{"id":1793,"date":"2024-01-10T22:32:56","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T22:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1793"},"modified":"2024-01-10T22:32:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T22:32:56","slug":"sk-guns-early-italian-renaissance-custom-1911-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1793","title":{"rendered":"SK Guns \u201cEarly Italian Renaissance\u201d Custom 1911 Series"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

By Wayne van Zwoll<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe produce the industry\u2019s only series-driven, custom, limited-edition, collectible firearms,\u201d says SK Guns owner and founder Simon Khiabani. It\u2019s a mouthful, but evidently true. SK Guns has set a new standard of what uniquely custom limited-edition firearms should mean by launching themed firearm productions and building a series of guns within each theme. What sets SK Guns apart from other companies is the customs operation, called SK Customs, which secures batches of new firearms for refinement and embellishment.<\/p>\n

\n<\/picture>
Shown are the Early Italian Renaissance models created by SK Guns using Springfield Armory Garrison 1911 pistols.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SK Gun\u2019s deals almost exclusively with handguns \u2014 revolvers and autoloaders \u2014 though it did provide an embellished rifle to raise funds on the National Wild Turkey Federation\u2019s 50th<\/sup>-anniversary. The artistry in each limited-edition production run has a historical theme \u2014 a person, an event or a period. Each is typically one in a series, and the consecutive edition numbers on each production run are reserved to match those on future runs within the series. A client or SK dealer who buys into the first run has first crack at the matching edition number on all runs in that series. This option has great appeal to collectors, as it can boost the value of firearms over time.<\/p>\n

\"This\n<\/picture>
The SK Guns custom Springfield Garrison in Leonardo da Vinci trim has a reproduction of The Last Supper engraved on the left side of the slide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHistory helps us decide how many different pistols to schedule for a series,\u201d says Khiabani. \u201cFour to five is the norm. But the theme, not a number, determines the entries in a series.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khiabani\u2019s dealings in custom firearms date back 24 years, when he was a collector himself. For the last five, he has operated SK Guns from Virginia, but he tells me the business is on its way to a new 18,000 square foot facility in St. Augustine, Florida.<\/p>\n

A Solid Foundation<\/h2>\n

The company is now offering a four-part series called the Early Italian Renaissance, using Springfield\u2019s Garrison 1911 pistol in .45 ACP as the foundation. It will feature a limited production run of 250 each and, for the first time ever, SK Guns will introduce all the firearms in a series in the same year.<\/p>\n

\"Shown\n<\/picture>
The Springfield Armory\/SK Guns pistols will have very limited availability, with only 250 of each model made.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe are excited to introduce the Early Italian Renaissance Springfields,\u201d says Khiabani. \u201cTypically, we reserve one gun per year for each series. We\u2019ve found production runs of 200 to 300 pistols add the most value to our collectors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Springfield Armory\u2019s stainless Garrison 1911 is already a superb pistol, of course. \u201cNothing will be done to alter its function or change its feel in hand,\u201d Khiabani assures me. \u201cOur changes are cosmetic, to refine its surfaces and, well, give it a\u00a0story<\/em>. Engraving to a theme adds a historical element beyond that evoked by the pistol\u2019s design.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"This\n<\/picture>
The Michelangelo 1911 is finished in exquisite detail. Images of its namesake and his \u201cDavid\u201d adorn the top of the slide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Examples: SK has crafted a \u201cgods of Olympus\u201d series, featuring a different Greek deity on each 200-gun production run. The third in this series is \u201cAres,\u201d son of Zeus and god of war. The art of that run depicts battle and physical valor. Inlays and proprietary metal treatment add color to the engravings.<\/p>\n

The Details<\/h2>\n

The series of four Springfield pistols will illustrate the early Italian Renaissance, through the art of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea del Sarto and Raphael. \u201cWe plan to launch one gun each quarter and plan to deliver the final production in the series by the end of 2024,\u201d says Khiabani.<\/p>\n

\"Three\n<\/picture>
The SK Guns 1911 honoring Raphael features some of his work including a recreation of the \u201cThree Graces\u201d on the right side of the slide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each of the 1911s will showcase a different motif \u2014 celebrated images that represent each artist\u2019s best work. Michelangelo\u2019s \u201cDavid\u201d was an easy pick for the first pistol, which also depicts the \u201cMadonna della Pieta\u201d and the near-union of hands as God reaches to touch Adam\u2019s, a scene from the incredible art on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.<\/p>\n

Da Vinci\u2019s talents will show on the steel of the second production, in Mona Lisa\u2019s smile, also on the \u201cVitruvian Man\u201d and \u201cThe Last Supper.\u201d Andrea del Sarto\u2019s artistry appears next, in \u201cBattesimo\u201d and \u201cTriumph of Ceasar,\u201d also \u201cThe Disputation on the Trinity.\u201d The fourth Springfield will exhibit images from Raphael: \u201cThe Garvagh Madonna,\u201d \u201cThe Three Graces\u201d and \u201cThe Miraculous Draught of Fishes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

All the pistols in this series will be fitted with olive-wood grips, appropriately engraved with the Italian\u00a0fleur de lis<\/em>\u00a0in colors to match those on the slides.<\/p>\n

Khiabani says that only 25 of the total guns in this series will be dubbed the\u00a0Gold Series,\u00a0<\/em>with distinctive features. \u201cThey\u2019ll be offered in the first batch produced, with consecutive serial numbers and all matching production numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Shown\n<\/picture>
The \u201cCreation of Adam\u201d is visible on the left side of the slide on the Michelangelo pistols.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the SK Customs division of the company, late in 2022, the SK Bespoke Collection was introduced. It includes rare and otherwise desirable specimens from collections and estates. \u201cOnce again,\u201d Khiabani points out, \u201cthis isn\u2019t anything new for companies operating in the arena of collectors\u2019 arms; but SK Guns differs by having a distribution network of dealers across the U.S., and by selling direct to consumers.\u201d Besides listing high-end collectibles, SK engages Master Engravers from the FEGA (Firearms Engravers Guild of America) to hand-engrave modern pistols as \u201cone-of-one\u201d catalog items. Of course, some of the rarest pistols in the SK Bespoke Collection require no changes by SK.<\/p>\n

An Opportunity<\/h2>\n

Khiabani tells me he is excited for gun collectors and enthusiasts to finally see the Early Italian Renaissance series on Springfield Armory\u2019s excellent Garrison 1911 pistol. He urges dealers and collectors to express interest in these eye-catching handguns soon, by visiting skguns.com. \u201cOnce each run of 250 is sold out, the pistols are bound to climb in price on the secondary market.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Leonardo\n<\/picture>
The Leonardo da Vinci model displays a recreation of \u201cVitruvian Man\u201d on the right side of the pistol slide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyone who has bought \u2014 or failed to buy \u2014 well-made and discontinued firearms can certainly vouch for that conclusion!<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: The new guns officially launch on January 12th. Statements about the appreciation of firearms contained in this article are the opinions of the author or quoted persons. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of\u00a0<\/em>The Armory Life\u00a0or Springfield Armory.<\/em><\/p>\n

Be sure to check out\u00a0<\/em>The Armory Life\u00a0Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"SK\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

SK Guns <\/h3>\n


\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"1911\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

1911 Garrison Series<\/span><\/h3>\n


\n\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Wayne van Zwoll \u201cWe produce the industry\u2019s only series-driven, custom, limited-edition, collectible firearms,\u201d says SK Guns owner and founder Simon Khiabani. It\u2019s a mouthful, but evidently true. SK Guns has set a new standard of what uniquely custom limited-edition firearms should mean by launching themed firearm productions and building a series of guns within […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1793"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1793\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}