trade in/sale value of 1911

[79ipa]

I have a stainless smith 1911 with the black grips, two magazines, and the box. It is in very good shape and I am the second owner. I am thinking that it is slightly large and heavy for an every day gun. I was thinking about trading it in for a 4 inch 1911 or an m and p 340. What would be a fair trade in value for the gun if I traded it to a shop. How much would it be worth in a trade in towards an m and p 340 from a private person? Btw this is a steel frame with the 3 dot novaks.

 

[79ipa]

bob

I had someone tell me that I could get another frame with the back of the frame bobbed which should take some of the part of the gun that digs into my side away. Is this true? Could I just have a smith grind the back of the frame off or is there something that I am missing?

 

[handgunner356]

Ed Brown has what they call a bobtail conversion, uses your frame just modifies it.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Or sell the gun to private party and buy a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail. IF you can find one.

 

[44wheelman]

You'd be lucky if the shops around here offered you $400. Sell it yourself- try the classifieds here.

 

[novalty]

You'd be lucky if the shops around here offered you $400. Sell it yourself- try the classifieds here.

+1. Even trades the shops, at least around here, will not give you very much. Someone will surely correct me, as I am not the most accurate with prices, but I would guess around $600-$750 private sale price for if it is the "billboard": S&W 1911.

 

[hindu.hendrickson]

Slide swap

Excuse my ignorance got my first 1911 today and joined here to get educated, can't you buy a commander sized slide and barrel and have 2 gun configurations, since interested in a 4"?

 

[79ipa]

hmm

good question i was wondering the same thing. I think that the commander slide would be too short for the 5 inch frame.

 

[nobodyliesto45]

Though it would be cool no you cannot with a full size slide and barrel on a commander frame.

 

[tlr16]

Never had a S&W but Colt 1911 5" and commander frames are the same size. You can get an EdBrown Jig and mainspring housing and bobtail it for under 200 I had an essex done at my local gunshop and love it. Or go the Dan Wesson route but you can build one cheaper and better for there price

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have a stainless smith 1911 with the black grips, two magazines, and the box. It is in very good shape and I am the second owner. I am thinking that it is slightly large and heavy for an every day gun. I was thinking about trading it in for a 4 inch 1911 or an m and p 340. What would be a fair trade in value for the gun if I traded it to a shop. How much would it be worth in a trade in towards an m and p 340 from a private person? Btw this is a steel frame with the 3 dot novaks.

I bought the twin of your gun from a kid last year that was trying to trade it at a local shop. Shop already had 2 new S&W 1911's so didn't really want it. I gave the kid $500 and we both left happy.

That said, I was JUST shopping to find my nephew one like mine ( I have two of these now.) Not many in the used market and when you found them , they were going for $750-$800 range from a gun shop. He ended up kicking in another $200 and bought new.

IMHO, (assuming VG condition) I'd ask $500 in a gun shop trade and $750 in a private sale. OF course, in a private trade, "fair" would depend on the asking price and condition of the 340.

 

[hindu.hendrickson]

clarification please

nobodyliesto45
I think he says he has a full size (Gov't) & has interest in a 4" (Cdr), wouldn't this exchange work???

 

[79ipa]

hi

You are correct I have a full size government model and have interest in an m and p 340 or a 4 inch 1911.

I would think that a trade for a used m and p 340 would be fair, would it not?

how about a scandium frame 4 inch 1911?

 

[j1133s]

I had someone tell me that I could get another frame with the back of the frame bobbed which should take some of the part of the gun that digs into my side away. Is this true? Could I just have a smith grind the back of the frame off or is there something that I am missing?

It's still going to be very heavy. That heft is part of being a good 1911. A lot of weight is in the slide/barrel and ammo department. So I don't think you'll like it considering your main issue is weight. Also, once you do that, the pistol becomes customized to you so resale will be lower.

You can easily resale a used SW 1911 in good condition and get most/all your moeny back (they are in good demand), so I'd just sale it and get the gun you want. (I'm assuming that you paid a normal price for the 2nd hand gun you have, say $6-800; you can probably resale it within that range.)