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Right around the beginning of September, being a new gun owner in CA, I decided that I wanted a 1911 handgun. But not just any 1911 - it had to be a Springfield 1911 Loaded Marine Corps Operator. But even more specifically, it had to be the PX9110ML18 model. That CA-compliant model from a few years ago (the PX9105MLCA18) just wouldn't do.
Of course, not knowing about the roster, I was immediately stymied by this absurd law that was keeping the gun that I had to have from me. After doing a bunch of reading and research (mostly here on calguns) and posting a few threads here about my situation, I realized that I had but a few options:
1. Give up and settle for a rostered 1911 (admit defeat? - pfft)
2. Wait an indefinite amount of time for one to be offered for PPT and then pay out the nose for it, or
3. My last option - the gift loophole! (not a loophole I know)
My parents live in Kentucky and my dad is a fan of firearms. I knew he would be willing to give me a gift if I explained the situation to him and the reason for this roundabout process. He agreed to it all, so the hunt was on to find the handgun and have him buy it and give it to me as a gift.
Have I mentioned how exceedingly rare this particular model of Springfield is, even in the free states? The search was fruitless. At one point, the exact model was put up at an amazing price on gunbroker (~$1200), but in the time it took me to email my dad and have him look, it was gone already. Then, nothing at all for weeks.
Finally, I realized that I might have to settle for the PX9105MLCA18 model, and have it customized at SA to make it exactly like the PX9110ML18 (basically front strap octo-checkering and G10 grips). Finally, one day 2 months ago I was doing my daily search and instead of searching for the model number, I searched for the UPC code instead. Fortune smiled on me and I found a retailer in TX that had one in that model (new) for only $1100.
I told my dad, he called and snapped it up. They shipped it to him quickly, and he used a KY FFL to receive it, no problemo. Then he did the whole "walk out the door, walk back in and tell the FFL he wants to give his handgun to me as a gift" thing, and the FFL tells him he won't ship handguns to CA, regardless of the circumstances! Doesn't want to be bothered to register with the CFLC to obtain the necessary shipment authorization for my local CA FFL. And it turns out that FFL was not the only one unwilling - everyone he contacted told him the same. Uh oh.
Enter my brother with the assist. He diligently contacted every local FFL listed on gunbroker that he could and finally found one who was registered with the CFLC system. They took it in and had it shipped to my local CA FFL. A week later, my FFL received it, I went in, filled out the paperwork, and began the 10 day wait. Felt like forever, especially because I knew once I had it I was just going to turn around and ship it to Springfield for the custom front strap work.
10 days pass, I go pick it up, and immediately contact SA and fill out the custom form and send it in. Order the exact G10 grips from them that go on the PX9110ML18 so that I can have the exact model.
Surprisingly, they turned it around very quickly. Got the grips first, then the handgun today. Took off those God-awful Pachmayr rubber abominations, installed the G10s from SA, and now, finally, I HAVE IT!!!
My beautiful new, Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Marine Corps Operator, model PX9105ML18, modified to be exactly like the newer, off-roster PX9110ML18.
It was a heckuva journey, but I'm glad I went through it all, and now I have the exact handgun I wanted. And I owe a lot of thanks to you fine folks here on calguns - a lot of great advice and a lot of spectacular information that helped me on this journey.
And here are some pictures:
Of course, not knowing about the roster, I was immediately stymied by this absurd law that was keeping the gun that I had to have from me. After doing a bunch of reading and research (mostly here on calguns) and posting a few threads here about my situation, I realized that I had but a few options:
1. Give up and settle for a rostered 1911 (admit defeat? - pfft)
2. Wait an indefinite amount of time for one to be offered for PPT and then pay out the nose for it, or
3. My last option - the gift loophole! (not a loophole I know)
My parents live in Kentucky and my dad is a fan of firearms. I knew he would be willing to give me a gift if I explained the situation to him and the reason for this roundabout process. He agreed to it all, so the hunt was on to find the handgun and have him buy it and give it to me as a gift.
Have I mentioned how exceedingly rare this particular model of Springfield is, even in the free states? The search was fruitless. At one point, the exact model was put up at an amazing price on gunbroker (~$1200), but in the time it took me to email my dad and have him look, it was gone already. Then, nothing at all for weeks.
Finally, I realized that I might have to settle for the PX9105MLCA18 model, and have it customized at SA to make it exactly like the PX9110ML18 (basically front strap octo-checkering and G10 grips). Finally, one day 2 months ago I was doing my daily search and instead of searching for the model number, I searched for the UPC code instead. Fortune smiled on me and I found a retailer in TX that had one in that model (new) for only $1100.
I told my dad, he called and snapped it up. They shipped it to him quickly, and he used a KY FFL to receive it, no problemo. Then he did the whole "walk out the door, walk back in and tell the FFL he wants to give his handgun to me as a gift" thing, and the FFL tells him he won't ship handguns to CA, regardless of the circumstances! Doesn't want to be bothered to register with the CFLC to obtain the necessary shipment authorization for my local CA FFL. And it turns out that FFL was not the only one unwilling - everyone he contacted told him the same. Uh oh.
Enter my brother with the assist. He diligently contacted every local FFL listed on gunbroker that he could and finally found one who was registered with the CFLC system. They took it in and had it shipped to my local CA FFL. A week later, my FFL received it, I went in, filled out the paperwork, and began the 10 day wait. Felt like forever, especially because I knew once I had it I was just going to turn around and ship it to Springfield for the custom front strap work.
10 days pass, I go pick it up, and immediately contact SA and fill out the custom form and send it in. Order the exact G10 grips from them that go on the PX9110ML18 so that I can have the exact model.
Surprisingly, they turned it around very quickly. Got the grips first, then the handgun today. Took off those God-awful Pachmayr rubber abominations, installed the G10s from SA, and now, finally, I HAVE IT!!!
My beautiful new, Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Marine Corps Operator, model PX9105ML18, modified to be exactly like the newer, off-roster PX9110ML18.
It was a heckuva journey, but I'm glad I went through it all, and now I have the exact handgun I wanted. And I owe a lot of thanks to you fine folks here on calguns - a lot of great advice and a lot of spectacular information that helped me on this journey.
And here are some pictures:
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