Best 1911 for around $1,000?

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LoadAmmo

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Hey folks.

Could you be so kind as to point me in the right direction for a collectable and shootable (and also concealable if need be) non-mass production 1911?

My price range is around $1000, give or take.

Thanks!
 
I'm not sure what you mean about "non-mass production"? I doubt you will find any high-end custom made 1911 in the $1,000 range. Prices will probably start about double that.

I plan to get a 1911 in the $1,000 price range, eventually. Right now I am leaning towards either a Colt, a Smith, or a Sig, though I'm not crazy about the looks of the Sig slide. Right now I'm leaning towards Smith, but when the time comes I will consider a nice Colt if I find one.
 
Smiths are good choices right now if you're OK with external extractors. A Kimber CDP can be found in verious formats for about $900-$1000 on Gunbroker too - very well thought out carry piece with some work from Kimber's Custom shop but still a "mass-produced" pistol. I am thinking an Ultra CDP may be in my future for that "smaller 1911" slot I've been holding open for a while.

Another possibly off the wall choice which may blend your rather tricky criteria pretty well is a Dan Wesson Patriot - either C-BOB or like mine the now discontinued CCO (Officer grip). They are well made, nicely finished, and use match grade components. A CCO with night sights like mine is a great carry weapon in that the concealibility of 1911s is determined often more by grip than by the barrel or frame. It offers dehorned edges too, and is very accurate.

I can't offer an unqualified recommendation because mine hase had some troubling FTE problems, but I understand from other DW owners that this is not normal.

May be tricky to find one but could end up being what you want - a non-mass produced, concealable, very shootable 1911 which may have some collectability in the future (hard to say really - DW does not have high-level cachet but produce excellent weapons for the most part).

FWIW I paid $700 or so.
 
Thanks for the replies and the recommendations folks...

It seems that a "custom" 1911 will start around $1500 from what I've read so far. My $1000 was an incorrect figure.

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In regards to the Springfield Armory, I'm not too familiar with those pistols, are they made in the USA?

In regards to Colt 1911, I heard they were going to produce them again, but colt.com lists nothing.
 
SAs come from Brazil.

Colt still makes civilian pistols, just doesn't list them on their standard website. For $950 you can get a nice Gold Cup if you shop around, and certainly any of the "normal" Colt models under $1000. I have no personal experience with Colts either, but have not jheard a whole lot of complaints and many compliments, about their current 1911s.
 
In regards to Colt 1911, I heard they were going to produce them again, but colt.com lists nothing.
Click to expand...

try here:
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/home.asp

Colt has separate division for "defense" and "civilians". God knows how many buys they have lost by not making their 1911s easy to find on the internet.

It isn't collectable, but for under 1,000 and concealable I'd look at the Dan Wesson C-Bob, which you can find through the CZ usa website.
 
How about some of the older 1911 that have collectors appeal such as the Systema's or perhaps a Remington-Rand.

If you want new, can't go wrong with the S-A if you want an IE and a Smith if you want an EE.
 
Did you consider buying used? I buy most of my guns used, and unless you are trying to get a collectable that you'll never shoot, I'd say its your best bet. I got a used springfield GI dirt cheap and love it. For a grand, you could get a hell of a package on a used custom 1911.
 
Forget the used 1911, and forget resale value. You don't want to ever part with your 1911 anyway. Buy a Springfield Mil Spec or GI, or even a Colt NRM, if you can find one, and a pile of good 7rd mags. Give it a name, and shoot it for a while. You know - bond with it; get to know it's merits and shortcomings (I guess there may be some for some people:confused: ). By the time you have 1000 rounds through it, you'll probably have a pretty clear idea of how you'd like this gun to be; an idea as to what it would take to make it as near perfect, for you, as possible. After some research, you collect some high grade small parts, and some fine custom grips, and you select a reputable 1911 custom shop for the custom rebuild. When you realize you are about to part with your 1911 for a few months, you go and buy another 1911 to cover you while the first one is away. Thus, it begins again.:evil:
 
Best 1911?

LoadAmmo- to answer your question considering the insight you've already gained here, semi-custom 1911's (Baer, Wilson, Brown, RRA, Nighthawk) do indeed start around $1500. However, I have seen Les Baer's (my personal favorite) low end models for around $1350. As a previous poster stated, Dan Wesson (now owned by CZ) builds a really nice 1911 for around $1000 list (around $850 street price). The Wessons are tightly fitted and use quality small parts (mostly Ed Brown). I have just ordered two DW 10mm models and am looking forward to adding them to the Colts, and Les Baer that I already have. Good luck with your choice and welcome to the 1911 club! :)
 
Please explain to me, just exactly what it is you guys find to be wrong with used 1911's? They work fine, cost far less, and the only defect is possibly a worn finish, which you would have done anyway by shooting it. Unless somebody really shot it, and I mean tens of thousands of rounds or more, accuracy won't be effected either. So again, why not save some money and buy used?
 
Mt theory is take 1500 bucks to the gun shop, get a used Les Baer 1911 or something similar, and you'll still have money left over for ammo, accesories, perhaps even a used shotgun, or simply money to put in the bank. In my experience, NIB guns are a useless and unnessesary luxury item, except of course for collectables purchased as an investment.
 
I just bought the Springfield Armory Black Stainless Govt. size for under $900 and the Smith & Wesson 1911PD Commander size with crimson trace laser grips for under $1,000. Both seem to be very nice guns. Smith is smaller, lighter with alloy frame, and quite accurate even without the laser assist.
 
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