Customer Service > Custom Shop
Colt Custom Shop Orders
Create a custom Colt firearm built to your exact specifications by the expert gunsmiths at the Colt Custom Shop. From heirloom-quality engraved pistols to competition-ready performance builds, each firearm is crafted with legendary Colt precision and attention to detail.
Custom Firearm Options
- Custom Engraving: Personalize your Colt handgun with hand-crafted engraving, including scroll patterns, custom designs, figures, and personalized inscriptions. Each engraving is executed to museum-quality standards.
- Inlays & Custom Finishes: Enhance your firearm with premium inlay materials and a wide selection of custom finishes designed for durability, performance, and visual distinction.
- Custom Grips & Accessories: Upgrade your Colt with handcrafted custom grips made from premium materials, including Buffalo horn, Walnut, Rosewood, North American Elk, and Ebony. Choose hand-checkered texturing in plain or classic double-diamond patterns. Complete your grips with Colt medallions in gold or nickel, along with your preferred metal and finish.
- Performance & Competition Builds: For competitive shooters and performance enthusiasts, the Colt Custom Shop offers precision upgrades including custom barrels, slides, sight systems, triggers, safeties, and expert fine-tuning. Each build is optimized for accuracy, reliability, and peak performance.
Why Choose the Colt Custom Shop?
- Hand-crafted custom Colt firearms
- Expert Colt gunsmiths and engravers
- Premium materials and finishes
- Performance-driven competition builds
- Authentic Colt quality and heritage
Colt Master Engraver John Pease
Engraving Coverage
Custom engraving adds a touch of elegance and personal flair to any firearm, from a historic revolver to a modern semi-automatic pistol.
- Level D: Complete coverage transforms each firearm into a unique work of art that directly reflects the dedication, skill, and experience of a Colt master engraver.
- Level C: Extensive coverage up to 75% for the true collector, this level of adornment immediately classifies your Colt firearm as a one-of-a-kind showpiece.
- Level B: Medium level of ornamentation where approximately 50% of the firearm’s surface is covered with scrollwork. This finish achieves an ideal balance that accentuates the lines of your firearm and elevates it to heirloom status.
- Level A: One-quarter coverage provides a subtle, delicate embellishment which adds value and character to your Colt revolver or pistol.
Styles of Engraving
The Colt Custom Shop offers several styles of engraving, each with its own unique features. Scrollwork is adapted to fit the size, shape, and contour of every firearm. Three grades of engraving are offered:
- Standard – basic American style, engraver not recorded
- Expert – superior quality of scroll work, engraver signed and recorded.
- Master – intricate scrollwork with the option for precious metal inlays, signed by the engraver and recorded.
American
Developed in the mid-19th century, the American style is recognized for its complexity, abundance of detail with German influences and technical virtuosity. This is the most popular engraving style for American firearms.
English
Characterized by delicate, flowing scrollwork and emphasis on fine, detailed lines with tighter scrolls and more intricate shading.
Nimschke
Named for the famed firearms engraver, Nimschke helped create the American style. This design features rich scrollwork, a heavily punched dot background, fine edge curls and delicate boarders.
Germanic
Characterized by elegant, space-filling foliate scrolls, the Germanic style often incorporates hunting scenes and animal motifs. Oak leaves and acorns are also common signatures of this naturalistic style.
American
Developed in the mid-19th century, the American style is recognized for its complexity, abundance of detail with German influences and technical virtuosity. This is the most popular engraving style for American firearms.
English
Characterized by delicate, flowing scrollwork and emphasis on fine, detailed lines with tighter scrolls and more intricate shading.
Nimschke
Named for the famed firearms engraver, Nimschke helped create the American style. This design features rich scrollwork, a heavily punched dot background, fine edge curls and delicate boarders.
Germanic
Characterized by elegant, space-filling foliate scrolls, the Germanic style often incorporates hunting scenes and animal motifs. Oak leaves and acorns are also common signatures of this naturalistic style.
*All the engraving examples above show master-level scrollwork.
Start Your Colt Custom Build
The Colt Custom Shop is currently accepting orders for custom Colt 1911 pistols and Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers. Use the appropriate form below to begin the custom firearm process with Colt’s skilled craftsmen.
Colt Custom Shop 1911 Order Form
For eligible Colt-manufactured 1911 pistols- Colt Custom Shop SAA Order Form
For new Single Action Army custom builds only
Order Eligibility
To ensure a smooth and timely custom shop experience, please review the criteria below before submitting your order:
- The Colt Custom Shop performs work only on Colt-manufactured 1911 pistols
- Firearms previously modified by anyone other than the Colt Custom Shop are not accepted
- Lightweight frames are not eligible
- All 1911 pistols must be recent production models
- The SAA Order Form is for new builds only (no existing firearms)
Need help before ordering?
Contact Customer Service prior to submitting your form at +1 800-962-2658 if you have questions about firearm eligibility, customization options, or the ordering process. Our team is happy to assist before you begin your custom build.