What Would You Pay Colt 1911 ?

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red rick

red rick

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I had an extra day off work so I hit the gun stores. Really just looking at optics and for reloading stuff.

I made a mistake buy looking at the handgun case first. The 1911's are the first display case you get too. There I saw a new Colt anniversary model 1911. I was just wondering if they had it priced to high for it to still be there, or is Colt still producing them now.

What do you think is a good price for it ? They were asking $1200 .
 
Younger growing up I had a special appreciation of Colt 1911's. Now I'm more of a DW or SA 1911 owner. After seeing the lack of quality control and not so impressive customer service I would not pay more than $900 for a new one. These days availability trumps cost sometimes.
 
Was it the actual anniversary model (O1911ANVIII) like below or did the slide just say "100 years of service"?

14423d1274060460-2011-centennial-edition-anyone-o1911anviii.jpg
 
I love my Rock Island Armory full size tactical 1911. It only cost $450.00.
Click to expand...

So per the OP's question, he should pay $450.00 for the Colt?

but probably not a great shooter (fixed sights).
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I have many fixed sight firearms that are "shooters". Great shooters.
 
I use Bud's as a reference. You have to add S&H (when applicable) and the transfer fee, but once that's done I have a pretty good idea of what's a good retail price.

I've used Bud's, but there is sometimes value added for being able to deal with a reputable local dealer. More often than not, we buy locally. There's an intangible value associated with being known in the local stores which sometimes gives room for negotiating.
 
Boomer4570 said:
The colt above would be cool for a collector piece, but probably not a great shooter (fixed sights).
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You've got to be kidding. Many fixed sight guns are absolutely great shooters, and for simplicity and ruggedness they can't be beaten.
 
If you check out Gunbrokers completed auctions the price is on par +/- with what they are fetching...
 
I picked up a Government Model two years ago mainly because I wanted that "100 Years of Service" rollmark on the slide. The gun itself is very well made, maybe even better than some of the Series 70 models I use to have.
 
The colt above would be cool for a collector piece, but probably not a great shooter (fixed sights).
Click to expand...

Last weekend, just for S&G's, I hit a clay pigeon from 125ish yards with my 9mm 1911. With fixed sights.
 
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If you learn where a gun hits you can shoot fine with it, but being able to adjust sights to point of aim point of impact is better. For $1200 I better get adjustable sights(at least drift-able) , unless it is an old WWII collector. Most guns made today have sights that are adjustable in some way. I wonder why that is if it is not better.
 
I am gland you like your Rock Island, I don't. This thread is not about them, but you turned it into that.
 
IMO. It would be more of a pistol for a collector, more than for a shooter. Those old style 1911's like that were pre 1911A1's could and would give you a nasty hammer bite if you were not careful. Plus that the ejection port was high on the slide and small. Luckily the A1's design changed most of that.
It is cool though.
 
What if you found an original Colt 1911A1, made in 1925, but it had little to no finish. The bore is VG, at least, and there is no pitting, dents, dings, or rust anywhere. Just no finish. Then you found a guy who "restores" old Colts, and he turned out to be really good, and reasonable along with it. If you had the gun refinished, would you then consider it "collectible", and not want to shoot it? Or would you consider it "collectible" with no finish on it? It happened to me. I was at a gunshow several years ago, and this old Colt called out to me. I thought, "Gee, $900 seems like a lot, but it IS a real Colt, and it is right in that 'can be cleaned up' category." I sent it off to Bill Adair in TX (RIP), and he carefully polished it nicely, all over, and, at my request, fireblued the hammer, trigger, screws, safety, and slide stop in contrast of the deep, dark Colt type blue of the original 1911's. Not exactly a restoration, but it was never intended to be. It became a gun finished to my tastes (and similar to the original 1911 Commercial), and gets carried. A local pistolsmith tightened up the barrel front and aft, and the trigger is stock (albeit better than most). The total cost came in far less than any comparable pre-WWII commercial model, and looks better than most. You CAN find a REAL Colt, made back when they REALLY put some time and worksmanship into them, and tweak it just a little to have a one-of-a-kind work of art, or a custom carry piece, or both. You don't have to settle for the current run, or go to the high dollar off brands.
DSC06659_zps87b569bf.jpg
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Agree I have no problem's with fixed sights. Both my 19911's have fixed sights. There actually what I prefer.
 
Aside from the sights (which make only a little difference - mostly because these are very small compared to the easier-to-see-quickly sights on more recent guns), there are other differences between this and later and current guns. This gun is acking many of the other improvements Colt put on the 1911. Extended grip safety (reduces tendency for the hammer to "bite" the web of your hand between thumb and forefinger), extended manual safety (makes it easier and more certain to put manual safety on and off). Probably does not have a beveled magazine well (more positive mag insertion) and probably lacks the Series '80 firing pin safety, too (which some people like and others don't).

As a collector, I would pass as it is current manufacture and not actually a "piece of history". As a shooter, I would certainly not pay a premium for an evolutionary throwback. If I had my choice between this gun and an actual vintage 45 from WWI, I would probably take the original if I could document its history. Maybe even if I couldn't. But call me sentimental.

As it is, I prefer my current model Colts or my Randalls, Ruger and even my AMT Hardballers. They are all shooters of very good accuracy, the ones with fixed as well as target sights.

Lost Sheep
 
Maybe it's just me, but I like the "retro" look of the original 1911 or early 1911A1's. All the beavertails, bobtails, doodads, and fishscale slide milling just doesn't do it for me. The 1911 WILL bite, unless you roll your web under the small grip safety tang (the Marines learned that 80-90 years ago). The sights ARE small, but nowadays, I like the challenge of vintage guns and sights.....kind of cool to STILL be able to hit with these vintage guns and small sights. The biggest advantage I know of, though, with these later reproduction guns is the use of modern steels, making them much more durable (and potentially more reliable) than the originals. Translated, it means "go ahead and shoot the crap out of them!" . Why NOT buy one, if you lean towards any of that?
 
I'm with SharpsDressedMan ---- I purchased a 1919 commercial 1911 .45 caliber Colt with original magazine, several years ago. Prior to that I purchased a 1911 XSE, new. The XSE cost considerable more than the 1911, but my "go to - fun gun" is the 1919 Colt.
I shoot it most of the time and the XSE is a "safe queen." Go figure.
Neal39
 
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