What makes a $4000 1911 worth it?

[wmgeorge]

On another Thread I was told my new $900 SR1911 Ruger Commander was a "mass produced" and I would be better off with a $400 Tiasa as they are hand crafted.

I was then told I needed to spend $4000 like he did (?) or just not play.

So besides boosting the owners Ego, what does a $4,000 1911 do better?

 

[JR24]

Do better? If you mean for practical shooting purposes, likely nothing. It’s possible it’s slightly more accurate for some of the nicer guns with lockup, barrel and trigger, but most folks, frankly, aren’t good enough shots to take advantage of that with any regularity.

But there’s a lot to be said for wanting a fine piece of machinery expertly fitted, sometime it’s good to splurge on nice things.

For a nice 1911 shooter, Ruger makes a fine gun and I don’t consider it a POS at all. I’ve had a few and they were reliable nice shooters.

Frankly I typically find Colt to be overpriced and overhyped, but in your pic I’m guessing that’s got some custom shop work done so who knows.

 

[highlander 5]

Shoot more accurately and empty your bank account more quickly that's about it. Nothing wrong with Ruger 1911s I've 2 and they shoot and function just fine. FWT I like the fact that the plunger tube is part of the frame and not a separate part that needs to be staked in place.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yep nothing bad about Ruger 1911's. Enjoy it. And don't let the naysayers get under your skin.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Frankly I typically find Colt to be overpriced and overhyped, but in your pic I’m guessing that’s got some custom shop work done so who knows.

That one... Looks like it's had more than some custom work done, and by a bespoke pistol smith and not one of the shops.

That being said, I think there's a lot of benefit in starting with an entry-level gun. If you find yourself hooked on the pattern and you learn a lot about them, then you might get the hankering for a nicer one and then eventually find yourself shelling out $12,000 for a Ted Yost or something.

But you wouldn't appreciate it as much if you'd skipped straight to buying the five-figure gun, since you didn't spend a bunch of time shooting production guns to learn about the things you like and didn't like and what the small differences are.

 

[wmgeorge]

Well I had one in the past, but when your in your late 70's sometimes details get lost! I have some overpriced primers ordered so maybe I can get out and shoot again when it cools down. I have owned 1911s off and on since I was age 19 but this will be my last one.... I promise.

 

[JR24]

That one... Looks like it's had more than some custom work done, and by a bespoke pistol smith and not one of the shops.

That being said, I think there's a lot of benefit in starting with an entry-level gun. If you find yourself hooked on the pattern and you learn a lot about them, then you might get the hankering for a nicer one and then eventually find yourself shelling out $12,000 for a Ted Yost or something.

But you wouldn't appreciate it as much if you'd skipped straight to buying the five-figure gun, since you didn't spend a bunch of time shooting production guns to learn about the things you like and didn't like and what the small differences are.

Agreed. If I knew then what I know now I could skip exactly to the gun I truly prefer. But I had to learn first, and it’s a fun process, if expensive.

 

[sisyphus]

the more expensive you go the more human attention it got from start to finish
the law of diminishing returns is in full effect

a $1200 Dan Wesson 1911 is significantly and demonstrably nicer than a $900 Ruger, but while a $4000 1911 is nicer than the DW, it's harder to see and a much smaller leap

if you earn twice as much money as I do, you may feel like spending twice as much on your 1911

there is no shame in enjoying guns from any price point, as long as they function and are reasonably accurate

 

[ontarget]

I have 1911s from Colt, S&W, Taurus, and RIA. They are all fine as far as reliability, functionality, and all have what I would consider to be good triggers.
If you handed me a 4K 1911, I doubt I could put up better groups than I do with mine.
I would not buy a high dollar 1911 unless it was a collectable GI surplus.
In that same vein though, I wouldn't buy a 20K shotgun for bird hunting, or a 10K Rigby rifle for deer hunting.
The cost is in the fine fit and finish, and the name on the receiver. Do they perform better? Possibly. Will the average shooter be able to tell that difference in performance? Probably not.
As a side note, when I raced motocross in my younger days, I was often asked why I didn't buy a new bike each season. I figured that until I could use 100% of the performance available from last year's bike, there wasn't much to gain in spending another 10 grand.
Same with most guns, like I said, most shooters will never be able to tell the difference.

 

[AustinTX]

On another Thread I was told my new $900 SR1911 Ruger Commander was a "mass produced" POS and I would be better off with a $400 Tiasa as they are hand crafted.

I was then told I needed to spend $4000 like he did (?) or just not play.

This is a lie and so is nothing more than trolling. No one said any of those things. You were just being (and are continuing to be) incredibly oversensitive.

 

[guyfromohio]

My Toyota Corolla drives just fine, why would I want a BMW? Same thing.

 

[JDeere]

Just my .02 but I would let it go and move on. There are some who appreciate a custom built hand fitted pistol with no cheap parts and can afford it. There are those who like to just brag about it and show off. I would like to pick up an ACW but I just can't see myself forking out that kind of cash when I shoot well with with my Rugers and Kimbers. To each his own but I don't run around and blab about it either way and just put more time in at the range and the reloading bench.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Good grief...talk about a troll post.

 

[TheotherMikeG]

Pride of ownership and status amongst ones peers, neither of which are bad things. However, I believe that a great shooter can do what he does at an incredibly high level using your Ruger, whereas an average shooter will never be any better than his current skill level, no matter how much he spends on a custom pistol.

 

[wmgeorge]

This is a lie and so is nothing more than trolling. No one said any of those things. You were just being (and are continuing to be) incredibly oversensitive.

Correct, POS was implied not stated, the rest is in the Thread and Mass Produced was said.

 

[AustinTX]

Correct, POS was implied not stated, the rest is in the Thread and Mass Produced was said.

Simply false.

(1) “POS” was neither stated nor implied. That is just your oversensitive and unreasonable interpretation. And your original post said (before you edited it) that someone explicitly called your Ruger a POS, which is a lie.

(2) “Mass produced” is not an insult. It’s a fact. A Ruger 1911 is a mass-production 1911.

(3) No one claimed that a Tisas 1911 is “handcrafted.” That is another lie.

(4) No one told you that you needed to spend $4,000 on a 1911 or “just not play.” That is yet another lie.

Three unambiguous lies in one very short post.

Again, you are simply trolling.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Some people just don't get "it" and never will.

While I don't own any high end custom 1911s, I did/do collision repair on high end exotic cars, metal fabrication on high end classic cars. Many of these cars have price tags that approach 7 figures.

My own personal car, a 1970 chevelle SS, there is not one square inch I didn't touch.
I have weeks invested in setting the body gaps, where they weren't perfect, they got cut up reshaped and welded. Heck I have 2 days in the rear bumper alone cause I cut it in 6 pieces to get the fit wanted.
I have weeks invested going over the metal, smoothing it out to a point of darn near metal finished. Months invested in sanding primer, 100 plus hours just in wetsanding the clear coat prior to buffing.

But to guys like you, that chevelle is no better than my wife's 2016 Honda hrv because it cost 1/4 less and gets better mileage and am just a dummy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Here the deal…

Someone willing to pay $4,000 for a Gun
Someone willing to make a $4,000 Gun

NONE OF MY BUSINESS!

 

[JTQ]

So besides boosting the owners Ego, what does a $4,000 1911 do better?

If you can't tell, it's not worth it to you.

 

[WVsig]

Since the OP is referencing me, tolling me and using a pic of my pistol I will answer the question. I will state or the record that the OP has misquoted me from a thread which was closed. I did not say the things he is claiming. The pistol which I own that he has posted is a Colt 01970A1CS base gun. As @Madcap_Magician noted it has had some custom work done to it. It was done by Don Williams of The Action Woks. Don is a member of the American Pistol Guild and one of the top 1911 smiths currently working on guns. He is a master craftsman and a true gentleman to work with. The $4,000 figure in the OP is not reflective of the real world price of this gun. It is an arbitrary number that the OP through out there and is still using. Those who appreciate custom 1911s can build a rough estimate in their minds of what it cost to build this gun. I will also state that this gun is currently worth more on the open market if I were to sell it today used then it cost me to build. This is what was done to the pistol.

-Deluxe Trigger Job with Harrison hammer, sear, disconnector and trigger
-Smooth out and Dehorn
-Bevel Magwell Machine cut @ 15
-Stan Chen Gen 2 Magwell checkered @ 30 LPI
-True, High Cut & Checker Front Strap @ 30 LPI
-Machine French Cuts on Slide
-Machine Ball Cuts on Slide
-Flattern & Serrate Slide Top in Ghost Arrow Pattern
-Furnish & Install EGW Slide Stop
-Furnish & Install Harrison Exterme Service Beavertail Grip Safety
-Furnish & Install Action Works Custom sights with U notch and Gold dot front sight
-EGW HD Low lever Thumb Safety
-Furnish, Fit and install Match Bushing on match barrel.
-Spegel Grips
-Ionbond DLC with polished flats















The #1 reason to own gun like this is owning a one of a kind bespoke pistol made to your spec. I worked with Don talking about what parts I wanted to use. How I was going to use the gun and what I wanted out of it. I choose parts based on my needs and wants and his recommendations. The process was enjoyable and rewarding in and of itself. This gun is a functional piece of art which shoots 45 ACP bullets. It is about appreciating the craftsmanship that went into building it. Don is a craftsman. This gun has Better parts, better fit and better finish then it did when it left Colt. It has better performance from a tuned trigger, extractor and hand fitted match barrel. In this instance durability of the finish. IonBond holds up better than anything else on the market. After 3+ years of ownership going in and out of leather and kydex holsters it shows almost no wear. I am the first to admit that the law of diminishing returns is at play when you move up to custom pistols. You are paying 2X the $$$ to get subtle refinements which may or may not matter to you but they matter to some people and some people are willing to pay for it.

I will also state that a great shooter is great with almost any gun but the difference between the USPSA Grand Master and M Class are fractions of a second over the course of a match. The devil is in the details. A poor shooter is going to shoot poorly with a $300 gun or a $10,000. Most of us are somewhere in between. While shooting this pistol next to a stock Colt the difference might not show up on paper but the feel in the hand is completely different.

As others have already stated In this thread the OP is misrepresenting what I said. He misinterpreted my intent and my words.

 

[wmgeorge]

-Deluxe Trigger Job with Harrison hammer, sear, disconnector and trigger
-Smooth out and Dehorn
-Bevel Magwell Machine cut @ 15
-Stan Chen Gen 2 Magwell checkered @ 30 LPI
-True, High Cut & Checker Front Strap @ 30 LPI
-Machine French Cuts on Slide
-Machine Ball Cuts on Slide
-Flattern & Serrate Slide Top in Ghost Arrow Pattern
-Furnish & Install EGW Slide Stop
-Furnish & Install Harrison Exterme Service Beavertail Grip Safety
-Furnish & Install Action Works Custom sights with U notch and Gold dot front sight
-EGW HD Low lever Thumb Safety
-Furnish, Fit and install Match Bushing on match barrel.
-Spegel Grips
-Ionbond DLC with polished flats

The #1 reason to own gun like this is owning a one of a kind bespoke pistol made to you spec. I worked with Don talking about what parts I wanted to use. How I was going to use the gun and what I wanted out of it. I choose parts based on my needs and wants and his recommendations. The process was enjoyable and rewarding in and of itself. This gun is a functional piece of art which shoots 45 ACP bullets. It is about appreciating the craftsmanship that went into building it. Don is a craftsman. This gun has Better parts, better fit and better finish then it did when it left Colt. It has better performance from a tuned trigger, extractor and hand fitted match barrel. In this instance durability of the finish. IonBond holds up better than anything else on the market. After 3+ years of ownership going in and out of leather and kydex holsters it shows almost no wear. I am the first to admit that the law of diminishing returns is at play when you move up to custom pistols. You are paying 2X the $$$ to get subtle refinements which may or may not matter to you but they matter to some people and some people are willing to pay for it.

It sounds like its well worth the $4,000 price tag, enjoy.

 

[WVsig]

That one... Looks like it's had more than some custom work done, and by a bespoke pistol smith and not one of the shops.

That being said, I think there's a lot of benefit in starting with an entry-level gun. If you find yourself hooked on the pattern and you learn a lot about them, then you might get the hankering for a nicer one and then eventually find yourself shelling out $12,000 for a Ted Yost or something.

But you wouldn't appreciate it as much if you'd skipped straight to buying the five-figure gun, since you didn't spend a bunch of time shooting production guns to learn about the things you like and didn't like and what the small differences are.

I often tell new 1911 shooters to get a decent quality basic GI gun. Take is out and shoot 500-1000 rounds out of it before you do anything to it or buy another one. From there you will learn to shoot the base 1911 platform. After about 1000 rounds you will have a foundation to determine what you like or don't like about the a basic 1911. From there the next gun you buy, build or modify is building on your own personal knowledge base. Eventually if you shoot them long enough you will learn what works best for you. You will get better at choosing an off the shelf pistol or building a base gun then if you bought an upgraded from the start. IMHO

 

[ontarget]

Some people just don't get "it" and never will.

While I don't own any high end custom 1911s, I did/do collision repair on high end exotic cars, metal fabrication on high end classic cars. Many of these cars have price tags that approach 7 figures.

My own personal car, a 1970 chevelle SS, there is not one square inch I didn't touch.
I have weeks invested in setting the body gaps, where they weren't perfect, they got cut up reshaped and welded. Heck I have 2 days in the rear bumper alone cause I cut it in 6 pieces to get the fit wanted.
I have weeks invested going over the metal, smoothing it out to a point of darn near metal finished. Months invested in sanding primer, 100 plus hours just in wetsanding the clear coat prior to buffing.

But to guys like you, that chevelle is no better than my wife's 2016 Honda hrv because it cost 1/4 less and gets better mileage and am just a dummy.

No, my friend. Even though I wouldn't buy a 4K 1911, I would choose the Chevelle over the Honda even in my sleep.
The Chevelle/Honda comparison is not the same as the 1911 comparison, as there are no more 1970 Chevelles being built. Production and custom 1911s are being pumped out every day. You also know that there is no way you will ever recover the investment you've made in that car.
You're no dummy for the work you put into that car. I very sincerely envy you for your ability to do it. (Off topic, but this is THR, so, pics or You're lying I love me some Chevelles). This entire discussion boils down to priorities. I'm happy with my rusty F150, the next guy wants a custom Silverado, and the other guy loves his VW Bug. If everyone is happy with their own choice, then I'm happy for them.

 

[Robert]

I highly suggest y'all ignore one another. This thread is nothing more than an attempted to reignite an argument in a thread that y'all killed because you couldn't behave like adults. Guess what happened here. OP, let it go and put him on ignore of he bugs you that much. Otherwise I see infraction points or an eventual ban in y'all's future.