Viet Cong 1911 look a like

On my trip through the mid-west I happen to have an opportunity to examine a Viet Cong  copy of a 1911 pistol.

You can learn a great deal studying arms made with just basic tools. The first is that you can do anything with a file, chisel and hack saw. That is how this gun was made. It is crude and I am not real sure that it is safe. However, the owner did say that he has shot it with much reduced loads. This pistol has seen some rough usage, jungle life and all.

Even the magazine was hand made.

Taking a look at the pistol taken down and the first item that is noticed is that it is a blow back pistol with no lock up at all.Also some of it looks hot forged or brazed together.

You can also see some of the chisel marks.

The lower receiver is an interesting piece of work as well.

You can see that it is starting to crack. Interesting feed ramp design.

This is the lock up pin. It is what pins the barrel to the lower receiver. It also looks very battered.

The barrel to slide fit up is not great.

After studying this pistol I do not think I would want to be on either end of it when shot.