RIA 1911 trade value?
- Thread starter EBK
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hardluk1
member
Trade?? get a kiss while your there cause you ain't gone get much. There is no way I would trade my RIA even for a ruger. Might now get as good a shooter.
wally
Member
Sell to an individual ~80% of what a new one goes for. Dealer in trade, most seem to offer ~60% of what a new one goes for in a trade, at best.
May vary in other areas. Generally your best bet is to sell to an individual, then negotiate the best deal on what you want with cash in hand.
May vary in other areas. Generally your best bet is to sell to an individual, then negotiate the best deal on what you want with cash in hand.
Hmmm seems I would be better off keeping the RIA. Maybe I will just walk around with it and see if I get an offer in the 300 to 350 range.
Its a great shooter the sights just pain old suck though. I wish I would have known better when shopping for my 1911. Got stuck with the crappy GI sights might as well not even have sights.
Its a great shooter the sights just pain old suck though. I wish I would have known better when shopping for my 1911. Got stuck with the crappy GI sights might as well not even have sights.
DCT
Member
If you like the gun, and it shoots good for you, why not just replace the sights?
I have read that replacing a pinned front sight is hit or miss on the front sight staying in even if a good smith replaces it then there is the matter of trying to find out if you have the big or small front sight post as there are 2 different sizes. And having it cut for Novak sights is like $150 and the nearest smith that will do it is 45 minutes away.
wally
Member
Yes the GI sights can be problematic. Years ago when I needed better sights I put a J-point red dot on my GI RIA and never looked back, about 15,000 rounds later its still a favorite at the range.
A quick call or Email to RIA will tell you if you need the wide or narrow tenon replacement front sight, but you still need to find someone with the proper "staking" tool to get good results. Wouldn't hurt to ask what they'd charge for installing better sights.
A quick call or Email to RIA will tell you if you need the wide or narrow tenon replacement front sight, but you still need to find someone with the proper "staking" tool to get good results. Wouldn't hurt to ask what they'd charge for installing better sights.
Thats not a bad idea. I will call and ask them what it would cost to have it upgraded to the "tactical" model which includes Novak style sights and a commander hammer with beavertail grip safety.. Aside from the sights I get some hammer bite from the standard hammer and gripsafety.
I tried installing these my self but they are not drop in like it says when you order them.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I tried installing these my self but they are not drop in like it says when you order them.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Converting a RIA GI model to a Tactical model is a LOT of work, but it can be done. I did it to one of mine. I succeeded, but it was tough, the GI frame is different than the Tactical frame, and the beavertail requires a lot of steel to be removed. Getting it to fit cleanly and look right takes a lot of finesse and patience, and once you start you're committed.
Forget about having a gunsmith do it, you could buy two new Tacticals for what that would cost.
I strongly advise that if you want a Tactical, then buy a Tactical! The conversion cost me a lot, but I also had the pistol polished and blued. I also sent the slide to Novak and had them install their tritium night sights. Turned out beautiful, but a lot of $$$$$.
But AFA the GI sights, people have been using them for 100 years. Hammer bite is no fun though, I know all about that.....
Forget about having a gunsmith do it, you could buy two new Tacticals for what that would cost.
I strongly advise that if you want a Tactical, then buy a Tactical! The conversion cost me a lot, but I also had the pistol polished and blued. I also sent the slide to Novak and had them install their tritium night sights. Turned out beautiful, but a lot of $$$$$.
But AFA the GI sights, people have been using them for 100 years. Hammer bite is no fun though, I know all about that.....
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hardluk1
member
RIA gi model sell for around 408 brand new here.
hAkron
Member
RIA are very good guns for the money with excellent customer service to back them up. What's good for the buyer isn't always good for the seller. If I wanted new sights, and I thought there might be an issue with a regular smith doing the job, I might shoot an email to RIA asking what they would want to do the job. You would likely only need to send them the slide assembly.
I don't know your situation, but if it were me, I would keep the RIA rather than lose money on it, and save my pennies for the Ruger so that I had both.
I don't know your situation, but if it were me, I would keep the RIA rather than lose money on it, and save my pennies for the Ruger so that I had both.
JTQ
Member
If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that…
The young guys that have grown up in the "Glock ERA" (or AR-15 era for that matter), are so used to the "Lego" nature of those firearms, they don't understand the 1911. I used to try and explain it, but lately I've grown tired of making the effort, and decided to just let the fella's figure it out for themselves.
It's a decent 1911 and I certainly wouldn't trade it unless it was absolutely necessary because you are gonna take a bath on it. Used 1911's are abundant and cheap when you consider that new ones are under $600. I am rarely one of those guys that says "save a little more and buy XX brand" but in this instance that is what I would do. If you have to sell it to afford another then advertise on some local boards and see what you can get rather than going to the LGS where they are trying to make a dollar on both ends.
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I really do like the pistol its nice to have a "presentation" version of what the GI's carried more or less and it has been flawless for several hundred rounds. Its just not as practical for me with the sights it has.
I would love to keep it however the Ruger SR1911 runs about 750 around here and that is quite a bit above my pricerange unless I sell something.
The reason I am looking at the Ruger 1911 is because a buddy of mine bought one and I can shoot that one so much better than the RIA (I imagine the sights play a huge part but the trigger is beautiful as well) that the RIA target looks like I was using buckshot and the ruger target looks like a ragged hole.
Other options may be
RIA Tactical
Para GI Expert
Any one Know of any others that come with the Beaver tail safety and Three dot sights for about $500
I would love to keep it however the Ruger SR1911 runs about 750 around here and that is quite a bit above my pricerange unless I sell something.
The reason I am looking at the Ruger 1911 is because a buddy of mine bought one and I can shoot that one so much better than the RIA (I imagine the sights play a huge part but the trigger is beautiful as well) that the RIA target looks like I was using buckshot and the ruger target looks like a ragged hole.
Other options may be
RIA Tactical
Para GI Expert
Any one Know of any others that come with the Beaver tail safety and Three dot sights for about $500
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hardluk1
member
You sound like you just want a new pistol. Dump it or put a drop of some color florescent paint on the front sight and see if it helps. If it does ether drill a 1/16th dimple in the sight clean and pint it or stop send home for a replacement that you send along from dawson persision front sight of the type size and width you want. get a free tune up whiles it at home too. My stock tactical fs m the 468 dollar model is far more accurate than it should be at twice the price. Ask armscor to give you a nice slick lite trigger pull and beaver tail . You will be money ahead !! Oh yea don't tell your buddy ether. He may then want a RIA then !!
Dawson-
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000D32-1280519904
Dawson-
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80000D32-1280519904
If it's not the gun you want, you should sell it and put the money towards something you want.
Try posting it for sale on this forum first. You can do a local sale only if you prefer. I'm pretty sure if you listed it for $350, there would be an offer or two.
Try posting it for sale on this forum first. You can do a local sale only if you prefer. I'm pretty sure if you listed it for $350, there would be an offer or two.
Rock185
Member
EBK, I suspect that the gunshops I've dealt with might offer as much as $150.00 for your gun. Much better to sell it on your own and buy what you want. Quality gunsmithing is expensive and you would be very unlikely to recoup your invetment if you decided to sell or trade your upgraded RIA someday...
silicosys4
Member
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The ria blued GI model I had was purchased used for $300 out the door, and was traded for $350 worth of trade value in a package trade through a private party.
Trading up to the Ruger is not a bad idea
I have had both and the Ruger is definitely the better gun especially since you have the GI model. I think you could get $300 to $350 pretty quick in the classified section. Yes, I still my two Rock Islands and don't have the Ruger but that is only because I won't carry a full sized Gun and now that Ruger came out with the commander I will be getting one.
I have had both and the Ruger is definitely the better gun especially since you have the GI model. I think you could get $300 to $350 pretty quick in the classified section. Yes, I still my two Rock Islands and don't have the Ruger but that is only because I won't carry a full sized Gun and now that Ruger came out with the commander I will be getting one.
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