Author Topic: What's the most expensive 1911 out there? (Read 3142 times)

Questor · « **on:** January 13, 2005, 06:01:58 AM »

I keep seeing the prices go up uP UP for high-end 1911s. I think the new S&W competition variant goes for about $2600. Good heavens! What can make it worth that much? Excluding collector pieces and fancy 1911s that have been worked over by Tiffany to encrust them with jewels and gold, what are the most expensive 1911s you're aware of? Got a Web link so I can have a look?

BamBams · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2005, 06:34:26 AM »

Here's some eye candy. As for "stock, mass produced" I'd have to guess some of the high end Kimbers maybe?

http://www.burnscustom.com/

Iowegan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2005, 10:45:07 AM »

Take a look at Les Baer http://www.lesbaer.com/1911s.html or SVI http://www.sviguns.com/ Their basic guns start at $1600.

Hey BamBams, where have you been? I haven't seen a post from you in a while.

BamBams · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2005, 11:24:38 AM »

Oh yeah, I forgot about Wilson Combat. www.wilsoncombat.com.

Hi Iowegan! I've been off the Internet for quite some time, but alas, ya can't keep a good man offline for long. *smiles*

williamlayton · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2005, 12:09:56 AM »

ORRRRR-
Ted Christenson (Also located over at pistosmith)-- 5 year wait, but, his stuff is magnificent. Course the 5 year wait gives you 5 years to save. I am not counting on being around in 5 years, less the Lord see fit to allow.
Blessings

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2005, 04:18:09 AM »

I think the Les Baer competition guns are fairly priced, considering that they use best components and you get a true top-level competition gun for your money. The one's I wonder about are the $2500+ guns. One of the examples given earlier in this thread has one that costs $4000.

Flash · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2005, 04:27:49 AM »

I would have to say the Ed Brown Classic Custom. I believe they start at $3,000 and up. Accurizing and add on's could easily break $4,000.

ppcrusa · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2005, 02:38:20 AM »

I would say the highest priced 1911 would be the one you bought relatively "affordable" and it had problems. You keep pouring money into it and before you know it, you have X amount of dollars in it.
I personally believe the most expensive 1911's are the ones that people keep after they have problems with it. They tend to send it off for gunsmith work, customizations, etc. Not to mention ammo. I think in the long run it is much better to pay SOME up front and buy a mid range product $899-1049 MSRP than buy a "mil spec" or low end pistol. I myself can't see paying $2,000 + for a 1911(high end). Keeping it in the middle is safe.

Questor · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2005, 03:16:16 AM »

ppcrusa:

I couldn't have said it better myself. I was chatting with an experienced gun salesman and he told me that customers who buy lower priced 1911s often return within six months to spend around $500 to $600 on gunsmithing work. That would put the total cost of their 1911 right in that optimal spot of around $1000 to $1200 that the good factory guns cost.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2005, 10:15:29 AM »

Les Bauer's price list shows one exceeding $6000.

Questor · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2005, 10:34:24 AM »

http://www.lesbaer.com/presgd.html

There's the link to the Les Baer presentation gun. It doesn't make me wild with desire, but it looks like a nice gun anyway.

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2005, 10:46:08 AM »

Here's a couple more items of interest.

$49,000: First, this isn't a 1911, but check the price:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976410056.htm

$12,000: This is a 1911, and it doesn't exactly make me pine for the old days of quality gunsmithing. I think if I had it, I'd want to send it in to get it worked on. Nice grips, though.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976458444.htm

We've strayed away from the "no collector guns or Tiffany presentation guns" criterion, but it's fun anyway.

ppcrusa · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2005, 10:57:25 AM »

I enjoy ALL of my "working" guns. However, I really can not see paying in excess of $750-800 for a pistol. Way I see it, if I paid more I would not want to shoot it for fear of messing up what just costed me an arm and a leg.
I would also have VERY high expectations for it, and even the smallest thing going wrong would put me in a real bad mood. I surely don't like feeling that way.
I think it is very realistic to expect to pay about $700 out the door for a good solid 1911. To me, that is "top end". I'm just not setup to afford a $1200-2500 pistol either.
If someone can afford a expensive pistol and it fits their needs, and it makes them all happy-shiny then they should go for it. I'm content with my SW1911. It works, and it works well + it looks good. Big billboard and all. I'm happy! hahaha

williamlayton · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2005, 10:26:07 PM »

Most of these boys we are talking about do a lot of work on these weapons to make them completely functional and shootable, well, an ya know, SEXY. Most are worked up for carry pieces.
Boys I enjoy lookin at the pictures of em, lusting fer em, an wantin one or two. I just can't afford the wait time most of these boys require.
Blessings