Aaberdeen 1911 alloy frame questions...

[ApacheCoTodd]

So in poking and prodding through stuff today, I found an old Aaberdeen Armory 80% 1911 frame.

I can't remember where I bought it - or when, nor can I imagine what my intentions were in purchasing it.

Best guess is I bought it at one of those evil gun shows that have alcohol and my purchasing judgement was impaired by bloody marys, maries, whatever.

If the Aaberdeen marking wasn't so well applied, I'd have even less info.

What's the story on these? Were they any good for projects.

I don't know that I really have the time to spend on it but now that it's back in the light of day - who knows?

 

[Jim K]

They came about when BATFE ruled that a "thing" even though shaped like a pistol frame was not a pistol frame unless it was over 80% complete. The manufcturers claimed they were made to allow handgun builders and hobbyists to machine a frame to closer specs for greater accuracy, etc.

In fact, they were intended for sale to, and purchased by, the paranoid guys who wanted to make a pistol that had no serial number and was not on any dealer's books.

There were two reasons why the whole thing was silly. The first was that about 100% of the people who bought those frames also owned other guns that were on the books, so the whole idea of hiding one gun from the feds was meaningless. The second was that very few buyers had the means of actually finishing the frames and after three file strokes, they tossed the "thing" in the junk box.

I suggest either unloading the "thing" on a "prepper" or tossing it back in the "stuff".

Jim

 

[Skylerbone]

Now would be the perfect time to get your money out of it. There are still 80 frames being sold, some with the promise of build parties where someone, presumably with a mini mill (or drill press) helps a group of buyers finish off their custom 1911. Hear guys excited about such events but rarely any follow up reports of results. Never heard of your particular brand.

 

[Diamondback6]

Check out the forum at HomeGunsmith.com--a whole community of builders, and actually 80% isn't necessarily the cutoff, as there's a 95% AR PCR that's been ruled a "Non-Firearm" by ATF. The rule is "At least one major manufacturing operation not yet performed" IIRC.