I Need Your Help / Colt .45 -1911/

[Jacob's Ladder]

I just purchased a Colt New Agent Defender .45 Talo Edition 1911 two weeks ago (only 500 produced) and I can't find anymore on the market. Today I went to The Cross Roads gun show in Ventura, Ca and took the pistol to search for a holster. A security guard at the front checked my pistol and he couldn't close the slide. He handed the pistol to another security guard and in the process of closing the slide, he dropped my brand new 1911 on the concrete and scratched the hell out of it in various places. I'm suppose to go back on Monday to file a claim with their insurance. I'm thinking of hiring an attorney. This pistol is cosmetically damaged. There are no more of those pistols in the market. The special edition handle is scratched also and isn't available for replacement. The Colt was expensive and I probably could have sold it for double the value or more. I also checked Colt's website and they are not refinishing pistols at this time. What do you suggest I do?

[RealBarber]

oh man i would have seen red

Colt does refinishing, but im pretty sure since theyve been flooded with work recently theyve temporarily stopped accepting new work

i dont have much advice but good luck

[Speedpower]

That is the reason you don't let morons touch your gun!

[Jacob's Ladder]

That is the reason you don't let morons touch your gun!

They had to check and tag it. I had no choice.

[Mickey D]

Have tried to contact Talo to see if they have stocks for the NA?

[Xanatos]

Find a gunbroker.com listing for that same gun hopefully with Buy It Now pricing. Do not settle for less than that as a minimum.

[ExtremeX]

This is why I don’t buy nice stuff lol…

Seriously tho… I’m really sorry to hear about that… I would be pretty irate.

I would bring in an attorney if the resolution isn’t to your satisfaction considering those guys cost money too… and please be sure to read anything they may put in front of you before signing in in terms of claims resolution…

I would be more inclined to ask for a direct replacement, and when they can’t find it, have them come back with a settlement offer. Considering it’s a rare item, chances are they will fail to locate a replacement and may influence the settlement offer.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Jacob's Ladder]

Find a gunbroker.com listing for that same gun hopefully with Buy It Now pricing. Do not settle for less than that as a minimum.

There aren't anymore listings.

[Xanatos]

Sounds like it's a priceless firearm... if you catch my drift...

[Jacob's Ladder]

This is why I don’t buy nice stuff lol…

Seriously tho… I’m really sorry to hear about that… I would be pretty irate.

I would bring in an attorney if the resolution isn’t to your satisfaction considering those guys cost money too… and please be sure to read anything they may put in front of you before signing in in terms of claims resolution…

I would be more inclined to ask for a direct replacement, and when they can’t find it, have them come back with a settlement offer. Considering it’s a rare item, chances are they will fail to locate a replacement and may influence the settlement offer.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I know for fact they can't replace it. Should I ask for double the value? The security suggested possibly refinishing it. I don't think so. Furthermore, the special edition handles aren't available for replacement either if I would have the pistol refinished. The colt website said they aren't refinishing pistols until further notice. Of course my pistol is a rare item and there's no telling how much I would be able to sell it for 3 years from now.

[ExtremeX]

I know for fact they can't replace it.

I know that… but that’s not the point… the point is that is its part of your game play to show the claims people that the sticker price value is no longer a valid way to judge the monetary value.

Edit:
Insurance people are sharks… IF you don’t know how to play hard ball, maybe it’s best you consult with an attorney if this is really something that’s important to you. Just from experience, it’s the claims adjusters’ job to pay you the minimum amount to make you go away… They will try to give you the exact price on the invoice or fair market value… which is why I came up with hard ball tactic #1… ask for a direct replacement first.

[Roland Deschain]

I know for fact they can't replace it. Should I ask for double the value? The security suggested possibly refinishing it. I don't think so. Furthermore, the special edition handles aren't available for replacement either if I would have the pistol refinished. The colt website said they aren't refinishing pistols until further notice. Of course my pistol is a rare item and there's no telling how much I would be able to sell it for 3 years from now.

I understand this sucks but guns are tools and will get scratched and dinged at some point. Sure you could ask for double the value and if you're lucky they'll settle for that (I doubt it). Pretty sure the only legal responsibility they have is the value of the gun as it's worth today, regardless if you can get another or not. Considering the damage is only cosmetic and not functional they may be responsible for less (ie: refinishing). IANAL and you're free to spend $300/hr on one but I personally don't see it being worth your time here.

[John Browning]

An attorney is going to want 5k at the get go.

You can take them to small claims court. You have to show actual damages, and since the gun isn't destroyed/ruined/junk you can't expect full value, or twice full value. You need to prove the actual monetary damage and what it would take to make you whole. You're best day is probably going to be a recovery of half the value of the gun. It essentially boils down to this:

Your gun was worth $1000 (making it up, I have no idea). The damage means you can sell it now for $600. They owe you $400 to make you whole.

[Jacob's Ladder]

I understand this sucks but guns are tools and will get scratched and dinged at some point. Sure you could ask for double the value and if you're lucky they'll settle for that (I doubt it). Pretty sure the only legal responsibility they have is the value of the gun as it's worth today, regardless if you can get another or not. Considering the damage is only cosmetic and not functional they may be responsible for less (ie: refinishing). IANAL and you're free to spend $300/hr on one but I personally don't see it being worth your time here.

Sure, certain pistols are utilized as tools but others are collector items. Who is who to determine its present value? The Talo website reads only 500 of these were produced (Colt Talo Edition). Therefore wouldn't it be my determination to put a value on this pistol, understanding I'm 1 of the 500 in this world with a rare collectors item that was damaged by thier security guards?

[Sam]

Sure, certain pistols are utilized as tools but others are collector items. Who is who to determine its present value? The Talo website reads only 500 of these were produced (Colt Talo Edition). Therefore wouldn't it be my determination to put a value on this pistol, understanding I'm 1 of the 500 in this world with a rare collectors item that was damaged by thier security guards?

While you may be able to put a reasonable value on the item, a judge (I'm assuming you'd want to go to small claims court) will put more weight on the evaluation of a third party. Is there a gun shop or gun smith in the area that could put a price on the before and after of the gun?

Try to get their insurance to pay for it. When (not if) they try to low ball you don't be afraid to negotiate hard back and don't be afraid to walk away and take your case to small claims court.