Actually it was developed for the Browning Hi Power originally. Since there was no tradtional DA Hi Power marketed in the US (the US made fiasco Browning BDM came on board in the early 90's and failed), during the Wundernine craze of the 1980's and 90's this was developed to provide a viable alternative to LE who were switching to traditional DA/SA metal high capacity 9mm's in droves and was an attempt to make the Hi Power competitive and marketable to that sector. You have to remember in many sectors for decades the only way that an SA auto could be carried in the minds of many was condition 3 (now known as Israeli style) Condition 1 still makes some people nervous especially police administrators. C&S were the people that got the rights or the authorization to do this modification (that part the sands of time of eroded some of the old brain cells, sorry).
I see that the C&S people have modified it for the 1911. Rather than totally trash the concept I would point out that there are many smaller law enforcement agencies where LEOs have to purchase their own guns and have a wide latitude in what they can carry, however there is still a very strong prejudice against the 1911 in Condition 1 in a lot of departments. This modification could provide a LEO who likes the M1911 but who works with a hammer down or hammerless dept a viable option, and could allow a 1911 be carried as a duty weapon.
DAEWOO had a similar set up on their DA/SA pistol as I recall in that instead of using the decocking lever, you could push the hammer down, and by releasing the safety, the gun would go into SA mode rather than the long first shot of traditional DA, gun looked a lot like an S&W 59/459 (I'm shooting from the hip here but that is how I remember it, I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong).
