There are two ways to build a handgun from a kit. The first is you buy a registered frame from where ever ( MARSTAR has NORINCO .45 1911 frames for $100) , then buy all the parts you need and assemble and fit it. From the time you buy the frame it is a registered gun, even if you never ever get around to buying the rest of the parts. I picked the 1911 because all the parts are more available than some of the other designs. The other way requires a well stocked hobby machine shop with milling machine and maybe a lathe. You buy a frame casting that is 60 % machined and using your machine shop skills you finish the frame and then buy all the pieces as before and assemble a 1911 COLT style handgun. Somewhere in the building it this way, it must also be registered, I would think right after you bought it just before You touch it with a tool. If you screw it up you can submit it for destruction. If you don't have a MILLING MACHINE but have the required skills, you may be able to do some of the work with a DREMAL TOOL or files but you have to have the skills needed. I assembled a 1911 COLT style handgun from a NORINCO FRAME, a COLT BARREL, a WW2 ITHACA SLIDE, and a mess of aftermarket parts. Because I got the barrel and slide at a very good price , my FRANKENGUN (MADE FROM LOTS OF PIECES) cost about as much as buying a NEW NORINCO 1911 from MARSTAR. Building a gun from pieces is not the most inexpensive way to go. After I posted this I thought there are also BLACK POWDER PISTOL and REVOLVER kits available that require fitting and finishing, they come in a box all registered but roughly finished with wood that needs to be sanded ,fitted and stained , same for the metal parts ,fitted ,polished, blued or browned, and assembled.
