Jim Hoag info
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669 Posts
Many had assumed he was no longer around, but he is still alive and kicking last I heard -- even building guns too! :smile:
Hoag received a good deal of attention for the guns he built for use in the James Caan movie Thief. I really wanted on of those longslide Hoag pistols.
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DD
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Desert Dog on 2001-05-04 01:38 ]</font>
Hoag received a good deal of attention for the guns he built for use in the James Caan movie Thief. I really wanted on of those longslide Hoag pistols.
DD
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Desert Dog on 2001-05-04 01:38 ]</font>
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77 Posts
Desert Dog,
I have one just like the one in the Movie. Classic Hoag Longslide
Gold Cup. I traded someone out of it. It didn't have a Squared
Trigger Guard, so I sent it back and had Jim do it for me.
_________________
Richard Heinie
Heinie Specialty Products
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Richard Heinie on 2001-05-04 08:46 ]</font>
I have one just like the one in the Movie. Classic Hoag Longslide
Gold Cup. I traded someone out of it. It didn't have a Squared
Trigger Guard, so I sent it back and had Jim do it for me.
_________________
Richard Heinie
Heinie Specialty Products
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Richard Heinie on 2001-05-04 08:46 ]</font>
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669 Posts
Dick,
I would love to see a photo of you Hoag longslide some time. :smile: If you ever get a mind to, send a photo to either Dane or myself and we will gladly post it. I shuffled my feet and missed one about seven years ago. I know Jim built five inch guns for the movie as well. A set of both guns would be just too cool.
DD
I would love to see a photo of you Hoag longslide some time. :smile: If you ever get a mind to, send a photo to either Dane or myself and we will gladly post it. I shuffled my feet and missed one about seven years ago. I know Jim built five inch guns for the movie as well. A set of both guns would be just too cool.
DD
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3,552 Posts
Of the active smiths Jim Hoag has been at it longer than most. His only active contempary is Al Capone at Kings AFAIK. Hoag started at King's BTW.
I have worked on one best grade gun by Hoag. It was a very nice gun. I suspect his work has only gotten better in time. His turn around is currently very quick in comparison to many on this list and he is truly a gentleman.
A Hoag gun is on my lists of wants as a contempary of Swenson and latter of Heinie. Imagine Dick Heinie as the new kid on the block with those two guys :grin:
I wouldn't expect the latest and greatest in 1911s from Jim but then again the 1911 hasn't changed that much either. Heine has at least one example of Hoag's work. He did comparable work to Swenson in their day and style. He is without question one of the originators of the custom 1911 as we know it. Jim mentioned to me that he was shooting with Cooper at Big Bear in 1957 and continued shooting through the '70s and into the early 80's in IPSC. He has been there and done this stuff as a shooter and a smith.
He might just surprise you! Call him up and ask him yourself :grin:
I found him very easy to talk to.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dane Burns on 2001-05-04 21:31 ]</font>
I have worked on one best grade gun by Hoag. It was a very nice gun. I suspect his work has only gotten better in time. His turn around is currently very quick in comparison to many on this list and he is truly a gentleman.
A Hoag gun is on my lists of wants as a contempary of Swenson and latter of Heinie. Imagine Dick Heinie as the new kid on the block with those two guys :grin:
I wouldn't expect the latest and greatest in 1911s from Jim but then again the 1911 hasn't changed that much either. Heine has at least one example of Hoag's work. He did comparable work to Swenson in their day and style. He is without question one of the originators of the custom 1911 as we know it. Jim mentioned to me that he was shooting with Cooper at Big Bear in 1957 and continued shooting through the '70s and into the early 80's in IPSC. He has been there and done this stuff as a shooter and a smith.
He might just surprise you! Call him up and ask him yourself :grin:
I found him very easy to talk to.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dane Burns on 2001-05-04 21:31 ]</font>
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119 Posts
Jim Hoag was THE MAN when I was shooting IPSC in Southern California during the early seventies. Ray Chapman was associated with Pachmayer at the time, but many, if not most of the real players in the Southwest Pistol League used Hoag.
Jim built my first custom pistol; a "B Class",on a commercial series 70. Not suprisingly, it was similar to Swenson's work, i.e., S&W sights,commander hammer,etc, except that it was blued and did not have an ambi safety.
I later ordered and recieved a Hoag "Master Grade". This was Jim's full house, best quality gun, with low mount BoMars, Bar-Sto barrel etc. Standards are higher now, and it would probably suffer by comparison with some of todays best makers, but at the time it was cutting edge and I thought it was exquisite. I regret to say that I got caught up in trap shooting, and sold the Master Grade to a friend in order to finance a new shotgun.
Years later I came to my senses and tried to buy it back, but the fellow I sold it to had sent the gun to Hoag and had both a six inch long slide and a commander top half fitted to the frame. Naturally, he had no interest in parting with it.
To this day, it remains near the top of my "I Never Should Have Sold That One" list.
Jim built my first custom pistol; a "B Class",on a commercial series 70. Not suprisingly, it was similar to Swenson's work, i.e., S&W sights,commander hammer,etc, except that it was blued and did not have an ambi safety.
I later ordered and recieved a Hoag "Master Grade". This was Jim's full house, best quality gun, with low mount BoMars, Bar-Sto barrel etc. Standards are higher now, and it would probably suffer by comparison with some of todays best makers, but at the time it was cutting edge and I thought it was exquisite. I regret to say that I got caught up in trap shooting, and sold the Master Grade to a friend in order to finance a new shotgun.
Years later I came to my senses and tried to buy it back, but the fellow I sold it to had sent the gun to Hoag and had both a six inch long slide and a commander top half fitted to the frame. Naturally, he had no interest in parting with it.
To this day, it remains near the top of my "I Never Should Have Sold That One" list.
I've had Jim do minor work for me (trigger, reliability, beavertail). I doubt you could be dissapointed by his work. If you want, simple elegant and done right. He would be just the man for your needs. If you want the latest, newest, most trendy...what have you, there might be other smiths who would be better suited for that.
Dane and all:
You're right about Jim not being the most up-to-date smith when it comes to "what's new" on the 1911 scene. But that's OK - his work is indeed first-rate (he worked on a Springfield for me years ago). You mentioned that Jim used to work at King's. Have you seen any of the recent work coming out of King's? How does it rate? I ask because Jim's shop and King's are equally close to where I live, and I'm trying to decide where I should go.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: voodoo on 2001-05-10 18:29 ]</font>
You're right about Jim not being the most up-to-date smith when it comes to "what's new" on the 1911 scene. But that's OK - his work is indeed first-rate (he worked on a Springfield for me years ago). You mentioned that Jim used to work at King's. Have you seen any of the recent work coming out of King's? How does it rate? I ask because Jim's shop and King's are equally close to where I live, and I'm trying to decide where I should go.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: voodoo on 2001-05-10 18:29 ]</font>
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119 Posts
I've used both, and with all due respect to King's, I'd say Jim Hoag, hands down. My opinion, for what it's worth.
David
David
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