At least three companies in the past have made true mirror-image left-hand 1911 pistols.
Randall made several variations which were built to military airplane specifications. They sold for much more than normal 1911 pistols at that time. There were about 200 total made. I have several of them. One of the main issues is that the magazines were left-handed and no aftermarket magazines will work or can be modified to work.
Olympic Arms (aka Safari Arms) made some left-hand 1911s of which I also have some.
Rumors persist that another company, and perhaps two or three others, made left-hand 1911s.
As far as the small percentage of total shooters that are left-handed being the reason for no production, don't buy that story for a moment. In long guns, at least Anschutz, Benelli, Blaser, Browning, Charles Daly, Cooper, CZ, Dakota, Granite Mountain Arms, Kimber of Oregon, Mauser, Montana, Remington, Ruger, Sako, Sauer, Savage, Stag, Tikka, Ultra Light Arms, Weatherby, and Winchester have made left-hand rifles and/or shotguns.
There are many right-handed 1911 variations which have been made which never were targeted for markets that came close to the same size as the left-hand 1911 market. Look at the current catalogs of Colt, Kimber, Springfield, etc and tell me that all their current guns have large mass markets as large as 10% of the population of gun buyers.
If one of the majors -- i.e., Colt, Kimber, or Springfield -- were to offer and market a standard 5-inch Gov't model 1911 in 45 ACP they would do OK. So far, the left-hand 1911 market has been tackled by fringe manufacturers.
As far as modifying right-hand 1911 pistols for left-hand use, think I've spent as much as anyone in that pursuit. None of the ambi-safeties are as good as a true left-hand safety. And having hot fired cases ejected into your shirt or in your face is no fun.
We're not asking for twenty different manufacturers to make a left-hand 1911 like they do in long guns. We'd be happy with one left-hand 1911 in current mass production at comparable prices to right-hand 1911s.
Just my passing random thoughts on the subject...
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