[SHOT Show 2017] The Crystal Cabot Gun

Cabot Guns have once again shown up to SHOT Show with an extraordinarily unique pistol. This year's blaster is built using handcrafted lead crystal components. You can see the Crystal Cabot Guns on display at SHOT in Booth #508. Continue reading for more information:

SHOT Show 2017: The Crystal Cabot Gun

“The Crystal Gun is a work of glass art that just so happens to incorporate a Cabot 1911,” says Cabot Founder and CEO, Rob Bianchin of the fully functional pistol. The project is the manifestation of an almost year-long collaboration between Cabot Guns and Pittsburgh-based glass artist Brian Engel.

Brian took a sculptor's approach to create the Crystal Gun's glass grips and trigger, starting with a solid block of glass and slowly removing material. He selected optically clear crystal glass for its hardness and clarity, and sliced rectangular discs from the glass block. He carved the basic shapes of the gun grips and trigger using diamond-embedded brass wheels, then sanded and smoothed each piece into its final shape and size.

The grips' design was inspired by the classic diamond patterns seen on rifle stocks and gun grips. Brian carved the interior of each grip to highlight the material's refractive qualities while keeping a smooth exterior. The trigger's design was sandblasted into the glass. The grips and trigger were hand polished in several stages. The resulting grips and trigger have a crystal shine, yet withstand the forces of gun fire.

The frame, slide and small parts are crafted from a block of stainless steel and constructed to aerospace tolerances standards employing CNC Machining, EDM Wire, EDM Sinker, CNC Grinding technology, hand fit and hand polished to a mirror finish. The pistol features Cabot's signature mill engraved Trinity Strip cocking serrations, a rhombus checkered front strap and main spring housing, top slide serrations and a reverse dovetail front sight embedded with a diamond. The pistol is a fully functional firearm.

Perhaps even more impressive than the Crystal Gun is the one-of-a-kind lead crystal gun case made to house the firearm. Mr. Engel forged the gun case from blue lead crystal which features a french fit recessed cavity to cradle the gun and a glass lid that reads, “In Case Of Emergency, Break Glass”. The case and pistol will be on display at SHOT. Mr Engel will be on-site and available to discuss the project.

About The Artist:

Brian Engel was born and raised in southwest New Mexico. As an outdoor enthusiast, he gets much of his inspiration from nature and back-country wilderness pack trips. After serving in the military, Brian became a glass artist in 1999 and earned his BFA in glass from Southern Illinois University. In Brian's current body of work, he creates abstracted landscapes using thick blown glass forms that are cut and polished. He makes use of shape, texture, and light to highlight the unique optic qualities of the material.

To learn more about Cabot Guns and their other products, go to their website.

This has been a special SHOT Show installment of Industry News. It is not a review nor an endorsement.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.
Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc
View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show here; 2015's is right here.
SHOT 2017 Schedule
January 15 — Special invite-only events; Veterans Training Fund/Wishes for Warriors at The Ranch, SIG Sauer Range Day, and others
January 16 — Media on the Range, Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club
January 17 — 20, 2016
Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours
Tuesday, January 17 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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