Paid $300 for mine in fall of '91. It was my first 1911 and I've used it as a base gun. I like mine quite a lot, though it no longer resembles the gun I bought after beavertail, new sights, etc. Replaced barrel a few months ago. It's a solid gun and a good shooter. You have to decide how it stacks up against, say, a Springfield Mil-Spec.