I fully understand the point of the OP. What YOU don't understand is reality. The reality is few if any gun retailers will have the hundreds of thousands of $$$$$ to invest in every model/color/option for a particular brand. It's just not financially viable. You think because SIG/Beretta/etc show a particular caliber, finish, sight or grip on their website.......that they actually manufacture that model as shown? Well, they don't. Heck, even the guns on display at SHOT are merely to gauge interest and many are never actually produced.
So? There are literally hundreds of companies that will customize any gun you want.......and not just 1911's (that's what "and a host of others await" means.
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There's your problem.....that YOU know of.
Think why that might be.
You complain about my only mentioning "All 1911s", ignoring a host of others............look at who you mention: BHP.......a gun that's been out of production for over three years.
You didn't mention Sig, or Glock..........numerous shops offer services.
Again, you can do that now. And again, you'll pay through the nose because first, manufacturers hate dozens of SKU's, distributors hate dozens of SKU's, and dealers can only stock so many. If what you want is for example the CZ factory or Beretta in Italy to make you a custom gun.............get real. They aren't going to. Never. Put yourself in their shoes.....why would they completely change their production line to offer an unlimited number of options for relatively little financial gain. The manpower and time involved is EXACTLY the reason why S&W, Colt, CZ, etc have "Custom Shops". You want something with special sauce...........PAY EXTRA.
Really? How long you been a gun dealer? How many distributors do you have access to? Tell me the wholesale cost of a Glock 17, a Benelli M4, a Sig P320. Tell us about why MAP exists.
I ask because "even before the current hysteria, guns had a hell of a lot more than 5% margin" is ignorant.