How many folks actually buy the tricked out handguns that I see in the magazines? I for one would not spend the prices that Wilson, Baer, Nighthawk and others charge for their guns.

My first Colt was a Combat Commander that I paid $175.00 NIB in a gunshop, back about 1974. In the late 80's I never paid more than $275 for on good used Colt and about $200 for a US GI M1911A1. The most I have ever spent for a .45 Auto is $1000 for a original Series 70 National Match Gold Cup with a Colt Conversion Unit, that was about 10 or so years ago.

That their prices seem to start at $2000 and go up to over $5000, flabbergasts me. Do folks really buy them?

I have seen one Les Baer M1911 on our range. The guy that owned it was real proud of it to say the least. I shot it and was not impressed. He shot my Gold Cup and left. The accuracy of the Gold Cup was better than his pistol.

So like I asked do folks really fork over the bucks for them?

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I know of one who frequents this forum. The man has pockets way deeper than mine.

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Release the Kraken

That’s a hard NO for me. I don’t even like the S&W PC revolvers.

LOL, I bought an Astra instead of a 629. So, prolly not…

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

Competition shooters with money, maybe?

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Come and take it!!

Model 1911 platform--TISAS

Back in the days when 1911's basically came GI stock, the amount of work it took to make it an accurate bullseye or competition gun was quite a bit. Done by a good gunsmith on an hourly rate would raise the price up there, plus the parts. It took altering the back frame to fit a beaver-tail grip safety, altering the feed ramp to feed SWC bullets, altering the ejection port to lower it and relieve it for reliable ejection, maybe fitting a commander ejector, tuning the ejector rod, stoning the sear and maybe taking up to .015 or more off a hammer hook.

Lots of work at maybe $60 per hr back then, (80's). If you went to an action pistol, IPSC, USPSA, IDPA, or Bullseye match you would find quite a lot of these level of altered 1911's on the firing line.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I remember seeing 945's in magazines.
Yeah I bought one.
Another after that.

I'll buy/pay for what I think is quality up to a point.
I've bought Anschutz rifles generally used ones but a fitting example and have no regrets.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I have no desire for a high-dollar 1911, but I try not to spend too much time concerning myself with what other people “waste” their money on.

I’m too busy spending (and often “wasting”) money on the things *I* like.

While I’m sure this doesn’t hold true for everyone, I feel certain most of us who are regular participants on firearms forums are guilty of owning more guns than we have any practical need for.

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Mark Lathem

Not I. While I’m sure they shoot well I find many of them visually unappealing, in addition to being too expensive.

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Some Might Say.

I bought a Dan Wesson Specialist 45 acp for around $1200 about 10 years ago. No regrets, as I feel the gun was worth the price. Problem now is the ammunition has gotten expensive.

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2B1ASK1

I’m a plain Jane kind of guy. I like utilitarian firearms. Nothing fancy that I have to baby or give special attention to. Same way with automobiles. Wouldn’t spend the extra money even if I had it to spend!

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otis

Everyone has their value-limit, I guess. I own a few very nice firearms that I thought were a bit of an extravagance at the time. And I have passed up opportunities for a few outstanding deals on extraordinary guns, because I just couldn't afford them at the time.

Would I spend thousands on a custom pistol? Right now? No. If I had it to spend without having to wonder if I could afford it? Absolutely.

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Ain't This Fun Though?

...with those kind of firearms. They ain't for me at all. I don't even wish I had money to buy guns like that. I would be looking at something more appealing to me. Milsurp rifle or classic revolver. A bolt or semi rifle for range duty. Maybe a variety of small carry pistol.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Tens of 1,000s, probably hundreds of 1,000s of people by these firearms on a annual basis, otherwise we would not see so many Companies offering them

Smith and Wesson sells many thousands of Performance Center firearms each and every year both revolvers and auto loaders. Going on for decades now

For decades SIG has been selling many thousands of the Master Shop pistols each and every year

Then there are the custom builders who can't keep up with the demand

Our shop, which has recently closed, has been producing handbuilt 1911s going back over 70 years now.

Not counting the time to machine the base parts, it takes a Master Gunsmith 60 to 80 man hours to properly fit and assemble a precision 1911 depending on the options chosen by the customer.

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"Acta non verba"

I'm basically a minimalist...less is more. I only like those modifications that actually enhance a gun's reliability and utility. Many mods do not or actually decrease those aspects.

Mods I like? Tritium night sights...good grips that are not only functional but aesthetically so...but I do not like finger groove grips regardless of how well made they are. I was dragged kicking and screaming into red dot sights on a long gun...my eyes are not what they used to be and they are an enhancement.

You actually paid $1,143.14 for that Combat Commander. You have to adjust for inflation.

I often see folks on other forums that spend literal fortunes on tricked out 1911's and AR platform rifles...When they inevitably attempt to sell or trade the completely tricked out gun, they can't get half of what they paid to customize it....They then go on rants about not understanding why people would rather just buy a base Tisas 1911 or PSA AR?

The bottom line on these super custom guns are they are customized to the original buyer's liking and not what the new buyer necessarily likes.

Wonder how many of these "tricked out" firearms are sold to departments/military and paid for by taxpayers?

For an untold number of reasons I'd say not many.

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- Change it back -

I don't think I have ever spent more than $700 for any gun, and I don't think I ever will. I have a couple that were worth more than that when I acquired them, but they were the results of two-for-one or three-for-two type trades.

In 1956, after reviewing the new Python, Elmer Keith said he didn't think anyone would ever spend a weeks wages on a pistol.

I have never spent a week's wages on a pistol. I think the most I every spent was on the new Ruger 1911. I have a Series 70 Gold Cup, but I bought it used for $325.

People like different things, and people spend their money on different things.

Some guys like high end watches while others are fine with basic models. Some guys buy high end cars while others are fine with economy models. Some folks buy expensive cigars, whiskys/ies or wine, at prices others think are crazy.

Some folks are into to high end, rare, or exotic guns...

One of our members, years ago, bought over a dozen or so Registered Magnums and joked about how he was surviving on instant ramen in consequence.

Whatever floats your boat. Your bucks to spend as you please.


I had over $5000 in this gun, years ago:



A guy kept buggin' me to sell it to him, so finally I said I would for what I had in it, figuring I'd run him off. Much to my chagrin, he bought it.

Been kickin' myself ever since..

If folks don’t buy them, they won’t stay in business.
The roster of failed Gun Makers is a story unto itself.
Such as - in my much younger days I see the Whitney Wolverine in a Magazine.
What a gun! I wanted one.
Later when I actually saw one, I realized the mag stories were more than a little overstated.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Yes.

A company would not make high end firearms if people didn’t buy them. Looking at a big Les Baer distributor’s inventory, the least expensive 1911 they have is $2,500. Wilson Combat’s base model is $3,300. Both companies are very successful.

A quick look turned up exactly one (1) Daniels Defense AR-15 for less than $2,000. I could assemble a very good rifle for myself for that much, but many (most?) people cannot. High quality receivers for custom bolt action rifles start at $900 (ARC Coup de Grace) and go on up from there. A Kreiger barrel costs $400 and up - and that’s not even chambered - just the rifled barrel. Do the arithmetic on a custom bolt action rifle.

I understand the approach of “a gun is a tool.” Will a Marlin 336 Classic kill a deer any deader than a Rossi R-95? No. The Marlin can sell for $100s more because it has better fit & finish, more attractive wood, and a name with nearly 150 years of history. Some people spend money on women or cars or motorcycles or guitars or boats or travel or booze. I can’t imagine spending $500 on a bottle of wine but there are people who do and they enjoy it.

We quit flying coach on airlines some 10 years ago, opting for more leg room. Last year or two we have opted to fly business class on long flights, and first class on short ones.

Do we get there the same time as the cheap seats? Yes, but being much more comfortable and having all the perks of upgrades make airline travel a bit more enjoyable, to us.

I don’t look down upon those less fortunate, nor am I envious of those more fortunate.

Whatever blows your hair back as my FIL used to say.

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Sure you did

I just did that today…upgraded seats for more legroom on a flight in a few weeks. I’m 6’03” and cannot stand my legs being scrunched up into the seat ahead of me for hours…and it gets worse if the person ahead of me decides to recline their seat back. At my age comfort is more important than saving a few dollars.

I remember buying S&W revolvers years ago and thinking/knowing I was getting the high end of the market. To me that was the Holy Grail.

I spent my money on guns, cars and women…the rest I just wasted.

I have a NIB Govt series 70 from the mid 70's that I paid 1500 for but that is about it. My other stuff is way less. I do not need .5" groups. 1" is just fine. I am not a bullseye shooter. So I see no Wilson combat in my future.

Now on the other hand you should have seen my hand shake when I wrote the check for 2 matched K-80's consecutive serial numbered.

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Guess it all depends what one thinks __________( fill in the blank) is worth to them. Personally I Never spend $$$ on high end anything. For shooting Iv’e seen WAY More people with expensive guns that can not shoot them any better than ones half their price. Many think a high priced gun makes them a better shot.

You cannot buy skill. Skill has to be developed regardless of how much innate aptitude you’re born with.

It would vary depending on what I was trying to do. I spent a pretty penny on a Hilton Yam 10-8 that I carried as a duty weapon. It worked well every time, and was a better platform than my skill level. I switched to the issue G21 because of the holster, not the pistol.

I bought top quality ARs (Bravo Company) as a long term investment in my well being, partly based on seeing what did and did not work in serious carbine classes with Pat Rogers and a Dean Caputo basic maintenance class. The number of lesser quality platforms that malfunctioned regularly was frightening, and interfered with that shooters learning and ours.

I am left handed, and long-term reliable ambi safeties on 1911s can be a problem. I have a custom 1911 that is mostly in the nature of a barbecue gun (the serial # is my bar #), and a 945-1 compact. If I were to buy another 1911, it would likely be in Super 38, and with features that work for me. Cost is not the same as value. A right hander can do well with a stock 1911 with decent sights most of the time. Back in the day, as others have noted, it took a lot of handwork to make a 1911 right for serious use; that is not so true now and for example the Tisa products seems to have a consistently good reputation.

Take this out of guns. I had a Subaru Legacy for several years and when it got to the point of a lot of wear (187K), I would have bought another but for two factors. One is that they no longer made one with a manual transmission, which was very disappointing. The other is that I wanted a vehicle that would take two good sized (Rott) dog crates. That meant an Ascent, for substantially more.

We are working on getting a Super C motor home built. The build quality of most RVs is abysmal, and I would never have a Class A for that and other reasons (acceptable quality starts at well over $1 million) and the power trains, brakes, suspension, handling, etc. generally are not near as good as a Super C built on a Class 8 truck. I can actually kept the cost within what I consider reasonable, because we will not have slides and other crud, but it has been a chore to find what I want and it looks like I will have to change platforms from a KW 880 to some Western Star model. I can make it work. It also avoids the crud that goes with flying.

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NHI, 10-8.

Correct, but to be honest though, a lot of that is just range day bragging rights with branding.

After state retirement, I worked county with a female deputy that had to qualify with her off duty gun right next to me. Her husband, ( a Lieutenant), had bought her a beautiful FN Browning High Power....It was exquisite to look at. But either her or it couldn't qualify. It jammed, was wildly inconsistent, etc? Maybe it was her or maybe the gun, but the main qualifying department gun was a .45 Glock 21 and she did fine with that? Anecdotal I know.

For off duty, I carried and still have a S&W SD9VE and it shot flawlessly and I did fine with it even with a heavy trigger, but I was used to it? I dunno?

Again, I think a decent quality firearm and consistent shooting skills eliminates many of the problems that a $2000 custom gun "fixes".

I am 6' 3" and I still fly coach, but I always choose the emergency exit for $30 more for the redneck first class legroom.

We used to do that but there’s more rednecks than I imagined flying.

I’m 6’4” and overweight according to the the govt (fat shamers they) @220

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Sure you did

I know a few people here , one posted , that have amassed quite a few of these type guns . I started with 945's , then heard about 845's , and ended up with one of each model of 845 . I've shot other high end 45's , but the 845's take the cake . Now my range , and forum , buddy has some Sig's from the old German pro shop . I'm partial to S&W's , but those Sig's of his are enough to make a gun guy start slobbering .

AJ , one of these days either I'll visit you or you can come over here and I'll bring some of my PC guns and we'll make a day of it .

I distinctly remember the first time I spent $500 for a firearm. It was for a used but unfired series 70 Colt Gold Cup NM, about 1978 or '79. I remember thinking this was a crazy amount of money to spend for a gun, and that it would probably be the most expensive gun I ever purchased in my lifetime.

AAAhhh, sweet ignorant bliss.....

Larry

It was interesting to watch the Rock Island Auction over the last three days. All kinds of firearms sold for tremendous sums of money. Go look at the results and prepare yourself for sticker shock. There were individual guns selling for the price of houses.

Life is too short to not have some of the things you lust after. Some i know that i will not afford BUT i do not begrudge others that can ,. It nice to see them on the forum and in person.

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age is just a number

NO COMPARISON..........He didn't buy it today.........He bought it long ago........Doesn't count

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S&W Accumulator

In 1980. My wife bought me a 6 in Python from their custom shop for $480.00 for building her(us) a house. I still have it......So....Iffen I ever sold for for $500.00....I'd still be making a $20 profit after owning it for 44 years.

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S&W Accumulator

Were you looking at just the bid numbers, or did what you saw include their 23% (or is it 26% these days) premium.

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Release the Kraken

It's the Indian.........Not the arrow.

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S&W Accumulator

I bought a Les Baer years ago and it never occurred to me to brag about it. It is a fine firearm both in terms of function and appearance.

I also bought this for $300 - that I’ll brag about!


Inglis Hi Power made 1944, factory refurbished 1963, ugly as sin and runs like a top.

"COST IS NOT THE SAME AS VALUE".........Sir, that should be carved in stone somewhere.

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S&W Accumulator

Shortly after Y2K, my brother, myself and 4 or 5 other guys from our conservation club would meet every Saturday morning for a 45 shoot. My brother has always been a better handgun shooter than me! I was holding my own against him with the parts gun (1911) I built in the mid 80's. then he bought some sort of target model Kimber. The I had to "UP-GUN" to my best Sig 220 from W.Germany in the early 80's. He Responded with ordering a top of the line Kimber Custom Shop and a Wilson Custom build. They arriver about two weeks apart and were really cleaning my clock! Both gun were on par with each other, but on any Saturday he would shoot one gun better than the other. I figured out that it was the pressure inside his eyeball as the major difference in the gun were the rear sights. There was no way I could swing the money to order a custom Wilson just to "Keep up with the Jones!"

I was in a LGS and the had a 625 Series of 1989. With my good reloads I would beat his custom 1911's using that S&W revolver. He declared a foul as I used a revolver and him a 1911. If you target won't win...Change the rules!

Ivan

Have people noticed new pickups selling for $90k plus?

Or small 40 year old houses selling for over a million?

Or $18 hamburgers?

Why would one expect firearms to remain inexpensive?

On the other side I know 35 year old engineers making $300k per year and with spouses who make make just as much.

Old retired people had better lay in a stock of Spam and cat food while they still can afford to.

Welcome to the incredible shrinking dollar.

I am not complaining or braging .A retired mech .steel worker at the age of 74 i lost my wife of 55 years.GETTING to the point.I decided that i wanted to have aaa gun built as a memorial to her (we shot together )
I now have a COLT pocket 32 cal Engraved re-blued, and Ivory Grips
Scrimshawed ,with a different ROSE
on each panel and on the bottom of the trigger guard well over the monthly budget .Went past my limit on it but i will keep it with no regrets and don't miss the money one bit II
I do miss her
Each time i look at it i think of my wife ROSE

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age is just a number

But if the arrow is bad so can be the shot.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726