1911 frame

[rudy16]

I have two questions. The first it stupid i guess I am just hoping since I am not 21 yet and was clearifiying that a frame still must be bought with a handgun license correct. Since I am a machinist i have considered making one from a 80% frame. Which ones are the best and worth the money. Caspian, etc.? thanks all for the help

[pa_guns]

Hi

By law in the US the frame is the pistol. The rest of the stuff is just parts.

From all the stuff I have heard about "80%" frames, I would avoid them. You probably are better off machining a frame from scratch that using some of what's out there.

If I was going to buy a frame, Caspian would be right at the top of my list.

Bob

[niemi24s]

Hi Rudy 16: Welcome to the forum. Just about anything you'd ever want to know about the 1911 is available here - somewhere.
. . . I am not 21 yet and was clearifiying that a frame still must be bought with a handgun license . . .
I don't know whether the age or purchase permit requirements are Federal or State ones, but if either is a State requirement I'd recommend you get the straight info from your local law enforcement folks or somebody at a gun shop in your state.

[Hawkmoon]

Personally, with all due respect for LEOs, that's the LAST place I would ask for advice. I have asked questions of local police officers, not knowing the answer, and I received information that could have gotten me arrested on felony charges if I had followed it. It was pure accident that I didn't follow through.

I have also asked questions, to which I already knew the answer, to the state police firearms unit. I asked three times, and I received three different answers. Two of the three were flat wrong, totally contrary to state law; the third was sort of half right ... not actually in conflict with the law, yet not really telling me what the law said, either.

Federally, you cannot buy a handgun (or a handgun frame) from an FFL until you are 21. You can, however, buy a handgun (or a frame) from an individual IF your state laws allow face-to-face transfers without going through an FFL.

Also, unless your state laws provide otherwise, although you cannot purchase a handgun (or frame) through an FFL, Federal law allows 18-year olds to possess handguns. Which means that, unless your state prohibits it, your parents or a friend could give you a frame.

Keep in mind, whan I say "give" I mean "give." I do not mean "Here's the money will you buy this for me?" That would be considered a "straw purchase" and is a violation of Federal law. "Gift" means "gift." If face-to-face transfers to 18-year olds are legal in your state, you could also have a parent buy the frame and then you would buy it from them. I don't think that would constitute a straw purchase, but you should call your nearest BATFE office and ask them.

I agree with previous comments regarding 80% frames. They are very "iffy." It's MUCH easier to complete an AR-15 receiver than it is to complete a 1911 receiver. I have not heard much good said about 80% 1911 frames.

[berkeleygiraffe]

i know in california, one of the most strict (and dumb) places here, if a parent or grandparent "gifts" it to you then you can be under 21.

maybe have your parent or grandparent "buy" the frame, register it in their name, and "gift" it to you, and fill out the forms for transfer and mail those in... that is if you get my drift.

[52dragon1911]

i know in california, one of the most strict (and dumb) places here, if a parent or grandparent "gifts" it to you then you can be under 21.

.

i hear what you are trying to say.
laws wouldn't have passed unless they are absolutely nonsense in Cali.

[niemi24s]

get the straight info from your local law enforcement folks
The "folks" referred to weren't the first cop you happen to see, but it's probably a clerk in the city police, county sheriff, state police, etc, - whichever agency in your state takes care of registering the pistol - if your state is like mine (Michigan) and requires the registration of handguns. Here, the county sheriff handles both the purchase permits and the registration stuff, and happens to have a LE clerk who is quite knowledgeable.

It may all be different in your state, but (although I didn't come right out and say it) the LEO is the one who handles the paperwork - the one you deal with to get the forms. Whoever you deal with is a part of your government's bureaucracy (big or small) and you won't get it done uless that one (probably) person is satisfied that all the paperwork's filled out correctly.

This, of course, assumes you live somewhere where you're not the first person within 200 miles who's decided to get a pistol in the last 20 years!

Cheers

[pa_guns]

Hi

There is a *lot* of information out on the web about the various state's firearm rules and regulations. I would check anything I heard anywhere against a couple of other sources ....

Bob

[rudy16]

The reason I was wondering is because my dad wont buy me a handgun until I am out of school and i have been dreaming about a 1911 many of nights. It is getting unbearable. I know my state will allow me to posses a pistol, but not buy one. I enjoy building things, i know that there is some smithing envolved in the fit of a 1911, but i figured i would give it a try. I get out of shcool in june and turn 21 in oct so i ll probably just wait otherwise i will have to listen to dad tell that, that is "way" to much to spend on 1 gun since he doesnt so the passion i do in firearms. Now the hard decision figuring out STI, Kimber, Fusion, or Baer hmmmm thanks all

[pa_guns]

Hi

If you have the urge to customize, start looking at the local gun shows. That might give you a pretty good idea of what's out there to pick up. An RIA isn't a bad place to start ....

Bob

[Tom in Ohio]

If you are really interested in the 1911 and you are a machinist, I would recommend you first buy both of the Jerry Kuhnhausen 1911 books. Read and re-read them.

Then, buy a low price 1911. A Rock Island Armory or Springfield GI or MilSpec. Then spend hours taking it apart and measuring it with the Kuhnhausen books in hand. Learn it inside and out. Then shoot it.

Then start modifying it. It might cost you just as much as a high end 1911 in the long run, but you will have had a pipstol you could actually shoot every step along the way, you will learn a lot, and if you totally botch it, you aren't out all that much money and most of the parts will be salvagable.

Then go blow $1500 on parts and $500 on tools and build yourself a one of a kind custom.

P.S. This is what I did. After I did all the mods on a Springfield, I was able to sell it and the whole process only ended up costing me about $400. Pretty cheap for the education and I still had the tools.

[Stanmerrell]

Rudy,
I think Tom has provided some good advice about getting the Kuhnhausen books, and that you are probably right to wait to do this for yourself. You can do a lot of the planning and tool up now though. I hope to see your posts on your project plan soon, as the things you want to do take shape.

[pa_guns]

Hi

Something else to do this summer:

Check out the local clubs / ranges. Find one that you like and join up. They *will* need volunteers to help with matches. You will learn more from watching those matches than from a lot of books. You *might* get to put a few rounds down range with some very high end pistols as well .... :D

Net result would be that by October you are going to know way more about both what's inside a 1911 (from the books) and how they are used. That will make you a much smarter shopper when you do go shopping.

Bob