What's a Custom 1911 worth to you?

by slabsides45 on Fri May 01, 2009 5:57 pm

Just finished (narrowly avoided) an online auction for a Wilson Combat CQB Compact. Nice piece, mind you, but it was pricey. So I ask the question: how many "regular" 1911's is a custom gun like that worth to y'all?

On another forum, I asked the same question, and virtually all the responders said they'd gladly give 2 or 3 production (SA, Colt, or Kimber) 1911's for just one custom. Looking at the prices for customs, I'd say you'd just about HAVE to, as they start at a minimum of $1,550 for a bare Les Baer and move up to around 5K easily. I have a bobbed Kimber that shoots great, a CDP Pro and CDP Custom II that are great shooters, and a RIA with lasergrips that shoots lights out. So are the customs that much better?

What say you?

by msredneck on Fri May 01, 2009 6:14 pm

In "current times" I feel they (customs) are hard to justify.

I've never owned one, but have shot a few Les Baer's. It was nice, but I could not tell any real difference between it and my Kimber Pro Carry.

For me, I just cannot justify the expense. Think I'd almost rather get a something like a Springfield Mil-Spec and then send it to someone like Clark Custom and have a few things done to it

http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/

In the end, however I think you still end up with a gun that costs $1500 or more.

One more thought...about the time I get convinced that gun prices can't go up anymore...they go up a bunch....

Morale of the story...If you feel good about the weapon and it makes economic sense to you...jump on it. Cause tomorrow it will either be unavailable....be changed by the manufacturer (ie have plastic parts put in it....See Dougs posts)...or worse...may be banned....

1911's that I thought were high at $700 - $900 a couple of yrs ago would be a bargain today.

Just my rambling 2 cents 2 cents

by **Hammer** on Fri May 01, 2009 8:34 pm

If I were to be shooting in competition and had major sponsors, I could justify the cost of a custom 1911. But for the shooting I do, my mil-spec springfield does the job. I really want a Kimber Raptor.

by **Rbelote** on Fri May 01, 2009 9:08 pm

Man its hard to get a sponsor. A good custom is worth alot, but alot of the big name guys cut corners. Why? to much demand cause everyone drools over having a Wilson, les baer, nighthawk, etc. Many of them use storm lake barrels or nock off Bomars (except wilson uses their version of a bomar which is better). They will make a nice frame and slide, but possibly farm out the small parts to other manufacturers.

Hammer feel free to call me any time if you want to talk about competition.

by RDRJR on Fri May 01, 2009 9:16 pm

To me it's like a high end sports car, would be nice to own but would rather the two or three production models I could get for the price.

by **captain-03** on Fri May 01, 2009 9:23 pm

Have never shot one -- much less owned one .... Would I like to have one? Surely!! However, I, too, can not justify the cost factor involved. Guns to me are like toys to a kid. When it is new it gets played with a lot. After a little time has passed, it winds up in the toy box rarely to be played with again. It seems that I am always wanting something new and different. A custom would just find its way to the back of the safe one day displaced by another new toy!!

by **Hammer** on Fri May 01, 2009 9:29 pm

Rbelote wrote:Hammer feel free to call me any time if you want to talk about competition.

I may do that! thumbs up

by BLK RIFLE on Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:29 pm

I have a Colt Govt Model 80 with a Colt Officers Model 70 slide assy on it that I carried for years. I am 72 and have been shooting since I started reloading in 1960. I can still hold a 4 inch group on center mass at 10 yards and that is about how close most shootour are. i
Don't need to spend $1000 bucks on a pistol that will let me do the same thing.

by **Beladran** on Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:53 pm

4 inch group at 10 yards?? Drive south to mccomb an shoot in NRA action pistol match with us. I bet we could get that to 4 inches at 50 yards

by jakeg823 on Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:52 pm

BLK RIFLE wrote:I have a Colt Govt Model 80 with a Colt Officers Model 70 slide assy on it that I carried for years. I am 72 and have been shooting since I started reloading in 1960. I can still hold a 4 inch group on center mass at 10 yards and that is about how close most shootour are. i
Don't need to spend $1000 bucks on a pistol that will let me do the same thing.

Whoah!!!! Where can you find a custom 1911 for $1000? That colt of yours brand new would be in the thousand dollar range these days.....a grand doesn't get what it used to, hence the popularity of the cheaper polymer pistols

by BigDaddyQ on Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:39 pm

I finally held the STI spartan its only about $551 dollars and its a WHOLE lotta gun for the money. I also held a $3500 custom STI edge and I couldn't even think about trying to justify the difference.

by sidroski on Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:56 pm

I had a 2nd job back in 90-91. They paid twice a semester. I used the money to buy a safe, firearms and other stuff I wouldn't have had the money for.
Anyway, I was down picking up my rifle in South Jackson at that dealer around the corner from the old Discount. Think one of those Crechale's (Paul?) owned it. Fella looked to be about 55-60 was ahead of me. He was down there picking up a custom 1911. Small place so you couldn't help but overhear what anyone was saying.
Bottom line, this fella got a custom 1911 and had paid $2600 for it. That was 1991 dollars. Wanted to fondle it but the old fella seemed he didn't want a kid putting an idiot scratch on it so I didn't ask. After he left, I immersed myself in my new toy and never asked what that fella got.

by msredneck on Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:09 am

If I'm dropping $3500 on a gun it better shoot 1/2 inch at 600 yards Razz

I'd rather have some old Colt 1911's - with character on em than a brand spanking new custom 1911.

In the few USPSA shoots I participated in....the folks that had the most trouble with Jams, FTF, FTE where the tricked out STI's and such...

A really really tight 1911 looks like a PIA to me.

JMB designed em to run loose....folks try to make it something it aint

by sand_man on Sat Dec 10, 2011 9:34 am

I love the 1911 but have no use for a high end job. All I need is 1/4 " of bad guy across the room.

by JohnHeiter on Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:20 am

IMO, you're also confusing "custom" with guns from big name shops who have better than average quality control. I was able to pick and choose some of the options on my truck but it's not a "custom" truck by any means. A custom to me means you had input on all the components, decided on the checkering and slide cuts you wanted or didn't want, spent some time with the gun in the white getting it lapped in and making decisions like "I think I want to take a little more material off the ambi-safety or undercut the grip a little more" and then decide how you want it finished, coated, etc. Being able to name the smith who built it and not just the shop because you worked with them through the whole process. Customs from a master gun smith are absolutely worth the money.

by **Xd357** on Sat Dec 10, 2011 12:18 pm

Great post John!!

Y'all are talking more about a semi-custom. Not full custom.

by jakeg823 on Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:11 pm

Xd357 wrote:Great post John!!

Y'all are talking more about a semi-custom. Not full custom.

Exactly. And with so many companies(cough Kimber cough) slapping "custom shop" on everything they produce, people confuse a higher end production gun with a semi-custom like a Wilson Combat, or a full custom from an individual builder....there is a HUGE difference

by cwsunley63 on Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:44 am

msredneck wrote:In "current times" I feel they (customs) are hard to justify.

I've never owned one, but have shot a few Les Baer's. It was nice, but I could not tell any real difference between it and my Kimber Pro Carry.

For me, I just cannot justify the expense. Think I'd almost rather get a something like a Springfield Mil-Spec and then send it to someone like Clark Custom and have a few things done to it

http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/

Custom 1911 45 cal pistols need the following requirements:

1) master gunsmith or educated gun enthusiasts- knowledgeable on the
subject.
2) select frame & slide-perform all tests required for proper action.
3) custom made to owners hand, wrists, and hand.
4) proper trigger pull.
5) build all desired features.
6) Realize that this customed made pistol is hard to trade or sell.
7) "Because it is customed built to the individual." Collectors are aware!

In the end, however I think you still end up with a gun that costs $1500 or more.

One more thought...about the time I get convinced that gun prices can't go up anymore...they go up a bunch....

Morale of the story...If you feel good about the weapon and it makes economic sense to you...jump on it. Cause tomorrow it will either be unavailable....be changed by the manufacturer (ie have plastic parts put in it....See Dougs posts)...or worse...may be banned....

1911's that I thought were high at $700 - $900 a couple of yrs ago would be a bargain today.

Just my rambling 2 cents

[b]

by ftsibley on Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:59 pm

JohnHeiter wrote:IMO, you're also confusing "custom" with guns from big name shops who have better than average quality control. I was able to pick and choose some of the options on my truck but it's not a "custom" truck by any means. A custom to me means you had input on all the components, decided on the checkering and slide cuts you wanted or didn't want, spent some time with the gun in the white getting it lapped in and making decisions like "I think I want to take a little more material off the ambi-safety or undercut the grip a little more" and then decide how you want it finished, coated, etc. Being able to name the smith who built it and not just the shop because you worked with them through the whole process. Customs from a master gun smith are absolutely worth the money.

well spoken, my gunsmith is just about finished with my true custom 1911. I have slowly over about 18m had the work done a bit at a time, takes some of the sting out of it and makes it more difficult to figure out just how much you have spent. Smile

; i started out with a colt lightweight commander. I talk with my smith all the time about what i wanted and his recommendations. first thing i had done to it is was reliability job and new sights; then had it bobtailed and 25lpi hand checkering done on front strap. the final job that he is finishing is schumann bushingless barrell and all new trigger,sear,springs,ect. and a two tone teflon finish, gray bottom and black top.
Once Tim finishes that the only thing stock on the gun will be frame and slide. I have spent a lot of time deciding on just what i want, with Tim's input on each part that i am using. It will be a gun custom built to my specifications. I cant wait to get it back in my hands.

by **Xd357** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:09 pm

ftsibley wrote:
well spoken, my gunsmith is just about finished with my true custom 1911. I have slowly over about 18m had the work done a bit at a time, takes some of the sting out of it and makes it more difficult to figure out just how much you have spent. :) ; i started out with a colt lightweight commander. I talk with my smith all the time about what i wanted and his recommendations. first thing i had done to it is was reliability job and new sights; then had it bobtailed and 25lpi hand checkering done on front strap. the final job that he is finishing is schumann bushingless barrell and all new trigger,sear,springs,ect. and a two tone teflon finish, gray bottom and black top.
Once Tim finishes that the only thing stock on the gun will be frame and slide. I have spent a lot of time deciding on just what i want, with Tim's input on each part that i am using. It will be a gun custom built to my specifications. I cant wait to get it back in my hands.

Sounds like a nice pistol but its still a semi-custom.

What's a Custom 1911 worth to you?

What's a Custom 1911 worth to you?

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Tailored 1911 customed 45 cal!

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