Anyone see this stamped version of the 1911 from 1947? Sheet metal (and aluminum) riveted together. I bet the trigger pull was not much better than the Liberty pistol (actually I thought this came from the same project, but to make a semi auto version like the Liberty)
It almost looks like a bad toy water gun copy, or even a Lego version that was blown up to life size scale! I'm wondering how well they worked... it may be that we were already set up to chip the 1911 out of steel, and retooling to stamp would not have been worth it, especially if the stamped version was not as reliable or ergonomic. It shows that it can be done though... just like an AR lower can be made from wood or plastic, and barrels and bolts can be cast from aluminum to zinc.
It was far from better that the steel models. the stamped one I think was considered for air crews and survival kits. It was intended to be an updated version of the Liberty pistol and air dropped into an area and used to "obtain a better weapon" who knows how many the CIA had built, but I don't think it was many. it's actually a great idea for a mass produced pistol that could have been made in the thousands each day, so they could have armed a CD force rather quickly, and/or produced a rifle version for the US citizens in case of invasion. in this administration I'm sure the plan is simple.
The pistol shown below, is an effort to create a cheap (and easy to make) 1911 from sheet metal. These pistols have been used in the Vietnam war. (as you can see it's in no shape to be fired anymore)
This is probably a very poor copy of the 1911 made by Viet Cong tunnel smiths. The work is very crude in some places and the seams coming apart look brazed rather than welded. I'm sure something similar can be done if the right mechanics are employed. Sometimes, rather than emulate a piece down to the minute details, its better to simplify in order to ensure structural integrity.
I have been tossing around the idea of a pistol build similar to the stamped one, but not as flimsy, for a while, but I have so many other projects going on that I want and need to finish up before I tackle a new one.
I was trying to design something along this line that doesn't deviate from the 1911 specifications. In the end, its just easier to design a new pistol that's stamped, rather than reworking the design of a previous one.
But... screw that! I want to build a 1911 from sheet-metal, and by God I'll do it... and hopefully not injure myself.
Honestly though, laminating the steel by hammer-forging or spot-welding sheets, or even steel-foil, would give it much better strength than solid metal stock. I wonder if layers of bonded Aluminium-Oxide sheets would work well, or maybe they might be too brittle?