Retro 9mm 1911 concept

So, goofing off on a friday night. The rendering is my idea of a cool super-modified retro 9mm based on the 1911 platform. No grip safety, no manual safety, no external slide lock. The slide relieved at the back (a la Detonics) to make it easier to thumb-cock, decent but low-profile sights, low-profile slide (about .15" shorter than a 1911 slide.)
Among other things this would require a completely custom slide and linkage, an extensively customized frame, custom barrel, Custom bushing, rounded butt. Not something I can see myself tackling anytime soon; there's a lot of learning-curve and tooling between me and something like this. Still, it is something that I'd like to do someday.
Do you really have to ask? Because it would be neat-o, of course.

A modernized take on the M1902 was very much the direction that I was going with this. It will definitely be a one-off since I am not a licensed manufacturer, and imagine putting a gun on the market in this day and age where the only safeties exist between the ears of the user... yeah, don't think so. Between now and then I have to run 220v to the shop to get the lathe and mill running, buy tools and fixtures and hone my machining skills so this one is going to take a while.

Just for fun here's the other side:

SHOOT1SAM said:

Why no safety?

Sam

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Since this is as much a functional art project as a practical gun I'd have to say esthetics, mostly. Gives the gun a slicker, more elegant retro-look. It's also to make the point that the only true safety exists between the user's ears.

tipoc said:

Do it in the original caliber, 38 acp (aka 38 Super). A bit more interesting then.

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I considered that, and it would be more interesting... but I could afford to shoot it a lot more in 9mm.

TRX said:

Weld on a dust cover extension, do the bobtail conversion, use one of the blank 6" slides and cut the forward serrations, and you'd have the major parts.

As custom 1911s go, not all that complex.

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The problem will come in with the slide- it's about .15" shorter top-to-bottom the a normal slide- some re-engineering and machining to be done there! I've considered starting with an 80% lower- more machining, less welding...