How many folks actually.........?

[Onomea]

These threads are always amusing. I’m fortunate enough through very hard work to own many dozen $4000+ pistols, with some being double that and into five figures. I own many more dozen $2-$4000 pistols.

Yes, the Indian is the most important variable, but the arrow makes a HUGE difference. People that use that phrase, generally have no experience with nice guns.

I have seen some of your pistols in your posts online. Really beautiful stuff! (Love your post on your 4" Korth Combat, by the way.)

I am not a particularly good shot... Maybe more accurate to say I am a lousy shot. I lived in Japan for most of my adult life, so did not have the opportunity to practice often. Now that I am resident in the US, I am getting better but I am sure will never get to the point where I can truly take full advantage of most quality handguns' accuracy.

I find the marksmanship that some of the guys here exhibit when they post their targets truly impressive.

But, as for accuracy, that's not why I buy high end, expensive guns. I buy 'em because I admire the quality, the effort and skill that goes into making them. The craftsmanship. While I am not — well not very, compared to many guys — into high end mechanical watches, I understand the attraction. I think it is similar.

 

[Rat458]

Been a Ruger , Remington and Marlin user for years.
Always admired the other more expansive brands but I was kinda busy raising 5 kids.
I think the most I spent on a gun was a Colt Blued Steel Mustang that I carried for over 20 years.
Then I had a chance to shoot a S&W M69.
I now own one.
I can appreciate fine things just choose to spend my finances on medium quality items.
Have too many hobbies to go whole hog on all of them.
Also enjoy Jeepin',Ham radio,older stereo gear and photography.

 

[AJ]

This is not about the cost of a gun. But I just read an article that John Rigby & Sons are putting out a cleaning kit for the guns. The cost is 6,000 pounds ($7, 600). How is that for pricey?

 

[smoothshooter]

Not me.
Nowadays, for under $1200 ( sometimes way less ) you can buy 1911 guns that come out of the box with all of the good features, and no waiting for months on a custom shop to get around to doing the work on a standard, basic gun. And for half the price.
If you want to sell or trade the gun off, it will be far easier to recoup your investment on something like a Tisas or a Ruger that comes from the factory already set up with extra features.

 

[smoothshooter]

Not me.
Nowadays, for under $1200 ( sometimes way less ) you can buy 1911 guns that come out of the box with all of the good features, and no waiting for months on a custom shop to get around to doing the work on a standard, basic gun. And for half the price.
If you want to sell or trade the gun off, it will be far easier to recoup your investment on something like a Tisas or a Ruger.

 

[A10]

The only firearm guilt that I can share is that I had a Ruger "Old Army" that was in great shape and had no problems it. I had heard about Reeder's in Arizona, gave them a call and ended up sending the old girl off for a full custom job that resulted in a Douglas premium octagon barrel and special large frame for my oversized hand, as well as trigger/action job that set me back a bit over a grand over my initial purchase. The plus side is that the thing shoots fantastic, the downside is that it is almost too pretty to shoot. I am trying of making a point of getting it dirty more often.

Gary does very nice work. I stopped in his shop about 25 years ago and talked with him about some custom work on an Old Model Vaquero I had. Never got around to getting it done. Another regret, among the many....

 

[bc1023]

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 .

The S&W Performance Center and the Mastershop Sigs are both incredible shooters. Sad that both are now defunct.

 

[Andyd]

How many folks actually want to win a match bad enough to spend a few thousands to have the gun that gives them a (perceived) advantage and are willing to train for it? Ammo and travel expenses will exceed the purchase price of the firearm in less than a year.

 

[rwsmith]

Yes, I see those...

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.

...but I let them all go by. We're retired and on fixed income. We have some money laid aside, but it won't be worth much in the future.

 

[NCBeagle]

I see those "tricked out" and high end pistols flying off the shelves here in Charlotte. Some to serious shooters. Some to folks who just like nice stuff. Also see the gun shops buying them back lightly used (or unfired) at a deep discount and then reselling for much wider margin than original / new sale.

I do not own any of the Nighthawk, Les Baer, etc., guns. Many of them feel great in hand. Just not a 1911 guy. I am fortunate that my tastes are less expensive. But, yes, people buy these guns at a good clip down here.

 

[RetCapt]

Depends on what you want to do with the gun.

I was a PPC shooter. In '76 or '77 I had reached a plateau and decided I needed a custom PPC revolver. That cost me $350, including the base revolver. Back then that seemed a lot.

Around this same time Bill Davis got into the business. His first Davis PPC revolver, built up on a S&W Model 10, was $250. That was just to get the camel's nose under the tent flap. Demand for these PPC revolvers exploded and thus did the prices. Those were custom guns, modified for PPC, and then later for related types of competition.

PPC and related disciplines were revolver only then. When competitors decided to go with semi-autos, the prices for S&W PPC autos or custom 1911s modified for PPC escalated the cost. Seems it took a lot more modification to turn out a a semi-auto that would shoot PPC as well as a custom revolver. I was out of competition by then and not paying attention. Had I been awake, I certainly would have had an S&W PPC semi-auto. They were pistols I would have had to own, even if I was no longer competing.

The closest I have ever come was with my S&W Model 52-2. I consider it to be a factory custom pistol. It is just an amazing pistol.

I greatly admire custom guns. Were I wealthy I would have a number of them.

In the rifle department I have a Ruger 77/22 I customized (except for the bolt tightening). It is a very tight grouper. But to get those tight groups I have Anschutz level money in it. But it is still a Ruger, so I will never get Anschutz money out of it. I also have a Miroku produced Winchester Model 52. This is a low production (at the time) rifle, not customized. But the fit and finish and the feel of the trigger are custom level.

Part of the firearms hobby enjoyment for me is to have a few gunsmith or factory customized firearms just for their quality and how they shoot.

My only regret is not buying more when I coulda', woulda', shoulda'.

 

[Frailer]

I’m fortunate to have a brother who collects cars.

Makes my collecting seem downright reasonable.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Depends on your definition of “tricked out”.

Some manufacturers do silly things to trick out their guns and raise the price according to account for the coolness factor.

Like ugly grips, forward cocking serrations, full length or two piece guide rods, and on and on.

Now…if you’re looking for serious collectibles, save your money and buy a Heirloom Precision gun.

 

[pharmer]

14 acres of guns at the NRA convention last week. A lot of "mid-4 figure$$$" guns and gear. I almost had the wife convinced I needed the $60K Kubota on the floor for the yard work Joe

 

[oink]

I just a retired road cop on pension. Even my 30-30 is a Glenfield.

 

[Golddollar]

Depends on what you want to do with the gun.

I was a PPC shooter. In '76 or '77 I had reached a plateau and decided I needed a custom PPC revolver. That cost me $350, including the base revolver. Back then that seemed a lot.

Around this same time Bill Davis got into the business. His first Davis PPC revolver, built up on a S&W Model 10, was $250. That was just to get the camel's nose under the tent flap. Demand for these PPC revolvers exploded and thus did the prices. Those were custom guns, modified for PPC, and then later for related types of competition.

PPC and related disciplines were revolver only then. When competitors decided to go with semi-autos, the prices for S&W PPC autos or custom 1911s modified for PPC escalated the cost. Seems it took a lot more modification to turn out a a semi-auto that would shoot PPC as well as a custom revolver. I was out of competition by then and not paying attention. Had I been awake, I certainly would have had an S&W PPC semi-auto. They were pistols I would have had to own, even if I was no longer competing.

The closest I have ever come was with my S&W Model 52-2. I consider it to be a factory custom pistol. It is just an amazing pistol.

I greatly admire custom guns. Were I wealthy I would have a number of them.

In the rifle department I have a Ruger 77/22 I customized (except for the bolt tightening). It is a very tight grouper. But to get those tight groups I have Anschutz level money in it. But it is still a Ruger, so I will never get Anschutz money out of it. I also have a Miroku produced Winchester Model 52. This is a low production (at the time) rifle, not customized. But the fit and finish and the feel of the trigger are custom level.

Part of the firearms hobby enjoyment for me is to have a few gunsmith or factory customized firearms just for their quality and how they shoot.

My only regret is not buying more when I coulda', woulda', shoulda'.

It's good to find a kindred spirit. When I came across the Clark Long Heavy Slide Government Model .45 in that little gun shop outside Cleveland my brother said the owner would need a mop because i was drooling so much.

I certainly don't regret buying all the customized handguns that I did.

 

[BarryinIN]

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

I currently own two that fall into that category, and have had others.

My first custom handgun was a compensated .38 Super for USPSA competition. Single stack, iron sights. I didn’t order it made, but traded into it. I got it to use as a range toy, but got into shooting USPSA matches and ended up trading up over the next few years. First to a dot-sighted single stack .38 Super, then a double stack and dot-sighted .38 Super.

So yeah, I had them and used them for their intended purpose.
Did they make me a big winner? No, but they sure made things easier. Each gun upgrade was a very noticeable help.
They eventually went away for other things.

Later, I got a custom 1911 carry gun. I had always wanted one, but like most, spending the money was the issue. The wait to have the work done didn’t help, either.
I got lucky on both counts and won one in a charity raffle.
After getting one and seeing how nice it could be, that gun only made me want to have one made up to my specs even more.

I am a big Browning HiPower fan. I will also be the first to admit they are just a little short of ideal in a few areas. It’s allllllmost there, but not quite. If any gun benefitted from customizing, it’s the BHP, in order to reach it’s potential.
So I did it.

The resulting gun was just what I wanted. The few shortcomings of the design were corrected, and the already good parts were improved upon.

Was it worth it? I think so. As I said, I got it just the way I wanted it. I carried that gun for well over ten years, and would still be carrying it now if eyesight had not forced me to admit I needed to switch to a red dot. I still carry it on occasion, and am currently considering finding someone to mount a red dot on a spare slide for it.

Yes, I know many people say they would be reluctant to carry any valuable gun because they can’t bear to think of it going into an evidence locker if they have to use it in self-defense.
My opinion on that is if that gun is the one that helps me perform even a little better, it’s worth using rather than leaving it in the safe. A nice gun sitting in an evidence locker might be the least of someone’s expenses or worries in that situation.

 

[WR Moore]

A little late to the party, but as at least one person noted, Colt's QC frequently left a lot to be desired. In 1969 I bought a new 1911. Had reliability issues regardless of ammo, magazine, extractor change or tune etc. Trigger left a lot to be desired, the sights were the hump & bump, etc. This continued-and got worse-as Colt approached and had it's most recent bankruptcy.

People who bought Colts were basically buying gun parts, which they then took to a craftsman who adjusted them to proper specs. There came a time when you couldn't even expect properly machined frames & slides. Then various gun mags started selling the idea that you HAD to have minimal clearance between frame and slide rails, checkered grip frames and so forth. Prices naturally went up as economy of scale disappeared.

 

[Echo40]

Back in 2021 when the Biden Bucks came rolling in, I decided to use them to splurge on a Dream Gun, knowing that it was something that I could otherwise never justify the expense of, and frankly after the pandemic I needed something good to come out of the whole mess, something to look back on fondly.

There were a few guns that I was considering... A Smith & Wesson Performance Center 629, a Tanfoglio Witness 10mm Elite Match Pro, and a Heckler & Koch USP45 Elite.

Ultimately, I got the H&K USP Elite because the other two options were sold out, and frankly I liked them all pretty well equally anyway.

The H&K USP45 Elite is the Competition Match Grade variant of the USP, with a hand-fitted slide and barrel, Bomar adjustable rear sights, and a factory tuned trigger.

I'm not into competition shooting, I bought it for two major reasons:

1.) Because the aesthetics appealed to me.
It kind of looks like an oversized, futuristic Walther PP.

2.) .45 Super.
The H&K USP45 is one of the few pistols on the market that's capable of shooting .45 Super sans modifications.

Unfortunately, my life changed rather drastically by 2022, so I haven't gotten out to shoot it much since, but nevertheless I'm happy that I bought it.

It didn't cost me too much either, it ran me $1077 when all was said and done.

 

[Kinman]

Back in 2021 when the Biden Bucks came rolling in, I decided to use them to splurge on a Dream Gun, knowing that it was something that I could otherwise never justify the expense of, and frankly after the pandemic I needed something good to come out of the whole mess, something to look back on fondly.

There were a few guns that I was considering... A Smith & Wesson Performance Center 629, a Tanfoglio Witness 10mm Elite Match Pro, and a Heckler & Koch USP45 Elite.

Ultimately, I got the H&K USP Elite because the other two options were sold out, and frankly I liked them all pretty well equally anyway.

The H&K USP45 Elite is the Competition Match Grade variant of the USP, with a hand-fitted slide and barrel, Bomar adjustable rear sights, and a factory tuned trigger.

I'm not into competition shooting, I bought it for two major reasons:

1.) Because the aesthetics appealed to me.
It kind of looks like an oversized, futuristic Walther PP.

2.) .45 Super.
The H&K USP45 is one of the few pistols on the market that's capable of shooting .45 Super sans modifications.

Unfortunately, my life changed rather drastically by 2022, so I haven't gotten out to shoot it much since, but nevertheless I'm happy that I bought it.

It didn't cost me too much either, it ran me $1077 when all was said and done.

I'm an H&K fan in a couple of ways, I preferred the G-3 to our M-14, love the MP5 in every configuration I have ever had my hands on and also find their pistols unmatched when it comes to basic ergonomics and operation. I have never had any of our H&K firearms issue a FTF and I have gone out of my way to do everything except fire one under water to find out. My bedside handgun is an HK45C with Streamlite weapons light. The trigger reset is very similar to the MK25 which is another amazing firearm although big and heavy. I never sprang for an Elite in the same way I never bought one of Sigs 210 models, I never sprang for a MK25 due to cost and that a HK USP Tactical .45 is significantly lighter, I think I got the supressor on the USP for the price difference between the USP and the MK25.