I first met Guncrafter’s Alex Zimmerman at a writer’s conference about 15 years ago and after spending one short range session with one of his American 1911s commissioned him to build one for me. It remains my favorite 1911, having used it for several seasons of USPSA competition and I’ve taken numerous defensive pistol courses with it. I have fired tens of thousands of rounds through it without failure. So, when we had an opening for a new manufacturer in this year’s shootout, Guncrafter was my first call.
I left the model of 1911 up to Zimmerman. He offers wide-body 1911s as well as single-stacks and what I received was the Guncrafter FRAG Squared Blackout—a full-size, steel-frame 1911 single-stack chambered in 9mm with a very distinctive look. It possesses grenade-style checkering on the front strap and mainspring housing, and the Alumagrip grip panels carry on the theme. The pistol also has a distinctive squared triggerguard.
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One of the most impressive things about the FRAG pistol is the fitment of its parts. The slide glides on the frame like ice on glass and combined with its 9mm recoil spring, hand cycling it is effortless!
Guncrafter outfitted the FRAG Squared Blackout with extended ambidextrous thumb safeties, a beautifully blended high sweep beavertail grip safety and a fully adjustable rear sight. Its front sight possesses a red fiber-optic rod for quick sight acquisition and the slide top is flattened and serrated. The FRAG uses a conventional bushing for its fully supported barrel, and Guncrafter lowers and flares the ejection port to ensure empty casings make their way out of the gun. For competition use, the FRAG has a mag well funnel. To complete the package all parts are given a black melonite treatment, leaving the gun with a smooth, sleek, satin black finish.
Of the eight guns tested the FRAG had the lightest trigger pull at a very crisp 2.25 pounds. It is adjusted precisely, possesses no overtravel, has a positive reset and never once did it follow the slide. Black Hills 115-grain JHP recorded the single best 25-yard group just a hair over the 1-inch mark at 25 yards and the two other ammunition types weren’t too far behind with the aggregate group size well under 1.25 inches!
Guncrafter builds their guns to order, and the FRAG Squared Blackout price starts at $3,895 and may vary with options chosen.
