1911 (13)

The day we finished the plans for the first live-fire prototype, we gathered around a table for a modest celebration. Keller asked if we really had to, but I insisted that parties like this helped bring everyone closer and gently pushed ahead with it.

Of course, somehow, it ended up being a meeting disguised as a party.

The first live-fire prototype wasn’t a finished model that could be used right away.

We made the barrel and magazine to fit an existing small-caliber pistol cartridge.

The existing pistol cartridge was weaker than the 9 mm ammunition we were aiming for, and its bullet and case differed in size and length. So this prototype couldn’t prove the recoil or service life of the final pistol.

So, at our meeting disguised as a party, we decided what we needed to verify with the first prototype. We had to check whether the barrel and slide recoiled together under actual firing pressure, and whether the lock stayed closed while the cartridge case was still under high pressure. Once unlocked, the slide had to travel far enough to extract and eject the empty case. Above all, the pistol had to remain in one piece after the first shot.

“So, if it fires one shot without blowing up and ejects the case, that counts as a success, right?”

Keller nodded with a mouthful of dessert.

“That’s enough to pass the first test.”

The goal seemed far too modest...