Pawn shop find: Colt 1991A1 w/Bomar rear sight

[olivehead1]

Picked this up at lunch from a local pawn shop, where it had been hanging out for the last 3 years. The Colt website says it was produced in 2000. The park'd finish I'd rate as good-very good, with obvious handling marks but no dings at all and no serious scratches, including no idiot scratch on the frame so common to 1911s. I paid $650 OTD from an asking price of $899, but already I wish I'd have paid less. Please be brutally honest as to whether I paid too much. Can't seem to find much in the way of used pricing on these.

The front sight is dovetailed and the Bomar rear sight appears to be from the factory. Maybe someone can tell me if that appears to be the case. Same for that awful looking polymer trigger shoe--some pics I've seen online of the "standard" parkerized 1991 (i.e. w/o the Bomar rear sight) indicate that it might be factory as well.

I've already ordered some rubber Colt grips as those wrap around Pachmayrs have to go.

Any info greatly appreciated.

 

[jimmyj]

you did ok

 

[olivehead1]

you did ok

Yeah, doing some follow up research on GB, it seems I paid right about at the going rate for the standard sight model, factoring in shipping and transfer fee. Assuming the adjustable rear sight doesn't significantly increase the gun's value, I did just ok. Oh well, at least it wasn't a rip off. I didn't have a Colt 1911 up to now, so I'm generally satisfied with the deal.

 

[diyj98]

That's a bit more than I would have paid for the 1991A1 in that condition, but I'm a cheapskate There was on listed in slightly better condition in the box cross posted on a couple other sites for $500 shipped, but I think that one was a bargain.

 

[CA Escapee]

Pricewise, I think you did ok.

The slide is milled down a bit for the rear sight to sit down lower. Either that was done professionally by a gunsmith or by Colt.

Shoot it and see how you like it. The trigger looks like a long one, but can be changed to an aluminum one, (long, medium, or short length,) later if you like. With the abundance of aftermarket companies, you can go crazy changing any part on that pistol to suit your fancy and your wallet.

Bill

 

[DWalt]

For a Colt, especially with the sights, OK. But there are non-Colt versions of the 1911A1 which will serve one's shooting needs just as well at a lower price.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I've already ordered some rubber Colt grips as those wrap around Pachmayrs have to go.

Take a razor blade and cut the finger groove part off(I hate raparound). I had the same ones come on the exact same gun Careful cut and you'll

 

[VictorLouis]

IIRC, those were one of Colt's initial responses to the bargain 1911 competition back then. An 80-yr homage to the 1911. However, clearly someone spent some coin for great sights and installation. I think you did fine, particularly if you want a platform for your load development.

 

[olivehead1]

I've now seen enough pics of 1991A1s to be confident that atrocious-looking plastic trigger is from the factory, including the one below. Same fit and everything as the one I just bought. Bet they save at least a buck per gun on that.

 

[Farmer17]

I hardly ever see a Colt go any cheaper.

 

[Frank46]

My Springfield armory (the new 0ne) came as a basic standard 1911A1. It gained the following. Sti rear sight which basically required a Bomar Cut in the rear of the slide. After market front sight pinned in place. Nowlin barrel with the standard feed ramp, trigger job with consistent 3 pound pull, trigger was replaced along with all the fire control parts. Probably have over 8k rounds through it at a guess and may be considerably more rounds. I use Chip McCormic 8 round mags 6 for this pistol and 6 for my 1943 Ithaca. Then added 6 more as spares. I'm a fair to good shot and handed it over to a much better shooter. All 8 shots covered with a half dollar. So in this case I can say it shoots better than me. Frank

 

[Warren Sear]

I hardly ever see a Colt go any cheaper.

^^^ That right there. The days of a Colt 1911 of any kind for less than what the OP paid are long gone.

Don't dismiss the plastic trigger without trying it first. I have a pistol just like it, and there is no way I would change the trigger. If you want to get rid of your trigger, send me a PM. I will put it on my stainless gun.

The finish on these guns is sand/glass blasted and blued, not Parkererized. This type of finish is not as durable as a Parkerized finish.

Mine came with black rubber Colt grips. I put these on my stainless 1991 and then got some nice checkered walnut grips for the blued gun. I like both of these pistols.