What's a Custom 1911 worth to you?

[b]1/1/2012

Happy New Year to all 2012!

I would not bother to purchase a customized 1911 45 cal auto.
The standard 45 cal tuned is one hell of a weapon.
Customized 45 is tailored to the individual gun owners needs & desires. Why would any individual want to purchase another owners designed gun? Get you a 45 standard pistol and customize
it to your specs. Besides a customized 45 is not suited for collection and use.

cwsunley63 wrote:1/1/2012

Happy New Year to all 2012!

I would not bother to purchase a customized 1911 45 cal auto.
The standard 45 cal tuned is one hell of a weapon.
Customized 45 is tailored to the individual gun owners needs & desires. Why would any individual want to purchase another owners designed gun? Get you a 45 standard pistol and customize
it to your specs. [b]Besides a customized 45 is not suited for collection and use.

I'd beg to differ that they're not collectible. I'd love to have one of Richard Heinie's 1911's from when he was still doing gunsmith work. The same goes for the late Jim Clark Sr.

And as for them not being suited for use, why would you dump all that money into them just to look at them? I'm not going to pay for all the work to have it sit in a case. My custom gun gets shot more in a month than most guns get shot in a year.

[b]01/03/2012

Thank you for your opinion on collectible customized 1911 45 cal. pistol.

My definition of collectible has two parts. 1) I want to customize a particular pistol
tuned to my needs and specs. It is understandable that thew cost to develop such
a pistol would demand a high costs. Due to the professional expertise required to
build such a piece.

2) Collection of a weapons such have the consideration: It is a marketable asset
Could gain a profit if sold.
Is it trade able?

3) That is why you need to ask yourself. What is my purpose to customize or purchase
a particular gun? I like standard Guns. An original 1911 45 cal from springfield or
Colt firearms is my definition of a collectible.

cwsunley63 wrote:... An original 1911 45 cal from springfield or
Colt firearms is my definition of a collectible.

You left out Remington UMC! I agree but would also include the WWII 1911A1 contractors as collectible makers too.

[b]01/04/2012

I did not state that it has to be collectable. I merely conveyed that
there are several viewpoints and purposes to buying & using a pistol.
Please remember that the original topic was how much would you
pay for a customized version 1911 45 cal auto. What this pistol discussion appears to being revealed are: There are several view points in the purpose of customizing a 1911 pistol. "personal"
individual "preferences."
I welcome your valuable opinion and viewpoint. That is the purpose of this firearms discussion. Cover all preferences, viewpoints, needs. and experiences. Nothing is written in stone. Thank you.
[i] like your opinion, in turn let me have mine.

i think the original topic was discussing custom 1911's.... nothing stated it had to be 45acp, could be 9mm could be 40. with custom you also have available different chambering options over what is available from the factory.

I really dont concern myself on custom guns with ROI or collectability, i have them built for my taste and for a specific purpose... i use my guns, there are no safe queens at my house.
I shoot the snot our of my guns... that is why i own them. My widow can find out if they were a wise investment or not if she chooses to liquidate then after i am dead.

b01/04/2011

I welcome your opinion and the desire to express.
That's what makes a a discussion interesting and educational.

You have proven to me that individual needs & wants of a gun owner.
The purpose of your motivation to purchase a pistol.

Look up above your posting in blue letters.

RE: What's a Custom 1911 Worth to You?

the original browning 1911 the source of others: 45 cal 230 grain
hard ball. The other calibers came later.

1911 /100 years in existence.

Glad you shoot the snot out of your guns. Glad your not a safe Queen. That makes me less concern.

to me, a good custom is worth two used guns and some change (a little over $1800 to be precise).

i also went through this whole stage of getting everyone else's opinion on value, quality, and practicality. however, in the end, you're better off to just get what you want. don't worry about what anyone else thinks about your purchase, so long as it serves its intended purpose and you're happy with it.

This is my opinion. I own 5 1911's 2 kimber's one a custom and one a customII. Neither is the expensive kimbers both are around $1000.00 each value now. I also own 3 rock Island 1911's 2 full sized ones and one a compact model. Out of the 5 I have never had a hangup or failure to feed or any type of problem They shoot all types of ammo reloads with all types of bullets even the cheap steel cased roundnose bullets without any problem. When I bought these pistols new I paid twice as much for the kimbers each as I paid for the rock island guns each. The fit is as tight on the rock island's is just as tight as the kimbers. I like the kimber sights better than the rock island sights and the finish is nicer on the kimbers. All 5 are very accurate and are capable of a lot more accuracy than I can get from them. All have been 100% reliable with any ammo I have tried. How could a $5000.00 1911 be any better outside the prestige of owning a custom built $5000.00 1911. I paid $359.00 each for the 3 rock island pistols and around $750.00 each for the kimbers years ago. All 5 are great shooting guns and a top quality custom 1911 wouldn't be any better for reliability or more accurate for myself so I see no need to personally buy one at 5 to 10 times higher price than what I already have that does everything I expect it to do and is 100% reliable with almost anything you feed it. I read a lot of riteups on 1911's and yes top line custom built ones that have feeding issues and problems especially in the so called breakin period of several hundred rounds. Every one of mine have been 100% from round #1.

Tommy Kelly wrote:How could a $5000.00 1911 be any better outside the prestige of owning a custom built $5000.00 1911.

$5000 is a little high for what I'd pay.

I don't know how to answer your question further than what's already been stated. I do know that a well built custom gun (one that was built from a bare frame, not a modified factory gun) will be more accurate, more reliable, more durable, have a better trigger, and arguably much better looking than any production line gun. Also, the gun is built to fit your needs and your specifications.

There is nothing wrong with a production line gun.

Custom guns are better.

RDRJR wrote: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.

Bingo!