Colt Service Ace NIB - Should I?

[Phydeaux642]

I was in visiting my local pusher today and was telling the manager of the gun department that I am still waiting for them to get a S&W model 29 with a 4" barrel in the used section that I can buy. We got to talking and he said that the store had bought several guns from a guy recently that they were getting ready to put out for sale. He told me that he thought that a '70s model series 70 Colt 1911 was in the mix but he couldn't find it in the computer. I will make him look harder tomorrow.

He went on to tell me that in the group was two '70s Colt Service Ace .22s. I told him that I thought that I might be interested in one (he said that he was buying the other one) and asked what the selling price might be. He told me that he thought that it would be around $850. He said he might even be able to do a little better for me since I am a good customer (they get a lot of my paycheck).

What do you think? Good price? Buy it as a safe queen? Pass it up and wait for the next interesting thing to show up?

I have about all of the guns that I really wanted and actively sought out (almost). Now I wait for interesting things to present themselves to me.

 

[Jim Watson]

MY ACE goes to the range with me just about every time, as warmup for the centerfires.

 

[Pilot]

Buy it NOW.

 

[skipsan]

I bought an early 1980s Service Ace a couple of years ago for $1000. Nice condition, maybe 95%, no box or paperwork. I follow the auctions like GB, and around a $1K seems to be the floor price for a decent example. Sounds like your pistol might be an exceptional deal if its in nice shape.

They aren't particularly accurate--at least mine isn't, and no-one has claimed to have an accurate one that I've seen. They are also aggedly ammo sensitive with fouling of the floating chamber assembly being the problem. Extra magazines are expensive. One of the big magazine mfgrs (can't remember whether its Checkmate or Metalform) still make and sells new ones.

 

[Phydeaux642]

They aren't particularly accurate--at least mine isn't, and no-one has claimed to have an accurate one that I've seen.

So, are they fun to shoot? I like trying to be as good as the gun is, but if they are not particularly accurate then that wouldn't come into play. And, if they are going for that much money, then maybe it needs to stay unfired. They won't do anything but go up.

 

[skipsan]

If the example your considering is NIB, unfired, etc., for $850, I consider grabbing it and quickly flippling it for as much as $1500. Check out the gunbroker.com auctions to see what they're listing and selling for. The original prewar Aces, are the valuable examples. I think the Service Ace fits right in with the 70 Series Gvmts, and Gold Cups as poor mans collectables, but not really super unique or valuable. They'll appreciate, but I sure wouldn't consider them (or any other factory gun) an investment.

If your candidate has been fired, then I can't see any reason not to shoot it.
Although my Ace is not a conversion, it shoots like the .22 lr conversions I have for my Berettas and Glocks. Perfectly OK for plinking, but not a target pistol. The one issue I have, and have ignored, is that certain replacement parts appear to be hard to find--namely the ejector, extractor, and firing pin.
I'm sure they can be had for a price, but don't believe they're made any more and they appear to command real premium prices when they're listed on the auctions.

 

[420Stainless]

I had one back in the eighties and sold it to a friend who wanted it. I thought it would be a great practice companion for my .45ACP 1911. However, the lack of accuracy others have described convinced me that I was better off with dry fire practice.

It sounds like the one you've located is undervalued in the collector market, so it still might be a great acquisition. And the friend I sold mine to still has it and still loves it - so some folks do indeed think they are fun to shoot.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you want it as a collectable/investment, and it is truly new then the asking price is more then reasonable. If you want it as a shooter, think twice.

If the floating chamber in the barrel isn't kept absolutely clean and de-leaded it will stick, and thereafter it's jam-o-matic time. Getting the lead out of the barrel and off the floating chamber can drive you to strong drink!

Getting good spare magazines can also be an experience.

The accuracy may be good enough for a center-fire understudy, but not much else.

A less expensive .45-like shooter would be a Ruger or an older Hi-Standard Military model.

 

[gunnie]

a cousin had one and sold it months later due to reliability issues. i have a wilson 22lr conversion slide that wasn't worth a hoot until i changed out the main (hammer) spring with a 13lb colt .38 super gold cup unit. can only speculate as to whether this mod would have helped his OEM colt "floater".

as mentioned above the HS mil grip models come close to feeling like a 1911. esp in a 4" (+,-) bbl. but the triggers aren't even close, with the HS being WAY better. same-o for sights. if you want a shooter that is as close to identical for 1911 practice as possible, get a conversion, and a 13lb spring, i prefer in a new housing for ease of change.

if you want a collector, that is a very sweet deal.

gunnie

 

[Phydeaux642]

UPDATE:

Well, I guess I'm not such a valuable customer after all. The "around $850" price turned into $1,125 today. That is not even in the same neighborhood as "around $850". My guess is he decided not to buy the other one and decided to go ahead and raise the price. I hope it's worth losing a good customer. I really don't deal well with people when you can't trust what they tell you.

 

[TonyT]

The Colt ACE is not very accurate and the floating chamber requires frequent cleaning for relioable function. However, for $850 is would be worth it. The frame alone is woth more than $500.

 

[Phydeaux642]

But, unfortunately, as I stated in my previous post, they were not true to their word and jacked the price up nearly $300.

 

[dreamer56]

Wow - tough break - would have been nice if your shop had held to their word.

I have held something in my hand and passed on it only to see it go up in price or sell immediately when I put it down. Came in to my shop right after a Colt Ace sold for $650 last year - evidently one guy walked in and sold it and another guy who was in the shop watched the transaction and then bought it - I missed it by minutes.