Need a suggestion for a custom 1911

[gunnutbs]

I am a cop, firearms instructor, major gun enthusiast, and also a big fan of the film "Sucker Punch" which came out last year. I really want to get a copy of the engraved, polished (nickel?) 1911 wielded by the main character, Babydoll (Emily Browning). here's a picture of the gun in a book entitled "Sucker Punch: the art of the film":

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkmgjrILLP1qjnp6ro1_500.jpg

So, does anyone have any suggestions? Here are some of my ideas:

1. buy a 1911 frame, slide, and barrel, "in the white" (no finish) and send the slide out to be engraved. then when I get the money together, send the whole gun out to be nickel plated or chromed (whichever is closer to the original)

2. try to track down whoever made the prop gun used in the film and try to get them to make me one.

3. buy a cheap 1911 and send it out to someone to strip down and work back up.

4. have someone build one from scratch.

I don't need a highly tuned super accurate shooter. I just want a cosmetically accurate copy (preferably one that shoots, although a blank shooter or even a nonfiring replica would be fine). The key here is that I am on a super low budget. I might even have to do it piece-by-piece as I can afford it.

Thoughts?

 

[OARNGESI]

Id find a used quality 1911 like springfield then find a custom shop to refinish and engrave it for me

 

[hq]

Every time I hear the word "engraving", I see a bunch of dollar bills flying in the air. Done properly it'll be what some call uncheap - certainly the most expensive part of a project like this.

The gun in the picture looks like a fairly stock 1911A1 with a beavertail, modified hammer, flat mainspring housing and extended safety, which isn't that expensive to duplicate. A blank slide would probably be the easiest to engrave because it won't require extensive machining or sanding, so I'd probably start with an in-the-white 1911 kit with all the right parts. Fitting the frame and slide isn't overly difficult if you want to do it yourself, nor is fitting the barrel either, all it requires is patience and a few dedicated hand tools. All you really need is someone to do the engraving after you've polished the parts to a perfection, and a shop to nickel plate the gun.

Of the options you mentioned, #1 will most likely be the cheapest but the most labor-intensive. #2 is definitely the most expensive way to do it. It all boils down to how much you want to spend, how much spare time you have in your hands and how badly you really want a gun like this.

 

[cactus02]

Have seen pictures of similar guns but mostly of Mexico of cartel members.