Anyone build their own 1911?

[leitung]

I was thinking it wouldn't be too hard to build your own 1911 with this frame, and the kit from them..

http://www.diyguns.com/product_info.php?products_id=55&ecSid=436c76b8ea0814a6ebf453f8369c8cf9

If anyone has done it, how hard is it to do?
Oh, and is it legal to do here in california?

[M. Sage]

It looks hard as hell to do. I don't see any rails cut.

It's legal to build from an 80% receiver in CA. #5 and #6 from the OP in this thread apply: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=115364

[bornproud]

First off, you will need a Mill to cut the rails. Second, there is a grey area I believe in California on this. Normally all guns must pass the drop test to be legal to be sold here in california. This almost rules out building your own gun from frame up, unless you build a couple of them and send one to DOJ for testing. You don't get it back though. The law states something like all guns must past a drop test before they can be SOLD in California.

Now, since your not building it to sale of give as a gift, Your not SELLING it in California and you can have it. Now after all this mumba-jumba I was talking about my advice would be not to do it. Not worth it and is very cost ineffective. Good Luck.

Remember, you will still have to serialize it and deal with all the paper work and hassle. Technicaly, you can get a Caspian receiver and build it up for yourself and it will be legal, but you must have a FFL to do that. You couldn't get a dealer to get it for you because he would have to sell it to you and that would make it illegal.

[leelaw]

You may build up a firearm from an 80% (non-firearm) frame, but there are some restrictions.

You may not build up a banned firearm.

If you are building a pistol, it must be made in an exempt status (ie: a single-shot exempt pistol, which has several length requirements ot go with it). Once it is completed, send for it to be registered, then you can convert it to a semi-automatic function.

It's similar to the single-shot revolvers that are coming in now (double-action function removed, etc..) or the AR and AK pistols which are being built.

There will be rail cutting, and some hole drilling to do, but it's not terrible.

good luck, and post your progress.

ETA: The link posted by MSage is a very good reference for these builds. Heed the advice given, and build it legally.

[FMJBT]

The DIYGuns frame does not come as pictured, just an FYI. The two that I recieved from them last year are both raw castings with no machining operations having been done. The following will need to be done to them to make an operational frame:

1) Top of frame and dust cover milled to correct height
2) Sides of frame milled or flat ground to correct thickness
3) Slide rails cut
4) Mainspring housing rails cut
5) Slide release pivot hole drilled
6) Plunger tube holes drilled
7) Ejector holes drilled
8) Ejector pin hole drilled
9) Disconnector hole drilled
10) Sear pin hole drilled
11) Frame/Grip safety hole drilled
12) Hammer pin hole drilled
13) Cutout for frame safety milled
14) Mag release hole reamed/drilled and machined to accept mag release lock
15) Grip screw bushing holes drilled and tapped

In addition to this, the rounded surfaces of the frame will need to be smoothed out unless you want to keep the rough cast look. Some shaping and fitting at the rear of the frame for the grip safety will also need to be done.

If you check the SARCO website, sometimes their Shotgun News ad will have "Decorator" 1911 frames for sale. Normally these go for about $20-$30 each and are just as good as the DIY frames. I ordered a few, and found that they are slightly more complete than the DIY frames. The sides have been flat ground, and the slide release pivot hole and safety cutout have been done. Their current frames may or may not have the same level of machining done, but they should at least be at the level of the DIY frames for a lot less money. http://www.sarcoinc.com/

For more money, the KT Ordnance frames are hard to beat. Most of the machining has been done, and they build up into a very original looking handgun. The full length rail on the dustcover is a nice addition:

http://www.ktordnance.com/kto/products.php

[leitung]

I am looking for a future project.. It may be something I do out of state as I dont wanna deal with the whole drop test BS. I like putting things together, I enjoy building models, so I think with the proper tools & training, I could build some pistols..