Jesse James Firearms Unlimited CISCO Especial 1911 5'' 45ACP Unfired

Up for sale is a very rare custom 1911 made by Jesse James Firearms Unlimited (JJFU). 

Let's talk about the history before jumping into this Jesse James 1911 review. Jesse James Firearms Unlimited (JJFU) is a custom firearm manufacturing company established by entrepreneur and TV personality Jesse James. Located in Dripping Springs, Texas, just 20 minutes west of Austin, the 17-acre JJFU facility manufactures custom, hand-crafted 1911 pistols, as well as the Nomad line of AR-15 and AR-10 rifles and custom suppressors. Our Jesse James 1911 pistol review will help you understand everything you need to know about the gun.

History of Jesse James Firearms Unlimited

Best known for his custom motorcycle work and his appearances on television in shows such as Monster Garage and Jesse James Is a Dead Man, Jesse James moved out of California and into the Lone Star State, transitioning from motorcycles to firearms with the establishment of a new brand, Jesse James Firearms Unlimited.

Unveiled for the first time in November 2013 at the Rattle Inn in Austin, in front of 250 guests, Jesse James introduced his first two product lines: the Cisco 1911 pistol and the Nomad AR-15 rifle. In his introductory speech, James asserted that the role he wishes to play in the firearms industry is to be a high-end gunmaker providing unique, highly-customizable products.

James learned the art of pistolsmithing from the late Jim Garthwaite. Jim became a legend in the industry with over 40 years of experience doing custom work on the 1911 Browning High Power pistols.

After completing an apprenticeship under his tutelage, Jesse James created his very first pistol - a beautifully crafted 1911 with a case hardened steel frame and a blued steel slide.

Combining the knowledge and techniques learned under Garthwaite with his mechanical expertise honed by working on motorcycles, Jesse James sought to craft the most refined, most accurate custom firearms possible.

Jesse James Firearms Unlimited’s 1911 pistols

The 1911 pistol, designed by John Moses Browning, is his finest and most successful invention. Over 100 years after its original introduction, the 1911 is still one of the most popular handgun platforms in America, even as more advanced, more modern designs continue to appear.

The model 1911 became the United States military’s standard service handgun and remained so for nearly 75 years. It is the dominant platform in many competition shooting disciplines, such as USPSA, IPSC, and more. Some of the finest and most accurate handguns made in America are 1911s.

With such a rich legacy in the world of firearms, it is no surprise that Jesse James Firearms Unlimited chose to produce 1911 pistols under their brand name.

All of the 1911 pistols made at JJFU are machined in-house and hand-built, hand-fitted, and test-fired by Jesse James himself and master pistolsmith Justin McMillan. Regardless of the customization options ordered, all JJFU 1911 handguns are built to match the company’s stringent performance standards, reliability, fit, and finish.

Although the company offers several base models, such as the Cisco II, the Lobo, or the Grandmaster, all pistols are made to order; to the customer’s exact specifications and requests.