Volkmann Precision Combatant Carry 1911 Product Review

Volkmann Precision – Combatant Carry 1911

It’s not everyday you find buried treasure in your backyard, or for that matter, hidden talent around the corner. That is exactly what I found lurking in Littleton, CO. It was here in Colorado I was introduced to Luke Volkmann of Volkmann Precision.

The Combatant Carry

I was introduced to several of Volkmann Precision’ offerings and one immediately caught my attention. A no-nonsense 4.25” carry model with the recognizable “Ed Brown Bobtail™”, dubbed the “Combatant Carry”. Little brother to their full size “Combatant” model, I decided this was the perfect place to start building my collection.

Before I get into the details, a little about Luke and his process. Luke over the last several years has built over 2500 custom pieces for a well-known 1911 pistol shop, and his process reflects his experience. I asked Luke to help me define his philosophy and in a short email, he gave me this:

“Its hard to further enhance the 1911A1, a pistol that’s been around for 100+ years, built by a thousand different hands, and fired by a million different shooters. So I’ve been focusing on functional aesthetics; machining fine anti-glare serrations on top of the slide and wider, deeper side serrations for easier operation. We also employ the right materials where it counts, like using some of the hardest stainless steel for our pins and the majority of our small parts throughout the pistol. This reduces wear significantly while making the working parts impervious to corrosion, even if the finish gets removed. Another improvement is our Rockote. It’s a thermo set ceramic coating with the addition of a chemical catalyst applied before it’s put in the oven. This additive greatly enhances the durability against impact and abrasions inflicted by the operator. The last thing we do after building the gun to the customer’s specifications is sight-in the pistol at 15yrds, apply a little locktite and shoot a three shot group for the customer.”

The features of the Combatant Carry I specified from Luke:

Carbon steel forged frame and slide

25 lpi checkered front strap

Hand fit premium match barrel

Perfection crown

Polished feed ramp for feed reliability

Slotted commander hammer

Fixed Combat Sights

All corners dehorned and smoothed

Lowered cut and flared ejection port

Hand fit and tuned extractor and ejector

Rear cocking serration

High-grip beavertail grip safety

25 lpi Ed Brown Bobtail™ mainspring housing

Beveled and smoothed magazine well

Extended tactical safety catch

Ambidextrous safety optional

VZ grip panels

‘Rockote’ high temp polymer finish

Three 7 round magazines

Extensive function and fire test

The First 1000 rounds

Less than 3 days after picking up the Combatant Carry from Luke I was off to Rifles Only in Kingsville, TX to work a few precision rifle classes with my Volkmann at my side. Staying at the Rifles Only facility was going to afford me the perfect opportunity to put the Combatant Carry through its paces. Rifles Only is notorious for identifying any flaws or weaknesses in any piece of equipment. From scope slaying to bolt-gun breaking I have seen many a piece of kit fall to the Wild Horse Desert and I was interested in seeing how the 4.25” Combatant Carry would hold up, especially with the reputation compact 1911 pistols have running alongside a full size offering.

Immediately after dropping off my bags, I was heading out to the pistol bay with a bag full of Black Hills Remanufactured .45 ACP. On hand we had both 230gr FMJ and 185gr Jacket Hollow Points, and I was intent on using everything and anything to put this pistol through its paces. I also scooped up every kind of magazine I could find. In the safe we had everything from 8 round Wilson Magazines, to 7 round Kimbers, even a few 10 round Chip McCormicks, so they all went into the bag.

During my first range session, I shot a combination of paper and steel targets at varying ranges from 7 yards to 35 yards. From the first magazine down range I could see the difference. The Volkmann Precision, Combatant Carry is tack driver. Most importantly, it ran, and ran without a single hiccup devouring 600 rounds in that first afternoon. Loading a combination in each of the magazines, I found the Combatant Carry to have no trouble switching from an 8 round Wilson to a 10 round McCormick and I know for a fact my Kimber Pro Shop Raptor II completely hates the 10 round magazines refusing to finish what it’s been fed, where as the Volkmann Precision never thought twice about it. I was truly impressed, a compact 1911 that drove like a full size Cadillac, truly a treasure in my backyard.

During the next few days I used every opportunity to shoot the Combatant Carry, wanting to reach that first 1000 rounds in order to get a sense of the pistols’ reliability potential. Oh, did I mention, I don’t clean stuff very often, or in this case not at all. And when I say, I don’t clean stuff, I don’t mean, I don’t punch the bore, or brush off the carbon, I mean, how I started, is how it stayed, never adding oil or grease to the rails, not even wiping it off. I was determined to not help this pistol impress me and I wanted to give it every opportunity to fail that I possibly could. At the end of the week, having shot over 1100 rounds, on everything we had at the range including a Texas sized Mole that was putting a series of holes in the 100 meter berm, I was thoroughly impressed. Out of the first 1100 rounds that I fired, only 2 rounds failed to feed completely, and really all it required was for me to bump the slide forward, and who knows, shooting nothing but remanufactured ammo, it could have been something to do with that. In my opinion, the Volkmann Precision Combatant Carry was every bit as reliable as any full size 1911 and just as accurate even out to 50 yards.

Back to the Shop

On my return to Colorado, I went back to meet Luke to give my range report in person. During the few weeks I was down at Rifles Only I managed to put approximately 1600 rounds through the Combatant Carry and it continued to function and fire without a hiccup. At this point Luke told me about the new RocKote they were starting to use and he wanted to refinish the Combatant Carry, add a high grip to it and give it a once over before sending it back down to Texas with me. After 3 days the changes were made, the pistol was checked for any abnormal wear, and the high grip was added under the trigger guard, so it was off to another week of training.

Again, the pistol continued to impress me. Every chance I had, I was taking it out and putting rounds down range alongside students in preparation for the 2008 Sniper’s Hide Cup. However this was not to be my final test; that would come with my upcoming trip to Thunder Ranch for their Handgun 2 class I would be attending. So, now with 2200 rounds through this pistol, with the only cleaning coming from Luke during the short break, I was ready to meet the Terminator head to head.

Thunder Ranch Handgun 2

Last year I was fortunate enough to attend a high angle class Rifles Only was holding at the Thunder Ranch facility in Oregon and spend some quality time with Clint and Heidi Smith. During our 10-day stay, I was invited back to participate in the sold out Handgun 2 class, which for me, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. So my Volkmann Precision in hand, I headed up north to Lakeview, Oregon ready to soak up the experience of my summer.

Right away I am huge fan of fundamental training. We hammer it home in every rifle class we teach, and it is something you can never get enough of. Thunder Ranch is the home of the fundamentals in my opinion, along with a lot of other people I respect. So working the basic drills 8 hours a day with the Volkmann was perfect for me.

On the first day of class after a morning lecture from Clint we headed up to the parade deck ready to put finger to trigger. Immediately we started off with the basic drills dry firing to warm up the class. Once several runs were done dry we were ready to go live on the negative targets used by Thunder Ranch. I have to say, it was my first time with negative targets, and I really enjoyed them. Not seeing any new holes in the paper was a credit to the Combatant Carry’s accurate and when a hole or two appeared it was clear, I needed to tighten up my trigger press, however, I must say the Volkmann keep them in the clear a whole lot.

At Thunder Ranch they shoot lead free frangible ammo, which was another good test for the Combatant Carry. Anytime I’m able to feed the pistol something new is a good opportunity to see how she reacts and I am happy to report that after approximately 600 rounds of this lead free fare, the Volkmann Precision had zero issue firing and feeding. The class at Thunder Ranch was every bit as I expected and help me recognize the flaws in my shooting. The instruction was first class and I am able to take home the tools necessary to help correct any problems that were identified. Not having to worry about your gear is important to the learning experience. I know from our rifle classes when students have problems with their kit it takes away from their ability to absorb the information being provided. The Volkmann Precision was never an issue for me, thus allow my focus to be on me, and not my equipment.

What’s Next for Sniper’s Hide and Volkmann Precision

After 2800 rounds in the books, I am happy to report that I am completely impressed and couldn’t have been better satisfied with the Combatant Carry. Luke Volkmann builds an outstanding pistol and on more than one occasion I have stopped by the shop to find him in the back, hand finishing the parts assembling them one at a time to the customers specifications. He fits and finishes each piece and it shows, not only on the outside, but down range as well.

As an amendment to this article, I recently spoke to Luke about commissioning a custom build for Sniper’s Hide. Allowing me to spec out a pistol that will satisfy the discerning members of this board. The were happy to do so and I am please to announce we have two Sniper’s Hide pistols ready to be offered to the board. The first, the SHP, or Sniper’s Hide Pistol is a full-sized 1911 that will feature a light rail, Ambidextrous safety, two tone Olive Drab and Desert Tan Rockote, along with Gunner Grips and Novak Night Sights. To compliment this Full Sized pistol Volkmann Custom will be offering a matching Combatant Carry, the SHC in the same two tone scheme along with the Bobtail and Ambidextrous safety. These no-nonsense pistols will be specially serials and have the Sniper’s Hide Logo on the slides. We are really looking forward to this.

Not being one to wait, I recently spied one of Luke’s first full sized builds with a rail and after spec’ing a few changes to fit my hands, will be picking up another Volkmann Precision to add to my collection. Coming from a Marine Corps background I have a special place in my heart for a well built 1911, and the Volkmann Precision not only meets that need but exceeds the definition.

Frank Galli

Sniper’s Hide

Contact Luke Volkmann

“Masterpieces Hand-Crafted with Extreme Precision”

Volkmann Precision, LLC.

11160 South Deer Creek Road

Littleton, Colorado 80127 USA

main ph.303-884-8654

2nd ph.303-697-8784

volkmannprecision@yahoo.com

Sniper's Hide

Owner of Sniper's Hide online, graduated the USMC Scout Sniper School at Stone's Bay in 1986. Deployed as part of the 24th MAU (SOC) participating in Operations Earnest Will & Praying Mantis.

Works as a contract instructor as well as having competed in many tactical matches across the country. Sniper' s Hide currently hosts two Tactical Competitions a year, the Sniper's Hide Cup and the Shooter's Bash.

I continually seek outside training and methods to improve my skills. The more tools I can add to the toolbox the better.