Which budget 1911 and which one for investment?

[jeepmor]

I see the 1911 as most do, the most copied gun ever. Short of buying a GI model, what's is the best budget model? I would like to spend oodles on some wilson or caspian based pistol, but that is really unrealisitic in my opinion for a shooter, which is where I'm at right now. However, I have plenty of money to invest in a good to great 1911 for a future profit sale, not a shooter in this case.

I've looked at Rock Island, Llama, and see that Taurus may finally offer a 1911, but the springer looks like the ticket from the uninvestigated point of view for a GOOD budget gun. Plus, springfield has been building 1911's for a long time relative to most of the competition.

If I need to step up and spend more on an WW1 or 2 model that's been around the block, please chime in on that angle too. I'm fastly realizing that this is an investment as much as a hobby, so please recommend some models that are most likely to appreciate. I have investment money also, but not sure what's a "good" investment in the 1911 pistol arena. I'm guessing Gen. Patton's 1911 would be a good investment, but what else is prudent, and what should I be looking for in an investment 1911?

I'm looking for an investment in a good original gun. Which serial numbers are most sought after, not which smith is best to get one from. I want an investment in a classic, not just a great smith gun that was put together to my taste that I spent a bunch on. I can do that easy.

jeepmor

 

[rock jock]

For the shooter, your first criteria will need to be reliability. Others will chime in on the reliability of the Chas. Daly and RI models, but I would exercise great caution in buying these. If you can gunsmith, you might be sable to fix any potential problems on your own (i.e., on the cheap). Otherwise, you would do well to step up to the next tier of 1911 quality.

As far as an investment piece goes, none of the factory (Kimber, SA, Colt) or even semi-custom (Baer, Wilson, Brown) guns of the modern era are going to rise in value at all. You would need to find a highly customized gun worked over by a highly-regarded 'smith who turns out very few a year to expect it to appreciate in the least. And even then, it would need to remain in pristine (unfired) condition.

The other option is to find an excellent quality antique (original) from WWI or WWII. I would think that with the 100th Anniversary of Ol' Slabsides right around the corner that one of these classic specimens might garner a few dollars over today's asking price.

However, all that being said, firearms are very poor investment vehicles and as a rule depreciate by 10-20% the moment you buy them. I would suggest if you are looking for an investment that you consult a personal financial counselor, not a gunshop.

 

[Technosavant]

As far as investments go, guns are like cars. They are highly unlikely to appreciate in value. Some will, but you are generally better off sticking to stocks, bonds, and that sort of thing.

For a place to begin with a less pricey 1911, I would begin with a Springfield GI model or Mil-Spec. Fairly inexpensive and good quality. The Mil-Spec would give you a couple more tweaks right off the bat.

 

[albanian]

"As far as investments go, guns are like cars. They are highly unlikely to appreciate in value. Some will, but you are generally better off sticking to stocks, bonds, and that sort of thing."

Most of the time that is true but a good gun buyer will out preform stocks and bonds and be safer doing it! In a 1911 all you have to remember is one word "Colt". That is the ONLY 1911 to buy for the purpose of investments. Get an older, top of the line version like a Gold Cup in mint shape and it will go up in value more than any other. Or if you can afford the WWII stuff, that will keep climbing in price as well. You will have to do research in order not to get screwed so if you are asking which WWII 1911 to buy on this forum, I would guess that you have a lot to learn.

 

[hpcc19]

Gen'l Patton

I'm guessing Gen. Patton's 1911 would be a good investment, but what else is prudent, and what should I be looking for in an investment 1911?




Did George have a 1911? (officer model) He was more famous for his SAA and pre-29 .357

As far as budget 1911's, most of the Armscor's can be made to work reliably with nothing more than sweat and CLP.

 

[Shipwreck]

Cheapest 1911 I would buy, that I know I would not be taking a chance on, is a Mil Spec Springfield, preferably in stainless (this was the first 1911 I bought in the mid 1990s).

Rock Island and Charles Daley - you take a chance in what you get - plus I have heard that quite often, their stuff is out of spec, and a gunsmith cannot always fix it or change out parts for you.

 

[kentucky_smith]

BS. I'd rather have a RIA than a Springer.

 

[progunner1957]

For budget: Springfield Mil-Spec 1911.

For investment: Ed Brown Classic Custom.

 

[edwardyoung]

I think you can find the answer to both of your questions in a Colt. If you look around, you can get a basic Colt for not much more than any other make-or maybe even less, if you are patient. You'll never lose money on it, unless you gunsmith it to death. Spend some quality time at GunsAmerica or at gun shows and you'll find plenty of reasonably priced Colts that will be investments, too. Of course, I've got two Kahr/Auto Ordnance 1911's, so what do I know?

 

[jeepmor]

Thanks for chiming in

Looks like the springfield is the starting point for a "real" reliable 1911 out of the box, lower in price I take my chances.

As far as investment goes, I have money invested in stocks already, I was looking for something to enjoy a little bit and have stashed away for a rainy day in the future. I figured it would be a WW era in good shape and not much more. Can anyone help on the serial numbers for these old colts? Does not look like a "solid" investment now that I take in some opinions.

jeepmor

 

[dsk]

I had a bunch of WW1 and WW2 pistols, and recently sold most them off for a little bit more than I paid for them. In other words, I ended up with a little extra money in my pocket, but certainly nothing to retire on. Guns are not investment material at all. They simply hold their value well, and can be sold in an emergency for a bit of quick cash if you get in a financial bind.

 

[poppy]

Was at my favorite gun related library (local chain book store) scanning some gun rags and saw an article about investment firearms. If you could figure out how to buy some WWI or II Colt 1911's or 1911A1's, the long term appreciation potential is 0 to huge.

My budget 1911A1's are a Sistema Colt and a Norinco, but those are getting in short supply. I would stick with one that is a clone so that parts are easy to come by. Mine are both clones. poppy

 

[Kramer Krazy]

For the budget 1911, I'd go with a RIA, but a lower level SA would be nice. I went with the RIA because....well.....it was $150-$200 cheaper. Mine also has about 500 rounds through it without any issues. For an "investment", I'll echo another with his four-letter word....."COLT" (unless you want to go older, then look into an early model 'Rand or other made as close to 1911 as possible and in as close to mint condition as possible). I've got the RIA and four Colts, but they are for shooting, not investments.

 

[Shipwreck]

About an hour ago, I read a message on another gun sight from a guy who bought a RIA 1911 - he had some problems, and quickly learned that the gun was so far outta spec he could not replace any part with a stock part.

That's not the first time I've read this about these Phillipine 1911s. I think I would skip those...

 

[jeepmor]

So it's not an investment, but it can be a wash

It looks like it's not an investment that return anything more than it's original worth. At least I can rest easy that I'll get out of it what I put into it if I purchase the right era of gun for investment. Unlike a car.

As for a shooter, I'm still sticking with a springfield for the budget starting point and go up from there. I like the para 1911 with the LDA trigger, I seem to be stuck on DA for some reason. I think I would feel inherently safer in CCW mode knowing that the firing pin spring has no tension, sounds intrinsically safer to me. Plus, I like the double stack magazines a bit better, I prefer the wider grip with bigger hands. I know, I'm quickly veering away from a true 1911 aren't I.

Everytime I do more research and get more advice, I just end up looking down another path. Thanks for this folks, it's making my selection process more educated and will reduce the chances of disappoinment when I finally make the purchase. I've read too much mixed blessings on the RIA products. Some great, some jammamatics, don't read that from Springfields on up in price points. So that is where I currently stand.

jeepmor

 

[Hawk]

Investment 1911's

In a 1911 all you have to remember is one word "Colt". That is the ONLY 1911 to buy for the purpose of investments.

Since we're not being restricted to current production, I would submit that others will work as well. Frinstance:

Remington / UMC
Union Signal
Singer
Remington Rand
North American (!)
Ithaca

Lots of sites will give production numbers, relative rarity and the like. Careful - it's a minefield.

 

[Helstrm]

Maybe I lucked out becasue the RIA I just picked up outshot everything from Kimbers to LDA, Spring... Hell even a Colt. I did a few minor mods that I listed in another thread. Ramp job.. Extended slide release. New trigger and adjusted the trigger pull. I think the most important thing was the 18.6# Wolf springs. Aim is dead on and no malfunctions through 150 rounds Sunday at the range.

But I would hate to say Buy a RIA and then see you get a bad one.

 

[orionengnr]

Try a Para LDA

If you think you might like it--I sure do. I have had SA 1911s and lots of other stuff. My take is this--if you only have one pistol (or a bunch of the same pistol) the Single Action, original-by-Gawd-John Moses Browning 1911 is one fine weapon.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy a variety (as I do) the Para LDA is so similar in manual of arms to:
--any DA revolver
--any Glock (or clone)
--an HK P7
--a Kahr
--an XD
...and probably a few others...that you can own/carry/shoot all of them safely and without stopping to think "safety? frame mounted? Slide mounted? which direction for "off"? de-cock? where? how? cocked-and-locked or point-and-click?"

It is for these reasons that all of my handguns fall into one of the above categories. No conscious thought, all muscle memory.

Works for me. YMMV