I am looking for a 1911 that I can pass down to my kids and that will hopefully increase in value over the years. The budget is open ended i.e. up to 4k. This will not be a high use gun. What should I look at? Am I better off with new (Wilson, Brown, etc) or used. Would you spend less and get two? Specific suggestions would be appreciated.
Specific 1911 suggestions
- Thread starter CTGunner
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If you have the patience, wait for the almost-certain-to-be-made 100th year anniversary Colt. Four grand should get you a matching pair or maybe even three.
If you must buy now, I'd look for the 1918 - WW1 Replica Colt. You can buy a pair and stash half of your money away to buy something else.
Either way, value is almost guaranteed to go up given any reasonable care. Colts don't seem to lose value unless abused something awful.
If you must buy now, I'd look for the 1918 - WW1 Replica Colt. You can buy a pair and stash half of your money away to buy something else.
Either way, value is almost guaranteed to go up given any reasonable care. Colts don't seem to lose value unless abused something awful.
benderx4
Member
Geesh, you're going to get a million different answers here. Obviously, the classic 1911 is the Colt 45. For that dough, you CAN buy two.
The other maker that's been around for ever is Springfield Armory. I have one of their 1911s from their custom shop and it's the finest gun I've ever owned.
Want to get the coolest, prettiest, tightest, most accurate gun for your money? Look at Baer, Brown, Wilson, Nighthawk, or Fusion.
Finally, for that kind of money, or a bit more, you can hire one of the top-notch builders to make you a full custom 1911 with every bell and whistle. (Expect to wait a LONG LONG time for your gun.)
Good luck! Here's one of mine:
The other maker that's been around for ever is Springfield Armory. I have one of their 1911s from their custom shop and it's the finest gun I've ever owned.
Want to get the coolest, prettiest, tightest, most accurate gun for your money? Look at Baer, Brown, Wilson, Nighthawk, or Fusion.
Finally, for that kind of money, or a bit more, you can hire one of the top-notch builders to make you a full custom 1911 with every bell and whistle. (Expect to wait a LONG LONG time for your gun.)
Good luck! Here's one of mine:
cyclopsshooter
Member
forget the modern stuff- in fact, forget about stuff made after 1980. check out gunbroker for a like new in box 70 series colt gold cup with .22 conversion! $1500 bucks and you get one of the finest colts ever- all forged and cast parts! no cheapo substitute materials-
shiftyer1
Member
I saw a ww2 era 1911 in maybe unfired condition on texas gun trader for $1900? If your into historical things this may be a good choice. Still have $2000 for another more modern and still an excellant pistol. Kind of a then and now theme?
If not into that kind of stuff then have one totally custom made. If it's seldom fired and mostly a legacy piece it's worth the wait.
If not into that kind of stuff then have one totally custom made. If it's seldom fired and mostly a legacy piece it's worth the wait.
with that budget you really can't go wrong anywhere. An heirloom type gun can be anything. It could be a WWII GI 1911 that someone's grandfather used to help liberate France or a custom engraved masterpiece.
But my suggestion would be to find a very nice (i.e. Wilson, Les Baer, Ed Brown) 1911 and then have a master engraver work the entire thing over from stem to stern with gorgeous detail all over. A hand-made 1911 with hand-worked engraving would be a sight to behold. Find yourself some super rare grips made from a fine wood, like Koa, to top it off and you'll have a unique piece fit for a magazine cover.
Imagine having a gun made and having an artical done on it in Handgunner or something like that and handing both down the pistol and magazine spread to your kids. Very impressive, indeed.
But my suggestion would be to find a very nice (i.e. Wilson, Les Baer, Ed Brown) 1911 and then have a master engraver work the entire thing over from stem to stern with gorgeous detail all over. A hand-made 1911 with hand-worked engraving would be a sight to behold. Find yourself some super rare grips made from a fine wood, like Koa, to top it off and you'll have a unique piece fit for a magazine cover.
Imagine having a gun made and having an artical done on it in Handgunner or something like that and handing both down the pistol and magazine spread to your kids. Very impressive, indeed.
mljdeckard
Member
It's tough to know what will appreciate in value. It's usually items that develop some kind of collectability long AFTER they were issued due to a later event. (Carcano rifles, L.H. Oswald, something like that.)
If I were looking specifically for the cash value, and I didn't mind spending a little money, I might look for any of the WWII or WWI 1911s which have already become collectable.
If I were looking specifically for the cash value, and I didn't mind spending a little money, I might look for any of the WWII or WWI 1911s which have already become collectable.
shiftyer1
Member
I think I totally agree with FMF and if was me I think i'd leave room on the backstrap for engraving names.
Chuck Jones
2010
Bill jones
2030
each new owner gets his name engraved and the date he got the pistol. I think i'm gettin sentimental in my young age. lol
Chuck Jones
2010
Bill jones
2030
each new owner gets his name engraved and the date he got the pistol. I think i'm gettin sentimental in my young age. lol
shiftyer1
Member
Also, personally I love to buy things that have a history. So a custom piece with a little history may bring a good price if ever needed.
And detracts mightily from collector value. So if that is a priority, try to avoid that.
High-condition pre-WWI and WWI guns are still out there and well within your range, even one of each if you shop hard. These are the real deal, well made, and the source of it all. I'd get one pre-WWI commercial and a high condition or reconditioned WWI military.
shiftyer1
Member
I've considered carving the same into a few stocks on guns that will go to certain people when the time comes. I have 2 sons and 3 daughters but at this point (early teens and almost there) I think if I give them a presant liike that they"ll shoot each other. lol Probably not but wow kids are terrible at that age!!!! lol Now I know why I drove my folks nuts. lol.
ENJOY your new project.
ENJOY your new project.
benderx4
Member
I don't have much experience in this arena being that the best 1911s I own were built by Les Baer and Springfield Custom. (Both "semi" custom)
But over the years, I've heard great things about the following gunsmiths:
Ted Yost
John Harrison
Ned Christiansen
Bruce Gray
Stan Chen
Don Williams
Chuck Rogers
Eric Zinn
There are many others out there, but I seem to hear about these guys a lot. To get the relative strengths and/or weaknesses of these builders, you might want to peruse the www.louderthanwords.us website that is ALL ABOUT high-end 1911s and custom building.
Good luck!
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