 
Should have an updated drawing of the pistol. Sig's Custom Shop Manager wanted to make this more of a one off pistol to make it more personalized for my father instead of dressing up a production pistol. They've changed the barbed wire sections to be the POW and Vietnam Veteran ribbons.

Not sure how it will look in person, but I've been trying to tell my dad this isn't a firearm you're going to want to shoot.
 
I received an update this week that the pistol should be done tomorrow. I may get some photos, but it would not be of the whole pistol, they want to keep the majority of this a surprise for presentation to my father in July.

Presentation date is going to be 7/10/19. They've invited my family up to the plant for the presentation. We'll tour the plant and they'll do some shooting of footage for the promotional video, additional filming will be done locally here for the rest of the video. I believe the video will be distributed in their email and their youtube page sometime prior to National POW Recognition day in September.
 
It's so cool that it's all coming together. Can't wait to see it!
 
Reservations have been made for my parents at the nicest hotel in downtown Portsmouth, NH. We'll meet up with the project team and senior management for dinner on 7/9/19. Presentation and tours will be conducted on 7/10/19.

A local gun shop (Gunner's Choice) has offered to do the transfer free of charge and Desantis Holsters has offered to make a period correct holster to pair with the pistol (though it will likely never be holstered due to the high polish finish of the firearm). No more photos have been shared and will likely not see anything else until after presentation.

I'm likely driving up, so my current plan is to rent a Cadillac to use to chauffeur my parents back and forth from the hotel to the plant.
 
Reservations have been made for my parents at the nicest hotel in downtown Portsmouth, NH. We'll meet up with the project team and senior management for dinner on 7/9/19. Presentation and tours will be conducted on 7/10/19.
It won’t be period correct...but since you’re in town, see if Q would donate a silencer to the cause. :D

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So the not fun part of being the go between has started.

Apparently there are some finer points of this process that apparently I, nor Sig doesn't know, so I'm going to try and defuse a misunderstanding to get my dad to continue with the project.

What a disappointing point.
 
So, I think I got this bump worked out. Sig reps are coming down next Wednesday to meet with us and go over the itinerary for the visit and what to expect for the presentation/video. Should be a nice time to go over the last minute things and make sure everyone is comfortable with everything.

Getting in the short rows.
 
Met up with the Custom Shop Manager and Media Manager from Sig last night to go over everything at 42nd Street Oyster Bar in Raleigh. I believe we have worked through the misunderstanding and have everything sorted out.

We went over the itinerary for the trip and what to expect to see from them and when. The Sig reps, as well as my father, seem to be very excited for this presentation. As this is something new that Sig is doing, it's a learning process for them and they're constantly looking for ways to improve upon these presentations. The employees of Sig seem genuinely interested in wanting to make this a big day for the recipient. I truly believe this will be one of the biggest highlights of my father's life.

Update on the pistol: There were some production delays and we were told last night that the pistol was completed yesterday. The Sig reps said there would be no photos provided until the day of the presentation. Since the Custom Shop Manager is also a Marine, he said that there would be small, hidden items on the pistol that only my father would know the significance.
 
Heading off to pick up the rental; hopefully I don't get screwed on my selection like every other time I've used this company. Reservation was made two weeks ago, and stated why I requested what I selected (luxury car) and followed up with the branch manager, and stopped in last week to verify they were good to go. Lets see if they surprise me and get it right.
 
Got a 2019 CTS with paddle shifters. Does that come on the standard model 3.6?

Getting ready to go to dinner at the Library Steakhouse in Portsmouth, NH. Factory tour and presentation will be tomorrow.

Running on 0 sleep as we drove through the night.
 
Beautiful! I think that one might be an “under glass” piece. I rarely say don’t fire a firearm but that one I would not even rack the slide, flip the safety, insert one of those mirror finished mags ... that is a true tribute to him and those others who served and gave!
 
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