What is a good 1911 really worth?

[AlongCameJones]

I owned a Colt Series 70/Mark IV Government Model .45, blue, I bought used at an Oklahoma pawn shop in 1990 for $420 while stationed at Fort Sill. It was in fairly good shape and shot so-so at the range. A little sloppy but so-so. In 1992 I had it re-blued. I put on new wood checkered grips. The army MP's confiscated it from me for not having it registered on post in 1994. When I left the army in 1995, they said they couldn't find it and said it probably got destroyed.

In 2000, I bought a post-war Colt Govt. Model .45, blue, from a private seller in Idaho for $1,200 in really nice shape. The seller said it was pre-64. It came with a .22 conversion kit and had a rubber Pachmayer grip. I had to dump this pistol in 2002 at a pawn shop in ID when money was tight. I'd give my two front teeth to have that gun back in the condition I had her when I parted with her today.

I discovered this new outfit called DoubleStar that makes 1911's from $,1400 to $2,200 today. Is an ordinary service-looking 45 really worth that much? DoubleStar in Kentucky also cooks up some mid-grade/mid-price AR rifles to boot. The pistol in this video is $2K+ for just a standard service-looking 45. Nice finish and stamping quality though. But 2 grand???

The new Colt M1911's and many others that I've seen from the 1990's up to about 2005 under $1K have rough-looking markings on barrel, slide and frame. I have not seen a new 1911 in person since. I would only want a classic COLT in primo shape like that pre-64 I had. What is that pre-64 now worth on today's market?

 

[hunter966]

I don’t know a lot about Double Star, I think they’re a little higher end manufacturer and they put a little more time/effort into their pistols but the one in the video does have a few more options on it than just a run of the mill 1911. The light rail, checkered front strap and Novak’s add a little extra.

$2000 for it might be a little high, was this MSRP? If it was I bet you can find a dealer and the price will be lower than that quite a bit. You can find some really good pistols that have some nice bells and whistles such as what’s on the Double Star.

Take a look at the used market, Les Baers, some of the Kimbers, Springfields and some others can be found with the features found on the Double Star for a whole lot less. Every now and then a used Wilson pops up for less than $2000.

 

[LBnM]

Dan Wesson

 

[1911master]

I will second Dan Wesson!

 

[AlongCameJones]

I don’t know a lot about Double Star, I think they’re a little higher end manufacturer and they put a little more time/effort into their pistols but the one in the video does have a few more options on it than just a run of the mill 1911. The light rail, checkered front strap and Novak’s add a little extra.

$2000 for it might be a little high, was this MSRP? If it was I bet you can find a dealer and the price will be lower than that quite a bit. You can find some really good pistols that have some nice bells and whistles such as what’s on the Double Star.

Take a look at the used market, Les Baers, some of the Kimbers, Springfields and some others can be found with the features found on the Double Star for a whole lot less. Every now and then a used Wilson pops up for less than $2000.

If I could only find a minty pre-Series 70 Colt again. The one I had was good but not mint. The value of a minty pre-70 books high, upwards of $1,500. I'd love to also have a minty Colt Lawman Mark III in 4" barrel. I had a nice 1971-vintage one that got lost in a 1999 home burglary. It was in good shape, not mint, when I bought it for only $257 in 1996.

 

[AlongCameJones]

I will second Dan Wesson!

Isn't that a revolver?

 

[AlongCameJones]

I don’t know a lot about Double Star, I think they’re a little higher end manufacturer and they put a little more time/effort into their pistols but the one in the video does have a few more options on it than just a run of the mill 1911. The light rail, checkered front strap and Novak’s add a little extra.

$2000 for it might be a little high, was this MSRP? If it was I bet you can find a dealer and the price will be lower than that quite a bit. You can find some really good pistols that have some nice bells and whistles such as what’s on the Double Star.

Take a look at the used market, Les Baers, some of the Kimbers, Springfields and some others can be found with the features found on the Double Star for a whole lot less. Every now and then a used Wilson pops up for less than $2000.

I don't like the sound of the name KIMBER. Colt sounds much more elegant.

 

[thor447]

Isn't that a revolver?

Dan Wesson makes very nice 1911's as well.

 

[AlongCameJones]

Dan Wesson makes very nice 1911's as well.

They do but there's a soft place in my heart for a nice vintage Colt. I would also much rather hunt deer with a beautiful old Savage 99 than any new plastic "Walmart" rifle on the market today.

 

[LBnM]

I agree on the Savage 99. Shot lots of Elk with one in .358 Win. But, Dan Wesson is far from a plastic Walmart gizmo. Most are more vintage (in the way they are manufactured) than the majority of 1911s on the market.