Kings River Custom — KP-LV3 Level Three 1911 | .45 ACP | Custom Commission Build

The Foundation — A Level Three KRC Build

At the heart of this pistol is a Kings River Custom Level Three build — one of the highest tiers of craftsmanship offered by this renowned Arkansas-based custom shop. The foundation begins with a Forged Carbon Steel Government Frame, precision machined and hand-fitted throughout. The frame features a 25 LPI checkered front strap and 25 LPI checkered mainspring housing for a confident, non-slip grip under any condition. A one-piece mainspring housing and magwell provides a seamless transition for fast, positive magazine insertion.

The slide is a forged carbon steel 5" slide featuring wide rear cocking serrations, ball end mill cuts, and a lowered and flared ejection port for reliable, consistent brass clearance. The business end is fitted with a hand-fit match grade .45 ACP barrel and bushing, complete with a crowned flush-cut barrel and full-length guide rod for enhanced accuracy and muzzle stability. Sighting is handled by a KRC black serrated fixed rear sight with square notch and a serrated front sight with sterling silver bead — classic, clean, and fast on target.

The build package includes a standard length curved trigger, hex head grip screws, a slide stop flush cut to the frame with a beveled frame edge, and every component is fully machined and hand-fitted throughout — including a throated barrel, polished feed ramp, tuned and polished extractor, hand-fit firing pin stop, hand blended magwell, hand blended grip safety, and a complete de-horn for a snag-free, carry-ready profile. The trigger breaks crisply at a custom-tuned 3.75 to 4 pounds — precise, predictable, and competition-worthy.

The Art — Unique Upgrades That Set This Pistol Apart

Full Engraving by The Gun Engraver

This pistol was sent to The Gun Engraver for a full Level 3 engraving package — one of the most comprehensive coverage options available in the custom pistol world. Every major surface has been addressed: slide sides and top, full frame flats, all control parts, and the underside of both the frame and slide. The result is a pistol that is as breathtaking to look at as it is to shoot — a true gallery-quality firearm that doubles as a functional work of art.

Parkwest Color Case Hardening — Frame

The frame received Parkwest color case hardening — a process that produces the stunning, swirling spectrum of blues, purples, greens, and straw tones historically associated with the finest American and European firearms. No two color case hardened pieces are ever identical, making this frame's finish entirely one-of-a-kind. The contrast between the engraved and case hardened frame against the finished slide creates a visual depth that is simply unmatched in modern 1911 production.

Arrow Point Serrations — Slide Top

The top of the slide features custom arrow point serrations, adding both an aggressive aesthetic element and practical anti-glare functionality. This detail is individually machined and adds yet another layer of bespoke character to an already extraordinary piece.

Nitre Gold "Shift" — Small Parts

Select small parts on this pistol have been finished in KRC's Nitre Gold "Shift" process — a heat-treating technique that produces a rich, warm gold tone with subtle color variation across each surface. These individually treated components provide a stunning counterpoint to the case hardened frame and deeply engraved surfaces, adding warmth and contrast that elevates the overall presentation of the pistol.

Ambidextrous Safety

A fully functional ambidextrous thumb safety has been professionally installed, making this pistol equally capable in the hands of left- or right-handed shooters. Hand-fitted by KRC gunsmiths to the same exacting standards as every other element of the build, it operates with the crisp, positive click expected from a pistol at this level.

Hand-Selected Mammoth Ivory Grips

The grips on this pistol are genuine mammoth ivory — sourced from ancient, legally recovered woolly mammoth fossil material. These grips were personally hand-selected to ensure the finest grain, color, and character available. Mammoth ivory is prized for its natural swirling patterns of cream, tan, and brown hues, and no two sets are ever the same. This is perhaps the single most visually striking element of the pistol, and the fact that they were hand-picked guarantees the best possible pairing with the engraving and case hardening.

What's Included — The Full KRC Pistol Package

Every Kings River Custom pistol ships with a complete presentation and documentation package befitting a firearm of this caliber:

• Test Target — fired and verified by the gunsmiths who built this pistol
• Letter of Authenticity — signed by the KRC gunsmiths responsible for the build
• KRC Lifetime Warranty
• KRC Instruction Manual
• KRC Pistol Rug — premium protective storage
• 3 Tripp Research Cobra Magazines with Steel Followers — among the most reliable 1911 magazines available
• KRC Silicon Cloth — for proper maintenance and surface care
• ATF Notice — all required federal documentation included
• KRC Custom Walnut Display Box — a hand-crafted presentation case worthy of displaying this masterpiece

This is not a production pistol. It is a singular, commission-built work of functional art — combining the metallurgical artistry of color case hardening, the precision of match-grade gunsmithing, the decorative mastery of full engraving, and the natural rarity of genuine mammoth ivory. There will never be another exactly like it.