old 1911 - first gun - should sell ?

[bender]

My first gun is an old 1911 (original style - not the A1). I think the Ser# puts it as made in 1921. I was flipping thru a Modern Gun Values book the other day, and I see that gun is worth about 4 times what I paid for it.

It's my favorite (first gun you know), which I still love to shoot. However, I'm tempted to sell it to buy an XD-45. Maybe I'd still have some $ left over... to put down on a AR 180 B ... ? Just thinkin' here... I can't really afford any new guns without letting something go I already have.

One thing I don't like to do is get rid of a "not in the system" gun, and replace it with an "in the system" gun...

 

[Essex County]

Please listed to me. DON'T..........Essex

 

[03Shadowbob]

not just NO but HELL NO!

 

[warmrain]

I did that. I regretted it almost immediately. So much could I NOT live with the decision that a year later I purchased one just like what I sold for almost 3x what I sold mine for (they had gone up in value so much in that time).

Don't.

 

[TxPhantom]

IMO It Depends?????

It's hard to tell by your post whether you are a young dude (bought it used, 5 years ago) or a geezer like me (bought it way back when). If you are a geezer go ahead & sell before your heirs do and get what makes you happy right now. But if you are a young dude, keep it and save up to get what you want. You got plenty of time (hopefully).
Either way, I can see that it would be hard to let loose of it.

 

[exar]

DON'T DO IT!!! My first gun that I purchased and picked out(not involving relatives) by myself when I was 16 was a SIG P229. It is gone now. I think about her everyday when I open the safe and see a lonely box of SIG .357 not being used.

 

[psyopspec]

I let go of my first gun, a 1911, and never looked back. However, mine was a Springer GI. Modern, easy to come by, cheap, not historically significant.

You've got a 1921-made 1911 and think you might be able to get the value of an XD out of it? I know the money might be tempting, but that's a piece of history you've got in your possession. I'd caution you not to, as you might regret it. Even if you enjoy the heck out of an XD .45 when you get your hands on one (now or later), it still won't have the soul of your first gun.

 

[bender]

I'm in between a young dude and an old geezer, I guess... 46 (closer to old geezer)

bought the gun (I think) around '85 or '86

Only thing is, I can't really tell the value. Its nice looking, however there's pretty much no blueing left. I have the orig. grips (but not on the gun currently), 2 mags, and also a gov. manual dated 1918 on the gun.

edit: I forgot to mention... its a civilian model (C#######).

 

[Texas Colt]

I would say Don't Do It!!!

I still have my first Colt 1911, an early S80 that I bought new. I have several 1911's now, but that first gun is the most special one of all. I recently showed it to my oldest son and told him it would be his someday. He was thrilled and he promised to care for it as much as I have.

 

[bender]

ha ha, yeah my son is always bugging me to open my safe and drag out the guns. He's drooling over my air guns right now, a Webley pellet pistol, and a RWS pellet rifle. The pistol's cocking force has got to be around 40 pounds - he can't even cock it, without alot of trouble.

He wants a real gun too, in his words..."when I get older".

 

[Black Majik]

Absolutely not! Keep that gem of a 1911.

 

[ugaarguy]

Keep that 1911. Do a search for posts by member 1911Tuner. Even with no bluing left that original 1911 is far better than any new pistol you can buy today. If you want an XD save up and buy one, don't sell American history to get some extra cash and finance a mass produced Croatian pistol (even though its a very good Croatian pistol).

 

[bender]

ok, I'll keep it. For what its worth, I've regretted selling almost EVERY gun I've ever sold. I should learn my lesson by now.

too bad I'm broke. :banghead:

 

[cvb]

being broke

you sound broke for the right reasons. And fiscal responsibility is a noble idea. If youre still struggling and this gun has become a burden for you, let it
go to someone who will appreciate it and shoot it, not treat it as a trophy. Also it will be a regretful decision if you let it go for the XD or AR 180. for college education/ medical issues maybe...not an XD/ AR180.

 

[Majic]

You have a valuable 80+ year old pistol that you won't see very many of and love shooting that you want to sell to get a run of the mill pistol found everywhere? If nothing else since you love shooting it why get rid of it?

 

[bender]

yeah, I'm broke, but I mean... I pay all my bills, I just don't have anything left over for "fun" hobbies...

 

[chris in va]

Aaaaaah! No! A vintage 1911 for a plastic XD?

Go into your bathroom, look at yourself in the mirror and smack yourself upside the head...because everyone else in here wants to do it for ya.

Seriously, it's a nice gun. You'll regret it. Some things you just don't sell unless you are eating ramen every day.

 

[MARINEUS]

Everybody wants what you got what does that tell you? If I were you and was a ONE gun man I'd get this 26 Commercial appriased by someone who knows Colts. Yours is the second year that Colt made the 1911A1, if it is an all orginal gun and is in good condition you gun is worth a few bucks. Yea, for a shooter you could move up and perhaps that what you should do. Good luck.

 

[PX15]

No. :banghead:



You can NEVER replace your first anything once it's gone...

(Just think about High School...)


JP

 

[Dr.Rob]

I wouldn't sell it.

But if I had to I'd track down someone who would pay what it's worth.

 

[10-Ring]

Don't do it!

 

[DougW]

Good descision not to sell. I still have my 1st pistol, a Ruger blued 4" Security Six from 1976. It stays loaded even today as a HD pistol, with a couple of snake shot .38's for snake charming. I would never sell it. I sold my first rifle, a Ruger 10/22 when times were tough about 10 years ago, and I regretted it. I bought a new one 4 years ago and have hardly shot it. But, it is there, waiting for me.

 

[bender]

dang, I need a couple more C&Rs (german k98 and an SMLE) and I want a XD-45 and some kind of .223 rifle, probably a AR180-B. And me with no disposable income...:banghead:

I've got an M-1 carbine with the folding paratrooper stock, that I bought back in the 80s, but I love shooting that one - a fun plinking caliber. I didn't pay much for it back then.

 

[Frog48]

Definitely do NOT sell it.

 

[XavierBreath]

You should definitely sell this old beat up pistol and buy a real gun like an Extreme Duty XD 45. The XD will make you much happier and will be a precious heirloom to be passed down to your grandchildren. They are becoming quite difficult to find too. (XD45's, not grandchildren.....) You had better jump on the next one you see or you will miss out. (XD45's, not grandchildren.....)

To help you be prepared financially for the appearance of the elusive XD45, I will take that old Colt junker off your hands. It will be a sacrifice, but I melt old Colts and Smith & Wessons down to make new collection kettles for the widows and orphans fund. I suppose I could donate a few bucks towards helping you achieve XD nirvana. PM me with your address and I'll send you a few bucks for it.

Just kidding.