just wondering...

[c1skout]

  Is there a way to simply convert a 1911 from semi-automatic to manual operation.  Basically retain the magazine and the ability to cycle the slide by hand, but not have the gun cycle the slide when firing?

[williamlayton]

The first question that came to mind is WHY? That is your business though.
I am not sure you can and have it function as you describe.
Blessings

[Mikey]

(1).  I don't know if that is possible and (2) I don't know if that is advisable. 

You would have to block the slide from retracting under recoil and at that time you are in the 16-18,000 psi range, so you would have to find/design/build some mechanism to prevent the slide from retracting.  Doing this under 16-18,000 psi is gonna shear something off and that means parts and/or pieces of parts flying off.

If ya wanna shoot the 1911 and not have it recoil then use real soft loads, like a 230 gn slug at aboout 15 or 20'/sec or something, just barely fast enough to make it out the barrel.

If ya wanna shoot a 45 and do not want to deal with a reciprocating action, buy a revolver. 

I never ask why.   

[Lloyd Smale]

cant be done.

[dbriannelson]

Yes.  A non-linked lengthened and threaded barrel was used in the first silenced 1911s.  I don't remember all the details, but it was used as a single shot to avoid mechanical noise.  Effectively the slide was locked closed by an added mechanism, fired, unlocked and hand cycled for the next round.  I don't remember details about how the slide was locked, but the barrel to slide lugs were gone on both and the barrel itself did not move.

-Don

[SHOOTALL]

you beat me to that one ! I read about that and a welrod or weldrod pistol in the same article both were single shot sort of

[c1skout]

 Thanks for the comebacks. I couldn't think of any way it could be simply done but figured I'd ask.   As for why... We're not permitted to carry a semiautomatic when hunting in my state, but single shots and manually operated repeaters are legal. My only revolvers are 22rf and they're only legal to have with you during small game seasons.  I was thinking that if there was an easy way to convert my 1911 without permanent modifications I wouldn't need to buy a centerfire revolver.

[Mikey]

Dang!  Now that you clarified why you would want to make it a single shot there is a fix.  It is called either the Predator, or the Dominator, and it is a single shot top end for the 1911 system that replaces the 45 top end without modification to the frame.  I forget exactly what calibers it comes in but you can get it in rifle calibers.  Someone else here has to have some more information on this.  I don't know if it is made by Springfield or someone else..

[SAA]

Mikey, I think your talking about the Pachmayr Dominator made in 1988-1994, cool stuff.

[Mikey]

SAA:  Yep, that's the one.  But somewhere in the recesses of my feebled mind I had the thought that Springfield had a version, or someone else had one - current stuff.

[SHOOTALL]

desert eagle had something also