SA special 1911

[Tmnguuyen]

I posted this Bureau model 1911 in the rival forum and got mixed but few opinions about collectibility for it.

What do you folk think, is this a desirable 1911?

It is to me, it costed me a handsome sum....

Thanks for looking

 

[Kanewpadle]

Desirable? Yes. Collectible? I have no idea. I would shoot it.

 

[murphydog]

From a brief online search, yes it is a desirable 1911, yes you should shoot it and it is safe for + P . Enjoy!

 

[Grayfox]

A very desirable gun.

I like the Springfield 1911s and own several. But I really don't think any are collectible. Springfield makes working guns. Maybe somebody, somewhere collects them. But all of mine and all the ones other people I know have are used for their intended purpose.

 

[b_san]

Springfield Professionals are great guns the only thing I don't like about them is all the billboarding on the slide (and the ambi safety). Shoot the snot out of it.

 

[walter o]

S.A.makes fine 1911 and my opinion as good or better than the ones with a dancing pony on them.Shoot it and enjoy it ,the customer service is top notch . But that cant be a real 1911 as it don't have the IDIOT scratch on it .

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Well, if I can provide some information from fellow Forum Member, Jim Supica, I'd say that these SA 1911s are:

NRA Museums:

As Jim points out, there are different types of gun collecting. In my opinion, this is the "Specialization" approach or methodology. I have also attached a file with additional information on this 1911. According to the article, there are only about 2,000 of these 1911s that are produced each year. I contacted Springfield and the current wait time is ~ two years, although they can be purchased from sellers on line now.

I bought mine in July of this year. The 1911 is perhaps the best semi-automatic .45 ACP available anywhere. At the present time mine is a "safe queen".

 

[Tmnguuyen]

Well, if I can provide some information from fellow Forum Member, Jim Supica, I'd say that these SA 1911s are:

NRA Museums:

As Jim points out, there are different types of gun collecting. In my opinion, this is the "Specialization" approach or methodology. I have also attached a file with additional information on this 1911. According to the article, there are only about 2,000 of these 1911s that are produced each year. I contacted Springfield and the current wait time is ~ two years, although they can be purchased from sellers on line now.

I bought mine in July of this year. The 1911 is perhaps the best semi-automatic .45 ACP available anywhere. At the present time mine is a "safe queen".

Thanks Bill,
I almost pulled the trigger on a Professional and the Bureau popped and I had to jump on it. The build quality of these are superb.

 

[Protected One]

I posted this Bureau model 1911 in the rival forum and got mixed but few opinions about collectibility for it.

What do you folk think, is this a desirable 1911?

It is to me, it costed me a handsome sum....

Thanks for looking

Desirable? I'd love to have one. But I wouldn't consider it "collectable", at least not in the traditional meaning of the word.

 

[Rastoff]

Nothing new is truly collectible. What makes something valuable as a collector is how it starts life.

Things that are built as collectibles rarely increase in value very much. Things that are built as every day items, only gain value because no one kept them pristine. So, finding a pristine one takes some guys back to days gone by.

Also, the further you get from the manufacture date, the more valuable it can be. This is why you could buy a generic GI 1911 made by Singer for $25 in 1952, but can't touch one for $30K today.

The SA Bureau? Yeah, I'd rather have an Ed Brown.

 

[JaPes]

Also, the further you get from the manufacture date, the more valuable it can be. This is why you could buy a generic GI 1911 made by Singer for $25 in 1952, but can't touch one for $30K today.

When these threads come up, the 'back in the day' price is always stated. Problem is that most people don't truly convert the 'back in the day' for inflation to 2016 dollars.

$25 1952 dollars adjusted for inflation to 2016 dollars is $227.26.

More interesting...

Nominal minimum wage in 1952 was 75¢ per hour. Median household $3,900 per year.

If someone was earning nominal minimum wage, they would have had to work 33.333 hours to afford $25, not accounting for tax.

If you were making the median household income in 1952 and were paid every two weeks, you just committed 16.7% of your paycheck to that Singer.

 

[loc n load]

You have acquired a fine pistol, been shooting 1911's since the early 70's. Springfield builds a great 1911. What is amusing to me is that today's 1911's come with all of the "whistles and bells" for very reasonable prices that we used to pay big bucks to a custom gunsmith to install.
Now get you a box full of magazines, and a can of ammo and go shoot it.

 

[max]

If what I read is correct and only a few were marked "Bureau", then I would say it is collectible.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

What max said!

I just completed a little research, and if the OP and other forum members will correct me if I'm off target:

1. Several firearm manufacturers competed for the original FBI contract that provided some exceptional performance specifications (requirements);

2. Springfield Armory won the contract;

3. Some of the first hand-crafted 1911s from the Springfield Production shop had "Bureau Model" on the flats and the serial numbers began with "FBI" (as in the OP's pics);

4. From my search:

"Springfield originally designated all pistols built to the FBI standard “Bureau Model,” but the FBI protested, so the name was changed to Professional Model. All Professional Model pistols, whether for government issue or commercial sale, are identical and carry the serial number prefix “CRG.”

5. My Springfield Professional was built in 2016 and the serial number begins with "CRG".

Reference - Springfield Armory’s FBI (Professional Model) Pistol | Hendon Publishing

"The Springfield Armory FBI pistol is an unqualified success, but what makes this pistol arguably the premier production M1911 in the country? First impressions lead one to think that the FBI Pistol looks to all the world like any custom M1911, but the devil is in the details, and it is the details that make the Springfield Armory Professional Model arguably superior to almost any other."

 

[44wheelman]

Desirable, yes. Collectible, no. Upon mfg termination, it will become instantly collectible.

Thanks bseabrooke for the article, I was not aware of the stringent requirements for this gun. I've got a trophy match, but now it feels like a Corolla parked next to a Ferrari.

 

[Rastoff]

When these threads come up, the 'back in the day' price is always stated. Problem is that most people don't truly convert the 'back in the day' for inflation to 2016 dollars.

$25 1952 dollars adjusted for inflation to 2016 dollars is $227.26.

You've missed the point completely. My post was not to say that the Singer was inexpensive, but that it was the same as every other 1911 made at that time. It wasn't until much later that the 1911 gained in popularity and the rare nature of the Singer became collectible.

I don't know what the Bureau model costs, but I'll bet it's over $2K. I'll also bet that it's value will not go up any more than any other gun.

Desirable, yes. Collectible, no. Upon mfg termination, it will become instantly collectible.

Maybe, but only to a very select few and not a tremendous increase.

Here's an example:
I have a Ruger Mark II special model with Bill Ruger's signature on it. It's unfired in the box. This particular model was given away and could not be bought. They made less than 1,000 of them. The Mark II is no longer made and Bill Ruger is dead so, you can't get his signature any more. The value of this marvelous "collectors" piece? Maybe $400. Certainly not any more than any other Mark II on the used market.

This 1911 is a great gun because the Springfield custom shop is a top notch outfit. The gun just isn't going to be worth keeping in unfired condition in the safe because it's not going to go up in value dramatically.

 

[arjay]

Very desirable gun.As far as collectability goes,only time will tell.

 

[Tmnguuyen]

Rastoff, your analysis and rational are certainly valid and have merit however in this case I believe they may not apply. I did some quick search on the internet of course (so the credibility may not be 100%), there were a couple up for sale and they listed over 10k. One was reported at 17k and eventually sold for somewhere north of 10k.

Not sure if people may misconstrue and lump this in the category of the colt or winchester commemorative runs.

Anyway, I bought it based on my personally liking/affordability and who knows what it's value may be in the future but I tell you what I was the most popular guy at that auction that day..... Thanks for all of your comments. Nothing better than a bunch of gun guys chatting over a particular piece of hardware.

 

[Rastoff]

All I'm getting at is that the world of collectibles is fickle.

Take this picture for example:

To me this is one of the most boring pictures I've ever seen. The only thing it has going for it is it's in focus. However, someone thought it was amazing and paid over $4 MILLION for it. Yep, not a typo.

Now, do you think the guy that bought it will be able to sell it for the same money?

 

[mrchuck]

I shoot a KIMBER Elite. Tight tolerances and very accurate.
Yours will be the same.
Both are high quality pistols, but ae NOT known as a collectible.
Not a basic 45 that "rattles" when you shake it.
It is tightly made and has tight tolerances and will be accurate.
But,,,,,NOT collectible, but a pride of ownership.