Man... now I'm all torn up...
long rant... sorry
I really want a 1911... because...
1. it's an American icon
2. my first handgun was a 1911 (a used Auto Ordinance "stove pipe special"), and now after having had experience with several others pistols and revolvers, I think I appreciate more what the 1911 has to offer
3. sentimental value, as I qualified Expert Pistol with and carried one (though be it infrequently) while active duty.
I really want a .45 acp... because
1. it's just a classic American cartridge
2. it's the cartridge the 1911 was "made" for
3. it's "big and bad"
I've been sooooo close to pulling the trigger on a Dan Wesson CBOB in 45 twice in the last year.... Now the prices have gone up $300 (from $900 to $1,200) and that's IF you can find one, as they're only being sold in CA starting this year...
To tell you the truth.... with all the Cr@p CZ USA is pulling (discontinuing the CBOB and PM7, sucking up to CA and jacking prices ~30%)... I'm inclined to vote with my feet.
I've looked into Fusions.... and they look great! But will run $1,300 at the very bottom end... and $1,500 for my preference.... that's just beyond my means (3 young kids eating me out of house and home
, not to mention making payroll for the tooth fairy
).
But then again... I have as much fun reloading for my guns and tinkering with them (basement gunsmith here) as I do shooting them (just as an example, building a CNC milling machine is another project of mine). I'd just as soon have fewer guns and become somewhat of a subject matter expert on each carefully selected platform as have a safe full of guns that I don't shoot often or know much about. And the more I study the 1911, I realize that it is the KING of tinker handguns. So the more I think about it, I would really like to do my own custom build.... starting with a NIB series 80 NRM Colt Commander (M1991) (can have right now for $740).
So just to muddy the waters, some of my earlier searching has paid off and a dealer I've been keeping in contact with e-mailed me today to let me know he's just received what will probably be his last shipment of Dan Wessons, before their new changes are fully implemented. He's got a PM7 in .45 for $975 and a CBOB in 10mm for $1,100.
These are fine pitsols .... much better than I could hope to build myself ... and the pride of having "stewardship" of a real piece of quality craftsmanship would be high. But I wouldn't dare tinker with it.... and my wife will skin me alive if I drop that kind of money on a handgun, only to turn around in 6 months and want to fund a project gun.
I'm so confused
Usually when I get this way, my automatic response is to stand fast and do more study....
But the DW models that are within my means are all going away very, very soon.
All right .... pitty party over
... many guys would love to have such a dilema I'm sure...
any comments/advise appreciated