Can I just get a 1911 frame

[JJayson]

I live in California and was wondering what the best way to go about purchasing a 1911 frame was. I have a Kimbere 22 kit and wanted to mount it to a lower without purchasing the entire gun.

[52dragon1911]

the 1911 frame is serial numbered and is considered an entire gun. You'll have go through the same paper work like buying a new firearm. Find a gunsmith in your neigbourhood who might have a frame for sale or order one online and have it shipped to a local gun dealer.

[garrettwc]

Keep in mind that California is different from a lot of the other states. You may not be able to legally get a frame. You can check the California website, or one of our CA members may know.

I know that complete guns have to be on "the list".

[Hawkmoon]

I do not believe you can buy a bare frame in California.

[Frank]

Nope, you can't buy a frame in California. A handgun must pass the prescribed tests and be on the list of approved handguns. There are no stand alone frames on that list.

The frame is the gun. The gun must go through the required tests to be approved. There's no way that a stand alone frame could be tested. So no stand alone frame will ever be on the approved list.

The only way to buy a frame would be a face-to-face private party transfer in California. You could also buy a frame that was more than 50 years old, since handguns that qualify as C&R are exempt from the requirement that they be on the list.

DVC

[Hawkmoon]

The only way to buy a frame would be a face-to-face private party transfer in California. You could also buy a frame that was more than 50 years old, since handguns that qualify as C&R are exempt from the requirement that they be on the list.
Sounds like an appropriate excuse to buy an M1927 Sistema ...

[bbeard]

What about 80% frames? They don't require an FFL.

[Frank]

What about 80% frames? They don't require an FFL.
I don't really know anything about them. I did find this link to some information: http://www.acmearms.com/. I don't know how good the information is, and some of the links in his FAQs are working. He also says that he's not updating the site anymore.

DVC

[bbeard]

As I understand it you are allowed to make 80% of the cuts to a frame and it does not have to be registered as a firearm. no serials etc etc. Any competent gunsmith could finish the frame for you.

[Frank]

As I understand it you are allowed to make 80% of the cuts to a frame and it does not have to be registered as a firearm. no serials etc etc. Any competent gunsmith could finish the frame for you.
According to the FAQs on the site I provided a link to, you, your very own self, must finish the frame.

That makes good sense to me. If a gunsmith finishes the 80% frame (which apparently includes cutting the rails), the gunsmith is the "manufacturer" of the gun. At that point, the gunsmith, as the manufacturer, must comply with all usual formalities to transfer what is now officially a gun to your possession.

Having a gunsmith complete an 80% frame for you is very different from having a gunsmith repair or modify your gun. In the latter case. You take the gunsmith a real gun that has already been transferred to your possession in accordance with whatever formalities were applicable. In the former case, you take a gunsmith a hunk of metal; and he transforms it into a gun, which at that point becomes subject to all the government folderol associated with guns.

DVC

[Hawkmoon]

As I understand it you are allowed to make 80% of the cuts to a frame and it does not have to be registered as a firearm. no serials etc etc. Any competent gunsmith could finish the frame for you.
You have it reversed. The manufacturer can perform up to 80% of the work, and the end user must perform the remaining 20% for him/herself. This means that you have to be a skilled machinist, and have access to a commercial-grade milling machine. As Frank noted, you may not pay a gunsmith, or anyone else, to do the final machining. If your brother-in-law is a master tool and die maker, you can't even have him do it for you at no cost. YOU must perform that final 20% of the work.

However, keep in mind that you are looking only at the Federal regulations. California's laws are more strict, and California may not allow possession of a completed 80% receiver regardless of what the Feds will allow.

[Grand Pappy]

Another fine option is MOVE

[nickel]

thats the reason i live in ok

[glenjoy]

Another fine option is MOVE

Best suggestion.

[Rex B]

I'm looking at doing the same thing, but I don't have the handicap of living in California. I have a nice Ciener target slide and I want to dedicate a frame to it.

Sarco was selling some "decorator" frames for $20 until recently. Essentially 80% frames, machining required. lots of info on www.homegunsmith.com forums.
You can do the work with a $400 minimill plus about $200 worth of tooling.
I bought 2, haven't had time to work on them. there are still a few of these frames floating around.

Centerfiresystems.com has Doublestar frames for $99.95. So does Sarco, but they cannot sell them right now due to NJ legal hassles. Essex will sell a frame starting at about $110.

Another option is to just buy a cheap 1911 from centerfire for $329 or so, then sell the top-end for $150. That leaves you with a complete lower for about $180. You would be hard-pressed to buy the frame and the parts for that. That's the route I'll probably go.

You could also pick up a used Llama Max-1 for about $200 and do the same thing. You have to disable the firing pin block for it to work. Just pull the pin.