Building a GSG 22 companion to a 1911, 45 ACP

[Rapier]

I started this project as a build for a Spl Ops guy to create an open carry 1911 45 pistol out of his 1950s 2400 bullseye conversion, big old style Bomar cut and all. This got pretty much done, feeds empties etc., and then near the end he asked if I could take a GSG, which I had never seen before, and turn it into a companion. By companion I mean, accurate, extended slide release, extended ambi safety, flat main spring housing, mag well, checkered front strap with adjustable sights, etc. So after being told that 90% of the parts were supposed to match up with a 1911, I said OK, I will give it a try.

This is what it looks like finished, after polishing down the pin on the slide release to .090 so it would fit and function, replacing the aluminum safety, replacing the guide rod and bushing, rear and front sight with STI sights, replacing the main spring housing with a S & A, replacing the sear, changing it to a series 70 from an 80 (removing 5 parts), inserting a .060 spacer, replacing the firing pin with a hand made strong pin and setting the trigger to stop its wobble in the slot. Of course one of the things that did not fit were the dovetail slots which I had to recut by hand to fit the Novak bases of the STI sights.

The bright spot on the 1911 (top gun) is just a light reflection. He liked the original GI trigger and its pull length. The 1911 has a 3.75 pound trigger and the GSG has a 4 pound trigger. The original GSG firing pin shattered at the thin legs while dry firing it on an empty case, it was so hard it had crystals in the metal.
Ed