pick list
I guess I'm late to the party considering all the great ideas, but here's my punch list
I love H&K so that is my first clue
I do NOT like a grip that has finger rolls. They are NOT one size fits all. They never fit my hand. I prefer the old USP 45 over the hk45 grip for that reason If you like finger rolls, there are lots of after market grips. Work with after-market manufacturers and get them on board to make add-ons for your pistol.
I do like interchangeable back strap for different size hands.
Standard sites = no horn, no snag, easy draw from holster basic. Make night sites and adjustable sites optional and available. Again work with vendors for add-ons.
Barrel - accurate of course, either something like the HK polygonal or 5 grove. Great crown.
Trigger - SHORT crisp, clean DA/SA with decock. Second option DA only. both available at time of first release.
Should run on any ammo. I hate finicky.
Recoil reduction is really nice.
ambidextrous features make great features. or at least make really simple changeable parts that anyone with really basic skills and no special tools can do.
Don't be afraid to make a GREAT gun and make it a little on the high side price wise. You can always discount later. But I believe people will pay for quality. At least I will. Go quality. Beat the Glock/Sig/H&K German engineers at their game. There are already "pretty good, cheap" 9's out there. Don't really see a big market for another pretty good one. and hard to beat them at the cheap end unless you are better than masters of production and have an amazing array of advertizing and marketing ideas to get up to the volume needed. Start small, win small, grow steady, never never never never never forget quality.
Sponsor a 1,000 round challenge and a 5,000 round challenge. Your gun against any and all challengers. Who can go the longest before a failure? Fewest failures? (Yes I am available to help shoot : )
Great quality control
Great customer service
The last two cost money and win loyal, paying customers.
Again, start now on cultivating relationships with the best names in aftermarket vendors to support your product. Ruger 22's, Remington rifles, S&W revolvers all have great followings, and they continue to grow, partly because you can get so many customizable widgets and thingies and do-dads for them. You mention you will use existing mags, make sure ALL the manufactures and sales outlets add your name to the compatibility lists on their web sites and literature. Grips, holsters, sites, lights, mags, and more and of course dealers.
Especially holsters, we never seem to think about it untill we have one and can't find a single blinkin one when we do a search at the holster makers web page. There should be at least a dozen great holster options for casual range, competition, carry , duty, kydex, leather, 50 options in all , or more, on opening day. Give the manufactures each 2 of them free so they can have molded fitted models ready, in stock, listed on their web site on your release date. Give a rebate coupon for holsters and point to the holster makers on your web site.
and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE not another 1911, that was over 100 years ago and (in my never to be humble opinion) the market is saturated. Got to be something better.
Tenacious persistence will produce a better product that making a deadline. Deadlines are good, but don't die on that hill.
P.S. Of course, since I'm in CA it would have to have 10 round mags, mag disconnect, chamber indicator, and microstamping and all the CA "stuff" for a CA model. Make the original so that it can also be fitted with all the CA features without having to turn it into a pretzel or completely redesigning it.
P.P.S. and make it with only 8 parts that never break, never wear out, and all clean themselves. is that to much to ask?
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