Hey gang. I've posted this thread on a few forums looking for all the advice I can get. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
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Our shop took in an estate of several firearms and we're in the process of selling them. (BTW, if this violates the terms of the site, I was unaware and apologize. I am not offering the item for sale on this forum, I am merely looking for assistance in putting a value on it.)

I have a Springfield Custom 1911, used, in the 9x23 Winchester caliber, with 2 magazines. The gun has been shot, but is in very, very good condition with the exception of a nasty mark right by the "A1" on the left side of the slide. You'll see it in the pictures. Beyond that glaring mark, the firearm is really an exceptional piece of craftsmanship. The fit is TIGHT. To rack the slide is difficult. To get the bushing off a wrench is absolutely necessary. There is absolutely no wiggle, slop, rattle, etc... It is what you'd expect out of Springfield's Custom shop. Trigger is super crisp, averages right at 2.0 lbs.

Anyway, it is truly a fine pistol. Then there's that whole caliber thing... 9x23 Winchester. I realize that will SEVERELY limit the market for this firearm. I'm getting ready to put this thing on Gunbroker, but I have no idea what to ask for it. I know that you usually can't order a custom shop gun for under $2K, what it originally cost is a mystery. It is used. It has a bad blemish on the slide. It is in a caliber that I assume will only appeal to people who already load it (We contacted Winchester. The caliber is still made, but only in rare batches). We actually have 250 rds of factory ammo, that we may or may not offer with the gun. 200 rds of Winchester 124gr Jacketed Soft Point, 50 rds of Winchester SuperX 125grain Silvertip hollow points.

If you don't mind, please take a look at the photos, and any thoughts on what to ask for this gun would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

That is a unique pistol, and a real beauty to boot. If you are planning on putting it on GunBroker why not start it at $.01 and see where it goes? That will certainly tell you what it is worth - it is worth what someone will pay for it! Or, as with most auctions, the greater of what two guys want to pay for it at the end!

Not sure a Springfield will bring the same dollars on the collector market as a Colt, but they do make some fine firearms. The other way to offer it for sale would be to pick an average starting price for a stainless 1911, say $450, and then put a reserve on it. Pick a number, $1000, $1500, $2000, let the bidding begin, and you will quickly find out what the pistol is worth. Same logic as above, but with some insurance that it doesn't get sold too cheap. Try it once with a higher reserve, if no bites then work your way back down. I would offer it with the ammo, sweetens the pot for your buyer.

You never score high by aiming low.

Good luck.

Do you have the build sheet? Do you have any idea when it was built? Depending on when it was built and who was running the shop at that time the gun may have a bump in value. A guy named Les. If I were you I would hope it was built between 1989 to 1992 would be perfection. Looking at the box I am going to guess it is a newer build. I would call SA and ask them when it was built and if you can get the build sheet. That will help. With these type of guns providence of the exact work done goes a long way.

The scratch on the slide will hurt the value but it might be able to be buffed out by a professional.

This is one of those custom pieces that will take some time to sell at the right, highest, price. You need to be patient and get the right buyer who "needs" this gun.

If it were mine depending on what I had in it and how fast I needed to get my $$$ out I would look to get in the $2500+ range but it will take some time to get it.

A springer trophy in 40 was on gbroker a while ago. Bidding was at 1250 with a bin of 1500. I went back on day 2 of auction to buy it...it was gone.

I would start at .01..for a 2 week auction, ending on Sunday night.

Overpriced guns on gbroker are like houses on the market, once they've been there a while...they seem to stay there a long time.

The SA Trophy is not in the same class as this pistol. That is a production gun not a full SA custom gun. It certainly saw more attention then standard Loaded or current Range officer but nothing like a SA Custom Shop gun. IMHO

They were lucky to get 1500 YMMV

No, they weren't lucky to get $1500. Those guns are highly desired in the right circles and will bring that money all day in good condition.

To the OP, that gun is probably a more recent build. It has an SVI trigger shoe and interchangeable trigger. SVI started in the mid to late 90's and I'm not sure when the interchangeable stuff came out. The roll marks look more like a CNC done engraving to me. 9x23 would be a caliber for an old school IPSC guy or someone who lives in a country where citizens can't own firearms in military calibers.

It looks gorgeous. In the pics the mark on the slide borders upon negligible. It's from Springfield Armory Custom Shop in a rarefied caliber that might appeal to the kind of collector who has the cash to buy a SACS.

I think you're selling this curiosity short.

Call SACS and find out what it would cost to have one built today and list it for a touch less -- see what happens.

Hey guys,

After this thing going on the back burner for a bit, and then some mag issues, she is running like a top and ready to go on auction.

It will be on GB tonight. [EDIT: Per another member's advice, I removed the link as I was told that was a no-no. My bad! If you search GB auctions, I don't imagine there are too many 9x23 1911s to sift through ]

I set a pretty ambitious buy it now price just in case someone goes for the impulse buy, but I will say that the reserve is set significantly lower than the BIN price.

Check it out, tell your friends, and happy bidding!

Thanks for the advice along the way!

"Then there's that whole caliber thing... 9x23 Winchester. I realize that will SEVERELY limit the market for this firearm. "

Be aware that it will also handle .38 Super, in addition to 9x23mm. But it may require a lighter recoil spring.

Agreed. I am quite certain it will require a lighter spring. The 9x23 Spring is STOUT. I test fired it the other day, 9x23 is one hot little round.

I have done a lot of experimentation with the 9x23. I stopped when I reached a MV of 1500 ft/sec with a military 124 grain FMJ bullet. That was with about 8.8 grains of AA#5. One must use a propellant with a high bulk density, and AA#5 is among the highest in that regard. Small rifle primers are essential for the 9x23. I don't remember the recoil spring weight I used, but it was about the highest that Wolff sells. You can also use a 9mm barrel in it if the 9x19 is more your speed, but you need a much lighter recoil spring for that. I use a GI spring for the Beretta M9/M92 in my GM, just about right for the 9mm.

That'll leave a mark.

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