
Cylinder & Slide opened in November 1978 when Bill Laughridge decided to turn his gunsmithing passion into a full-time business. What started as a teenager helping out at a local gun shop—fixing a Colt Woodsman the owner's son couldn't figure out—evolved into one of the most respected 1911 and handg...
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Cylinder & Slide opened in November 1978 when Bill Laughridge decided to turn his gunsmithing passion into a full-time business. What started as a teenager helping out at a local gun shop—fixing a Colt Woodsman the owner's son couldn't figure out—evolved into one of the most respected 1911 and handgun operations in the country.
Laughridge spent years traveling to major IPSC matches across the country with a custom-built shop trailer, repairing competitor race guns on-site. He's worked on firearms for some of the biggest names in competitive shooting and built relationships across the sport that lasted decades. That hands-on competition experience feeds directly into the parts and knowledge Cylinder & Slide offers today.
"Featured in American Handgunner magazine by Evan Marshall for custom revolver work, setting Laughridge on the path to becoming a recognized name in the handgun community."
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | 402-721-4277 |
| Address | 245 E. 4th Street, Fremont, Nebraska 68025 |
| Tech Hours | Mon-Thurs: 10:30am-4:00pm CST |
| Tech Hours | Friday: 10:30am-2:00pm CST |
| Lunch | 11:30am-12:30pm CST |
They're running an inventory reduction sale on select items. Check their website for current availability and pricing on the thousands of parts in stock.
Unlike generic parts suppliers, Cylinder & Slide was built by someone who spent decades actually doing this work—not selling it. Laughridge learned gunsmithing hands-on, built a reputation fixing race guns at major matches, and only expanded into parts distribution because he understood what shooters actually needed. The inventory reflects real-world experience: they stock parts for guns people still shoot, not just museum pieces.
They've produced several signature models over the years, including the 1911 Government Model 100th Anniversary Edition, Modern Classic, Pocket Model, and Trident II. These showcase the level of customization and knowledge the shop can deliver.
Laughridge's approach is simple: make your living doing something you actually love, and the rest takes care of itself. For 46+ years, that philosophy has meant consistent quality, deep technical knowledge, and parts availability that only someone embedded in the 1911 community could build.
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