Legality of Building a 1911?

[NeverAgain26]

I am asking out of curiousity as I have no plans to do this (really). I have as many guns as I need/want now and for me it is fairly simple to apply for permits for any additional guns I might need/want. In any case, I do not feel comfortable building a 1911 due to lack of experience, tools and time constraints.

Say a person buys parts to build a 1911 and builds one. That same person (in a lot of states) can't just go buy an assembled gun without applying for permits, etc beforehand.

So what's to stop a person from buying the parts and building a gun that is not registered? I am assuming that the parts are not restricted for purchade by permit or licensing procedures. Am I wrong? Is a frame, for example not purchasable without a permit?

I am assuming that once a person builds this gun, in order for it to be legal (again, in most states) it somehow has to be registered. Otherwise, it might be considered illegal and confiscated if caught, right?

Has anyone who had built a 1911 come up against this issue?

NA26

 

[cordex]

So what's to stop a person from buying the parts and building a gun that is not registered? I am assuming that the parts are not restricted for purchade by permit or licensing procedures. Am I wrong? Is a frame, for example not purchasable without a permit?

On a 1911, the bit that is actually considered the firearm is the frame. That's where the serial number is, and that's what is regulated. Even if you don't have any parts installed on it, it is technically a "firearm" (for the purposes of transfer and possession, anyway). This part and this part alone must be treated as any other handgun.
The slide, internal parts, barrel, etc can all be bought seperately by anyone, but the frame must be purchased in accordance with state and federal law.

 

[spacemanspiff]

you're talking about basically, buying the parts and putting the pieces together? the reciever is the only part that really is in question. you can buy a colt 1911a1 and use that reciever with whatever parts you choose.

 

[robear]

This guy does it in his home workshop... http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/

Really neat site..

He explains all of the legalities of building your own weapons..
I think the 'what is an 80% frame?' should answer your question: http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/shopNotes.htm#80% frame

Give it a look...

Here's another site: http://www.blindhogg.com/
(Take a look at blindhogg's 'snake skin' frontstrap checkering.. REALLY neat!!)


I hope this helps...

-R

edited to add pic.

 

[NeverAgain26]

Thanks for all your replies. Interesting on the 80% frame thing, however I suspect the legality of building one's own gun as a firearms manufacturer. I would not want to be the test case if the gun were ever discovered.

Thanks again.

NA26

 

[bogie]

Pay attention:

You can build any darn thing you want, as long as it isn't full auto or is a 11+ round magazine, or is otherwise covered by the GCA 1934, and the crap from 1986, 1994, whatever.

You don't even have to put a serial number on it if you don't sell it.

I saw a while back where a fellow made an AR receiver out of aluminum (or was it steel?) plates...

Very cool.

 

[cordex]

Bogie,
Agreed, but you can't go out and buy a ready-made 1911 frame and build a gun on it if you "can't just go buy an assembled gun".

If you've got a milling machine and a lot of time, you can have a lot of fun, though.

I saw that website a while back ... great concept, I thought.