Alchemy Custom Combat Limited Ultimate Collector's 1911

While paying tribute to the original Pachmayr Combat Special, Alchemy Custom Weaponry's Combat Limited takes the 1911 to the next level.

May 01, 2024 By Keith Wood

Styles are circular. Just about everything that was once cool swings back around after a few decades. Mustaches, aviator sunglasses and neon colors, all staples of my 1980s childhood, have returned. The handgun world is not immune as evidenced by the resurgence in revolver interest. I’ve always been a big fan of custom 1911s, so I couldn’t be happier that the race-guns that ruled the early days of practical pistol competitions are back in vogue. The Combat Limited by Alchemy Custom Weaponry (ACW) epitomizes this retro 1911 trend.

The Combat Limited, released in 2023, was the first in what will be a series of Restomod guns built by ACW. ACW is owned by Cabot Guns, a company known for pushing the boundaries of handgun design and style. As cool as Cabot’s lineup is, I’m more of a traditionalist, so I was drawn to ACW from the beginning. My introduction to the brand was a Prime Elite 9mm that I’ve for a several years now—its slick with clean limes, showing excellent attention to detail and excellent fit and finish. When I heard that ACW was going to build a handgun that paid tribute to one of the all-time classics, I had to have one. The inspiration for the Combat Limited was the Pachmayr Combat Special which, is one of the most iconic custom 1911s ever built. Devised by Pachmayr gunsmith Tom Dornaus in 1974, these handguns ruled the competitive field in the late 1970s and into the 80s, redefining the combat 1911. Nearly all of the early greats of IPSC including Jeff Cooper, Ray Chapman, Ross Seyfried and others, used Combat Specials. According to my research, only around 300 guns were made in-total. I chased these guns for three decades before I finally landed one and it remains the crown jewel of my 1911 collection.

The Combat Limited wasn’t designed to be a clone of the Combat Special but rather a modern adaptation inspired by the original. Think of it as the 1911 version of current production Dodge Challenger. Truth be told, ACW is a better-built gun than the original. The pistolsmithing trade has progressed since the 1980s as have machining capabilities. Further, custom builders now have access to quality parts that makers in those days could have only dreamed of. As custom guns, the Combat Specials had varying features, but there were some characteristics that are considered indicative of the model. Among the defining elements of the Combat Special was the two-tone finish, which was both attractive and offered functional advantages in terms of friction reduction. The Combat Limited incorporates the blued slide with matte hard chrome frame, just as most of the originals did. Both finishes were applied flawlessly, evidence of careful hand polishing of the components.

The frontstrap on the Combat Limited is checkered, as is the arched mainspring housing. The frame is undercut for a high grip, and the triggerguard is squared. The beavertail grip safety has a memory bump that makes it more user-friendly than the original, and the manual thumb safety is ambidextrous. There is, naturally, a ring-style hammer and Pachmayr rubber grip panels. The magazine well is beveled tastefully. The slide and frame were hand-fit to extremely close dimensions, so operating the parts is like sliding two pieces of glass. The slide is round-topped and combines a Bomar-style adjustable rear sight with a fiber optic front. The vertical GI-style rear slide serrations were a first for ACW and are a perfect fit for this gun’s theme. The ball-end mill cuts that contour the slide flats to meet the dust cover are a modern flair, but to my eye, they are a must-have on a custom 1911.

The Combat Limited is chambered in .45 ACP, as were nearly all the originals. The 5-inch match barrel was hard fit by hand, creating perhaps the tightest lockup that I’ve seen on a 1911. Accuracy is guaranteed to be 1.5 inch at 25 yards. The trigger on my Combat Limited breaks right at 3.6 pounds and is crisp as only a 1911 can be. I can’t tell you how the Combat Limited shoots because I’ve never actually shot it. It is one of only two true “safe queens” in my collection. The other is also a 1911, ironically built by gunsmith Paul Liebenberg who was one of the builders of the original Pachmayr Combat Specials and owns the rights to the name. I’m not saying that I’ll never shoot this gun, but I’m keeping it mint for now. There’s no single element that sets the Combat Limited apart—it is the sum of the parts and close attention to detail that makes the gun special. Lines are crisp and straight where they should be and tastefully beveled where appropriate. There is evidence of precise machining combined with skilled hand work. Small details, such as perfectly timed slotted grip screws stand out. This handgun is an example of what American craftsmanship can produce when chasing a price point isn’t part of the equation.

“At ACW, our mission is not only in building some of the finest 1911 pistols on the planet, but it is also in the appreciation of the history of America’s pistol,” ACW’s Eli Duckworth told me. “The Combat Limited is a tribute to one of the most iconic custom 1911s, the Pachmayr Combat Special, a gun that helped lay the foundation for the custom 1911 industry we are so happily a part of today. With our Combat Limited have brought the ‘golden era’ of 1911s back to life in an age where soulless plastic handguns litter the shelves of gun stores across America. To many new-age shooters, the 1911 is considered an outdated design- but to those packing a Combat Limited, they know: there is nothing better.”

Only 25 of the Combat Limited Restomod guns were produced—mine is number 14. ACW shipped it in a Negrini leather case which is the perfect accessory to this high-grade pistol. While one simply can’t order one of these limited-edition guns, it is possible to spec-out an ACW Prime or Prime Elite that comes extremely close. A two-tone, square triggerguard Prime with an adjustable rear sight and ball end mill cuts can be had for $4,075. You won’t have the vertical cocking serrations or the slide markings, but you’ll have a modern handgun built with classic style. ACW has already produced its Restomod pistol for 2024, and like the Combat Limited, it sold out quickly. I’m happy to see a brand that is producing a quality product while paying homage to those who elevated the custom handgun trade to its current level. Without the gunsmiths at Pachmayr and their peers in smaller shops across the nation, the modern 1911 would not exist. The Combat Limited is a tip of the hat to those industry pioneers.