Repairing a 1911 - Broken frame.

[j-rod]

My father's custom built 1911 has broken, the frame split. In talking this over with my brother (he has done a bit more research into the matter), a replacement frame would be difficult to come by in California.

My initial assumption is that CA considers the frame the registered part which makes it subject to rostering which is ridiculous for just a frame. The first glance CA 10000 foot solution would appear to be: By new, kosher CA complaint 1911. Then swap slide, barrel, etc.

Is there a better way?

What are our options?

My Brother lives in Maryland, the thought of an out of state intra-family transfer has crossed our minds but MD will be problematic as well.

Is there a way to get a replacement frame that I'm missing? Is the best course of action just to go to the gunsmith?

[SarcoBlaster]

80% frame and have it finished?

[MT1]

pictures?

[Flyin Brian]

It is legal to send a firearm back to the manufacturer, so if it is a custom 1911 built on a frame from Caspian or STI or some other brand, I wonder if it would be legal to send it back to one of those companies to have the frame replaced?

Hopefully someone will have a solution to this problem... I've got a Caspian framed 1911 and an STI 1911, so I'd definitely like to know what I would need to do if one of those frames ever broke.

[j-rod]

pictures?

Not on me. Sorry.

[himurax13]

It is legal to send a firearm back to the manufacturer, so if it is a custom 1911 built on a frame from Caspian or STI or some other brand, I wonder if it would be legal to send it back to one of those companies to have the frame replaced?

Hopefully someone will have a solution to this problem... I've got a Caspian framed 1911 and an STI 1911, so I'd definitely like to know what I would need to do if one of those frames ever broke.

The short answer is yes, if the manufacturer is an FFL, which they should be. As long as it a like for like swap, then they can replace the receiver. There is no need for a new DROS. My buddy had a kaboom and the manufacturer replaced the receiver with a new one with different serial #s. Just keep the paperwork.

[Black_Talon]

If it's cracked at the junction of the dust cover, that's quite typical with aluminum frame and high-mileage steel frame 1911s. It'll generally go so far and then stop. It doesn't hurt the function of the gun at all, it's only a cosmetic issue. It can be stopped by drilling a small hole at the terminus of the crack, or it can be welded up by someone that knows what they're doing. The guys at EGW are tops at this.

[ke6guj]

The short answer is yes, if the manufacturer is an FFL, which they should be. As long as it a like for like swap, then they can replace the receiver. There is no need for a new DROS. My buddy had a kaboom and the manufacturer replaced the receiver with a new one with different serial #s. Just keep the paperwork.

federal law would allow an FFL to swap out the receiver and send it back to you direct, even if it had a different serial number. CA's law appears tobe more strict and does not allow for a different serial number replacement to be sent directly back to you (but if the receiver was replaced with one and your original serial# reused, that would be ok), but it would need to be sent to a CA FFL to be DROSed to you. Now, we run into a problem, I don't recall seeing a roster exemption for "replacement" handguns being transfered to the owner. the exemption appears to be limited to "that firearm", meaning the original.

12132. This chapter shall not apply to any of the following:
(d) The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a person licensed pursuant to Section 12071 for the purposes of the service or repair of that firearm.

[j-rod]

If it's cracked at the junction of the dust cover, that's quite typical with aluminum frame and high-mileage steel frame 1911s. It'll generally go so far and then stop. It doesn't hurt the function of the gun at all, it's only a cosmetic issue. It can be stopped by drilling a small hole at the terminus of the crack, or it can be welded up by someone that knows what they're doing. The guys at EGW are tops at this.

I have not see the damage first hand, however I can tell you the grip safety did not work when I last borrowed it and it had not worked some time prior to that. I'll have to check it out next time I go over there.

[redcliff]

As Black_Talon said, don't write off the frame too soon; they can sometimes be repaired for a couple hundred bucks good as new, plus refinish cost. All depends on where the crack is.