What do people do with a $4,000 1911?

[OIF2]

Bullseye match shooting. Standing. One hand.
50 yd X ring is ~1.65".

A 1st class hand built 1911 can do 1" @ 50 yds out of a machine rest. Plus, you need a clean and predictable 3 lb trigger. And, absolute reliability. It's gonna cost you, and you can't get that sort of performance out of the box.

That's a whole different ballgame than "minute of trashcan" groups at slingshot distances....

Precisely. This one, built by former AMU Armorer Justin McMillan of Hill Country Handguns in TX doesn't cost 4 grand, but it's close. Group fired from fifty yds from a machine rest, Fed factory match. 4 lb roll trigger, set for service pistol rules.
Bob

 

[gman51]

I would say there are a lot of $4000 1911 guns that don't get shot or get shot maybe a few times then they become safe queens.

I imagine there are also some that bought one because they wanted to shoot it and show it off while doing so. I imagine some wouldn't care if it got scratched up or worn after all it was made to be used.

I am like the above in that I can't hardly have a gun and not shoot it. That would be like buying a Corvette and putting it in storage up on blocks. Not going to happen with me. I have a Colt that has supposedly never been fired and I will probably shoot it anyway. What is the point of the gun having a great trigger action and accuracy if it doesn't get shot?

I had a Wilson Combat that was a $2000 gun not a $5000 but I didn't find I had better results with it than my $800 Kimber so I sold the WC for a $200 profit. The expensive guns really take a price loss if they even get scratched or have signs of wear. I sold the WC before it got scratched.

LOL I guess not many of us can honestly say what a person does with a $5000 1911 since most of us don't own one or even know someone that owns one. I am not in the circle to really know.

 

[max]

Years ago I read a review of a $5,000 1911 in American Handgunner. Needless to say, it got a good review. However, the reviewer ended the article by stating that his idea of a $5,000 1911 was a Datsun pickup with a Colt in the glove box.

 

[LimaCharlie]

Shoot it and carry it.

 

[OIF2]

1911 MEUSOC type pistol I built from spare parts in my shop, rapid fire with reload from draw full house combat loads 25 yards offhand.

Lots of guns shoot quite well at 25 yds; what separates the good ones from the Camp Perry winners is what they'll do at FIFTY yards.

Love to see you shoot another group like that at 25 yards...Rob Leatham would be impressed.
Bob

 

[Krogen]

It makes sense to me. $4k for a 1911? If you want to swap greenbacks for a 1911, go for it. Whatever floats your boat.

Why would I pay $1k for a PTR-91?? It's nothing more than a stamped, welded, inaccurate clone of a battle rifle. Honestly? I still don't know. But it does make me grin when I shoot it.

 

[TXSWFAN]

Because no other handgun I own comes close to being as smooth or accurate as this Supergrade.

 

[PALADIN85020]

If it was this gun, I'd brag a lot about what a FANTASTIC buy I made for only $4,000.

John

 

[michael1952]

if it hasnt been said already, lose money when and if they need to sell it

charge it on a CC because they dont have the cash or cant really afford one to begin with IMHO

 

[Ed Fowler]

I have a very early custom by Amend Swenson, I simply shoot and enjoy it.
Nothing fancy just shoots very well.

 

[BAM-BAM]

If it was this gun, I'd brag a lot about what a FANTASTIC buy I made for only $4,000.

John

Can you enlighten us Smith fans??????????

 

[snubbyfan]

It makes sense to me. $4k for a 1911? If you want to swap greenbacks for a 1911, go for it. Whatever floats your boat.

Why would I pay $1k for a PTR-91?? It's nothing more than a stamped, welded, inaccurate clone of a battle rifle. Honestly? I still don't know. But it does make me grin when I shoot it.

Exactly, people wonder why I exercise, work out at the Y, eat right, watch my weight and strive to keep myself as healthy as possible yet smoke cigars.
Because I want to.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Can you enlighten us Smith fans??????????

The 1911A1 pictured was made by the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1941. They of course normally made sewing machines. This example is in perfect condition. Only 500 trial pistols were made, all of them probably the finest .45 automatics made to that point in time. The government then canceled the Singer contract. Singer had proved its ability to make exceptional precision parts with their gun, and it was thought that their abilities made them a natural to make parts for, among other things, Norden bombsights.

Almost all of the Singer .45s were actually issued, most of these to the U.S. Army Air Corps. The large majority were lost in air combat. Surviving examples go for MANY thousands of dollars when found, no matter the condition.

The markings on the slide are "S. MFG. CO." over "ELIZABETH, N.J., U.S.A."

For collectors of the 1911, the Singer is a "holy grail" gun.

John

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

What do folks do with a $4k 1911?

Well... one thing they don't do is deliver their gun to some hack masquerading as a pistolsmith, spend a ton of money then wish they'd just bought a $4k 1911 to begin with.

 

[Krogen]

Exactly, people wonder why I exercise, work out at the Y, eat right, watch my weight and strive to keep myself as healthy as possible yet smoke cigars.
Because I want to.

Chuckle... Me too! Except I don't exercise or work out at the Y. I eat right (except when I don't) and watch my weight hang over my belt at times. But I don't smoke.

Like you, I live my life the way I do because I want to. We have a limited time here before we head home, so I'm making it worthwhile.

 

[Krogen]

The 1911A1 pictured was made by the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1941.

<snip>

John

Oh my goodness! That one takes my breath away. Thanks for the information and beautiful photography. The history notwithstanding, just look at the workmanship. See the details of the checkered slide stop? I can only imagine the workmanship on the inside!

 

[Ed Fowler]

Because no other handgun I own comes close to being as smooth or accurate as this Supergrade.

Who made the knife?

 

[Smoke]

Please explain what people do with a $4,000 full size 1911.

Sit there in a cold, dark house (because they couldn't pay the electric bill) and admire it by candle light.

 

[MCorps0311]

I'd open my safe everyday and look at it for five minute.

 

[okiegtrider]

They are not small, hold up to 8+1, and for me, cocked and locked is more than a bit funky.

Please explain what people do with a $4,000 full size 1911.

I know what I'd do with one if I had it. I'd get it in the classifieds and try hard to peddle it to one of you guys.