Alan:
Forgot about that
. Might be a valid option. You'll see a lot of "how do I get rid of" questions on the boards, too....
Or, you can do what I did.... The 9mm Compact, for example, has the same grip as the .357 or .40, and the 9mm Full Size has the same grip as the .357 or .40. You can put a slide & barrel from one on the other. Just don't forget to use the right magazine
.... (The .45's and the Pro and "L" series, I'm not sure about.)
In my case, I had a 40C and picked up a 9C with a thumb safety. I carry the 40C, and wanted the thumb safety (1911 guy - didn't want to break training), so I put the 9C grip under the 40C slide & barrel. Swapped magazines, and off it went. Works fine.... Meantime, the 9mm slide & barrel on top of the 40C grip is fine, too.
Expensive solution
, but if you're buying in this way, it's sort of convenient.
Wasn't "The Plan" initially. The 9C was a "don't care" situation - I probably would have removed the thumb safety. I bought that for my daughter, who subsequently couldn't take it, and the one with the thumb safety was all my gun pusher could find at the time. She didn't care.... Then, when I got "stuck" with the thing, the light went on over my head....
Which leads to "you might be able to swap just a frame" if you run into somebody who just wants the other version. 30 second conversion
....
I would make up a bill of sale, though - the frame portion has the serial number, and technically is the firearm. I don't know how ATF would react. In my case, I still own both guns, and there seems to be no rule as to how I put 'em together, it shouldn't matter - at least until I sell one, if I do....
Regards,