1911 caliber change?

[Mity2]

I have been thinking of what to get for my fiance for Xmass, and I think I may just have perfect idea.

You see, CZ DanWesson I have fits her smallish hand almost perfectly(other then she will need shorter trigger for proper trigger finger placement).
But she does not want to shoot it because its chambered in .45.

we looked at Springfield's EMP9mm 1911, and she like that alot.
But I can't squeeze $1100+ at this time.

So this is what I'm thinking.

Buy a commander size 1911 in any manufacture(I found slightly used Armscor 1911 commander for $425).
Do what ever to change caliber from 45 to 9mm(barrel, ejector. whatelse?)
get itcoated in silver(since she likes silver guns like I).
Get a grip with her initial on it
And give it to her in morning of X mass, she's happy, then I get lucky hopefuly.

What you guys think? is it reasonable idea?

[Lycanthrope]

I'm pretty sure the .45 breechface is too large to work with 9mm. You'd have to fit a new barrel and slide. At that point, you could easily have an STI Trojan in 9mm ($920ish).

Lycanorloadpowderpuff.45'sthrope

[00leland00]

What about the Spartan? Isn't that STI's entry level gun, or do they not make that model in 9mm?

[TonyF]

I have been thinking of what to get for my fiance for Xmass, and I think I may just have perfect idea.

So this is what I'm thinking.

Buy a commander size 1911 in any manufacture(I found slightly used Armscor 1911 commander for $425).

Do what ever to change caliber from 45 to 9mm(barrel, ejector. what else?)
get it coated in silver(since she likes silver guns like I).

What you guys think? is it reasonable idea?

I'm pretty sure the .45 breechface is too large to work with 9mm.

It is. You can't convert a .45 ACP to a 9mm.

[Lycanthrope]

What about the Spartan? Isn't that STI's entry level gun, or do they not make that model in 9mm?

.45 only to my knowledge. Taurus keeps flirting with bringing out a 9mm 1911....

Lycanwishestheywouldthrope

[Hozen]

You might look at some other options if money is a concern. If you can't afford a 9mm 1911, why not look at the other guns out there? Does it HAVE to be a 1911? You might try what I did with my wife and take her to the gun store and "try on" a number of guns to see what fits and what she likes and go from there. My wife also liked the EMP and we also didn't want to spend 1100 (Personally, I think the EMP is over priced... My S&W was only 800 and it's a whole lot more gun). We ended up with a Walther PPK/S. She also liked the Ruger SR9. Seriously, you'd be ahead of the game to find a gun designed for the caliber you're looking to use. You'll spend less money and probably have fewer problems. Hope this helps.

[Mity2]

Okay didn't think about breechface.
so other then frame, I would at least need:

New slide(along with extractor), new barrel(and link, bushing), new ejector, prolly new recoil spring.

and all the other small things that goes along with it

[knight0334]

Okay didn't think about breechface.
so other then frame, I would at least need:

New slide(along with extractor), new barrel(and link, bushing), new ejector, prolly new recoil spring.

and all the other small things that goes along with it

Yep, pretty much a new gun.

The only things you could reuse are the cheap items: trigger, sear(&sear spring), disconnect, hammer, mainspring(&housing), hammer strut, etc...

There are some 9mm 1911's out there. Armscor made a single and double stack version. They were imported under "Armscor Sports", Charles Daly, Rock Island and a few other names over the years. The Armscor version sold for $350 for the double stack 18 or 19+1 just last year - new.

[Lycanthrope]

I'd look for a used Para in 9mm if I was on a budget........

Lycananotheroptionthrope

[Mity2]

I'd look for a used Para in 9mm if I was on a budget........

Lycananotheroptionthrope

I did look in to that. Only thing I don't care about is that they are aluminum framed weapon to make it light. And they are sort of hard to come by(as with any 9mm 1911). But I'll certainly keep my eyes open for them.

what I want is steel framed(SS perfered) commander size. 5" gov. model is too heavy for her(I tried. she can't hold gun up). But if it gets too light, she don't like it because it kicks more. She won't carry this weapon(strictly range/home defence), so not being light is no big deal.
So I thought commander in Steel frame would be about best compromise between weight/size for her - Heavy enough to make the recoil mild, yet light enough for her to hold the weapon.

I've found a kit - It comes with frame/slide/barrel/link/slide release already fitted. there are two choices of kits - reguler commander frame or Bobtail. Reguler framed commander kit with 30LPI front strap checkering is $739, and same in bobtail kit would be $695 + $159 to machine, blend and add bobtail, this does include the bobtail.
All I need is finish it up.

I'll have to get:
Trigger group(trigger, hammer, hammer strut, sear, disconnecter, mainspring and sear spring, and all other small pin and stuff)
MSH
safety
Grip safety(frame is machined for a .25 radius to accept a high-ride beavertail grip safety)
grip
guid rod
sight(Slide is michined for either Novak rear sight cut for the standard .495 x 65 deg cut and .331 x 65 x .070 front dovetail or Standard Bomar sight cut for the BMCS-2 Bomar rear sight and .331 x 65 x .070 front dovetail cut)

And fit all above in to frame(thats the part I get to do)

In the end, I would imagine this would end up being much more then EMP would go for, but I can't say "I built this for her" with EMP.

I'm really considering this option....