Reputation and Value of Taurus 1911's.....????

Howdy,

I've got a line on a Taurus 1911 stainless that I think I can get for about $600.

I've looked at it once and it looks not much less than new. I can't remember if it has the rail piece under the barrel or not. I went through Taurus's link to Gun Gallery and found that through a local dealer I could get the unrailed one brand new for about $700 and the railed one brand new for about $740.

This one looks like about all it needs is a good scrubbing. It's got a bit of that brown-ish crud lightly built up that stainless guns will get that needs scrubbing off, but nothing you'd really consider "bad".

What's the rep on the Taurus 1911's? I've never had one.

How does that price strike you for what I've described?

Let me begin by saying, I have neither shot nor owned a Taurus 1911. I handle one at work almost daily, and it feels smoother than some other manufacturers. The one's I've sold to people have functioned flawlessly so far with no complaints. I think the biggest disadvantage the Taurus 1911s will have is the stigma against the Taurus brand and a lower resale value. If you're looking for a value minded 1911, I'd say go ahead and get the Taurus. Just don't expect to go toe to toe with a guy and his Wilson Combat. Then again, you paid about 1/3 of what that guy did.

$600 isn't bad, but I've had 2 family members buy railed versions brand new for $600 and $550. Last I was in Vans there was a brand new one for $630 I believe.

That being said, I've shot both of those pistols, one the blued all steel, one with aluminum frame. Both have functioned amazingly well!!!! And both have shot even better!!!!

My father in law, who is an excellent shot with a pistol, keeps his(aluminum railed) in 1" groups at 15 yds, off hand. My brother can't, but that's because he gets too caught up in seeing how fast he can blow through the 8 round magazine.

I've seen these guns have one hang up each. And they were both with Tula steel cased ammo from walmart.

At $600 if it's lightly used I'd say go ahead and buy it, because the deals are getting harder to come by on them. I'm still waiting for my bank account to line up with it one day when I happen to find the steel framed rail model for $650 or less, because at that price I'd be just as well off as I would driving all over creation looking for a better price.

K_Wu wrote:Let me begin by saying, I have neither shot nor owned a Taurus 1911. I handle one at work almost daily, and it feels smoother than some other manufacturers. The one's I've sold to people have functioned flawlessly so far with no complaints. I think the biggest disadvantage the Taurus 1911s will have is the stigma against the Taurus brand and a lower resale value. If you're looking for a value minded 1911, I'd say go ahead and get the Taurus. Just don't expect to go toe to toe with a guy and his Wilson Combat. Then again, you paid about 1/3 of what that guy did.

Yeah, I get what you're saying.

I don't expect it be as nice and smooth with as sexy a trigger pull as my Kimber, but it doesn't cost what a Kimber does either.

The main reason I'm interested in it is the ambi safety because I'm a lefty. If I get the Taurus, after I get it cleaned up and all and have it available for use full-time, I'll probably get my Kimber to a 'smith to have an ambi safety put on it as well. After that, my Rock Island will get the same treatment.

jakeg823 wrote:$600 isn't bad, but I've had 2 family members buy railed versions brand new for $600 and $550. Last I was in Vans there was a brand new one for $630 I believe.

That being said, I've shot both of those pistols, one the blued all steel, one with aluminum frame. Both have functioned amazingly well!!!! And both have shot even better!!!!

My father in law, who is an excellent shot with a pistol, keeps his(aluminum railed) in 1" groups at 15 yds, off hand. My brother can't, but that's because he gets too caught up in seeing how fast he can blow through the 8 round magazine.

I've seen these guns have one hang up each. And they were both with Tula steel cased ammo from walmart.

At $600 if it's lightly used I'd say go ahead and buy it, because the deals are getting harder to come by on them. I'm still waiting for my bank account to line up with it one day when I happen to find the steel framed rail model for $650 or less, because at that price I'd be just as well off as I would driving all over creation looking for a better price.

That's definitely a glowing review. Thanks.

No worries about the steel-cased commie ammo. I only shoot that in the commie guns that are proven to handle it well - SKS, AK, Mosin, etc.

Taurus has an advantage over some of the other manufacturers when it comes to 1911s. Every component of the Taurus 1911 is made under one roof as opposed to some of the other manufacturers who have multiple suppliers for different parts. You can have much better quality control when you minimize supplier variations. This is true in any type of manufacturing. In my opinion Taurus offers the most bang for the buck in the 1911 department.

Brutus wrote:

jakeg823 wrote:$600 isn't bad, but I've had 2 family members buy railed versions brand new for $600 and $550. Last I was in Vans there was a brand new one for $630 I believe.

That being said, I've shot both of those pistols, one the blued all steel, one with aluminum frame. Both have functioned amazingly well!!!! And both have shot even better!!!!

My father in law, who is an excellent shot with a pistol, keeps his(aluminum railed) in 1" groups at 15 yds, off hand. My brother can't, but that's because he gets too caught up in seeing how fast he can blow through the 8 round magazine.

I've seen these guns have one hang up each. And they were both with Tula steel cased ammo from walmart.

At $600 if it's lightly used I'd say go ahead and buy it, because the deals are getting harder to come by on them. I'm still waiting for my bank account to line up with it one day when I happen to find the steel framed rail model for $650 or less, because at that price I'd be just as well off as I would driving all over creation looking for a better price.

That's definitely a glowing review. Thanks.

No worries about the steel-cased commie ammo. I only shoot that in the commie guns that are proven to handle it well - SKS, AK, Mosin, etc.

Ha I'm glad I could help. It's all personal experience and witness,no he said she said .

You could try the commie ammo in your Kimber though! My Compact CDP loves the stuff

Had one in the shop couple weeks ago to change out the sights on. Customer also wanted it cleaned. After the detail strip and clean I was doing all the function/safety checks. Thats when I noticed the hammer sear engagement was negative. Meaning as you pulled the trigger the hammer would start creeping forward [not good]. A correct fit you would feel the hammer cam back ever so slightly meaning a positive engagement. Customer said he would bring it back to be fixed, haven't seen or heard from him. Maybe he's getting up the money I don't know. On the invoice I noted the condition for liability reasons.

The gun was purchased new and was a little over a year old, so this problem was from the factory. Maybe it was just one that slipped through quality control.

Lock up was very good on this pistol so it probably shot well.

He probably was shooting some cheap or surplus ammo as this thing was really dirty.

Some things to check before money changes hands.
Loose breech
Lock Up
Hammer/Sear engagement [see above]
Safeties [manual and grip]

As far as price goes, it's used and he is asking close to new price. You be the judge [no Taurus pun intended] on that.

I had one, a blued model with no rail. It did quite well and was pretty darn accurate, but I sold it to get my Sr9c for concealment and the ability to afford the ammunition. My only complaint about the Taurus is Taurus as a company. Many people joke that their "lifetime warranty" means it takes you a lifetime to get your gun working or even returned to your possession. There are plenty of horror stories about Taurus' customer service floating around the net. With mine, I never needed to test it, but I was living in perpetual terror that I might have to. If I buy another 1911, I think I'll save a little more money and go with a Springfield loaded, possibly a used one. With that said, if you go ahead and get the Taurus, I wish you the best of luck with it, mine was a fun gun for sure.

Good timing for Taurus.... go to Budsgunshop.com who is having sales on many Taurus pistols right now! Was looking last night, thinkingo picking one up as well....

BeauBeaux wrote:Had one in the shop couple weeks ago to change out the sights on. Customer also wanted it cleaned. After the detail strip and clean I was doing all the function/safety checks. Thats when I noticed the hammer sear engagement was negative. Meaning as you pulled the trigger the hammer would start creeping forward [not good]. A correct fit you would feel the hammer cam back ever so slightly meaning a positive engagement. Customer said he would bring it back to be fixed, haven't seen or heard from him. Maybe he's getting up the money I don't know. On the invoice I noted the condition for liability reasons.

The gun was purchased new and was a little over a year old, so this problem was from the factory. Maybe it was just one that slipped through quality control.

Lock up was very good on this pistol so it probably shot well.

He probably was shooting some cheap or surplus ammo as this thing was really dirty.

Some things to check before money changes hands.
Loose breech
Lock Up
Hammer/Sear engagement [see above]
Safeties [manual and grip]

As far as price goes, it's used and he is asking close to new price. You be the judge [no Taurus pun intended] on that.

Thanks for that, Beau.

I definitely wouldn't want to get ahold of gun that has safety issues. I'll be sure to check that when I meet the guy to check it out.

Thanks for the bit on the price also.

TomBomb wrote:Good timing for Taurus.... go to Budsgunshop.com who is having sales on many Taurus pistols right now! Was looking last night, thinkingo picking one up as well....

Thanks a bunch, Tom.

Bud's has the same gun for $606 w/ free shipping.

Of course I'd have to get it received, but I can get that for $25-30. Say I was in for $640 on a new one, the guy I'm dealing with would have to come off a LOT to get me to bite, especially as it needs a lot of cleaning.

And since Bud's prices are pretty good overall, I might just go with a basic blued one and save even more. Never been much of a stainless guy anyhow. I've got one stainless gun and only have it because I got a HUGE deal on it - like new Ruger SP-101 3" bbl. .357 for $200.

Thanks again.

Brutus wrote:Thanks a bunch, Tom.

Bud's has the same gun for $606 w/ free shipping.

Of course I'd have to get it received, but I can get that for $25-30. Say I was in for $640 on a new one, the guy I'm dealing with would have to come off a LOT to get me to bite, especially as it needs a lot of cleaning.

And since Bud's prices are pretty good overall, I might just go with a basic blued one and save even more. Never been much of a stainless guy anyhow. I've got one stainless gun and only have it because I got a HUGE deal on it - like new Ruger SP-101 3" bbl. .357 for $200.

Thanks again.

I'll give you $250 for it

Brutus wrote:

TomBomb wrote:Good timing for Taurus.... go to Budsgunshop.com who is having sales on many Taurus pistols right now! Was looking last night, thinkingo picking one up as well....

Thanks a bunch, Tom.

Bud's has the same gun for $606 w/ free shipping.

Of course I'd have to get it received, but I can get that for $25-30. Say I was in for $640 on a new one, the guy I'm dealing with would have to come off a LOT to get me to bite, especially as it needs a lot of cleaning.

And since Bud's prices are pretty good overall, I might just go with a basic blued one and save even more. Never been much of a stainless guy anyhow. I've got one stainless gun and only have it because I got a HUGE deal on it - like new Ruger SP-101 3" bbl. .357 for $200.

Thanks again.

That's much more like it. To get me to buy anything used it has to be a heck of a deal, and still be in excellent condition! Which is why I've only ever bought 2 used guns. And didn't get a deal on them necessarily, but they were my 1st 2 guns so I didn't know what a deal was.

I'd go the buds route! Oh I forgot, I also have a friend with the blued no-rail model. He swears by it, but I haven't actually shot that one. Didn't wanna be seen with those fake pearl grips it came with ha...looked fine with the stock grips that also came in the case though.

I'm not a fan of taurus' blueing on their revos, looks like they do it with a sharpie. But the finish on their 1911s is very nice IMO

Who said this:

"They're ivory. Only a pimp carries a pearl-handled pistol!"

I've shot one once. It was nice. I've also had some buds shoot them with no complaints. I will say that I have seen a few used for closer to $500 than $600. Good luck!

PS, I'll give you $251 for the 101!

Brutus wrote:Who said this:

"They're ivory. Only a pimp carries a pearl-handled pistol!"

General George Patton!?

I understand Taurus's warranty service is spotty at best. Good luck if you ever need to warranty it. I would put my bucks toward a Rock Island Tactical if I were looking for a budget .45

I like Taurus revos's...aint never been a big fan of their semi's...

For a "budget" 1911 I'd have to look at a Springfield GI model

I've heard good things about the Rock Islands...just have never had one

Also in that price range, I might have to look at Remington's 100th anniversary edition it came out with this year...suppose to be a GI like 1911 with some decent sights

fastarrow wrote:

Brutus wrote:Who said this:

"They're ivory. Only a pimp carries a pearl-handled pistol!"

General George Patton!?

Bingo! We have a winner!