1911-need info pls

[snypr]

Hey guys, im not up on the 1911 scene (thinking that is about to change in short order), but a friend of my son's has a 1911 for sale...although I see its a Springfield 1911-a1, im trying to determine its current value (and exact model). It does show some wear, what would you guys put its value at? I did a little poking around, looks like a mil-spec? school me guys.... pix inbound shortly...

[Untamed1972]

You can email springfield with the serial number and they can tell you exactly what it is and when it left the factory.

[Galli1565]

Looks like a GI 1911. Probably good for $575-$675 on condition shown

[LovingTheYear1911]

Its a milspec. You can buy a new one for 550-625. I wouldn't spend more than 500 for it. Whats with SA and their lack of attention to detail. Whats with the extractor sticking out on the back of the slide? I see that too often with SA.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=7

[SLO1911Fan]

Its a milspec. You can buy a new one for 550-625. I wouldn't spend more than 500 for it. Whats with SA and their lack of attention to detail. Whats with the extractor sticking out on the back of the slide? I see that too often with SA.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=7

I would love to know where you're shopping. $550 is well below dealer cost.

The cheapest I've seen that gun new in the last few years was $640ish. Given the shape it's in I would put the value around $500-525ish. It doesn't look to be particularly well cared for, so i wouldn't go much higher.

[rm1911]

how much it's worth to the owner depends on how much they need it, like it, want it, enjoy shooting it, and what they would or would not have in its stead.

how much it's worth to a buyer depends on how much they need it, would like it, want it, would enjoy shooting it, and what they could have in its stead.

whether one went for $500 last week, or one went for $800 last week does not matter. whether the average price of the same/similar model on GB is $637 does not matter. (I'm making these numbers up by the way, just a for example thing)

a) are you jonesing for a 1911, and the guy has one he'd be possibly willing to sell?
b) does the guy have bills to pay and needs money quick, and you've already got a 1911?

well for a and b the price is going to differ considerably although the gun is the same. prices are determined by markets, by buyers and sellers, and the willingness and ability of buyers to buy and sellers to sell. prices change, and for good reason. buyers and sellers are different, situations and conditions are different.

it's a good gun. if it runs well, and no reason it shouldn't, then buy it. kvetch all day about $50 either way or get it and shoot the hell out of it. I have guns I bought 20 years ago and I've no idea what I paid for them but I have them and shoot them, my kids shoot them, and my kids will have them one day. just know it won't be your last 1911.

nobody ever pays too much for something, and nobody is ever underpaid. if it was too much, you wouldn't have bought it. if it is too low a wage, you wouldn't work for it. sure you might have found a "better deal" somewhere else, but did you know it was there, did you want to spend the time to find it, did you prefer having it for certain versus taking a risk?

again, buy it. if you have the money, whatever the price of it is, and you want it, buy it. shoot it. keep it. pass it on to your children. only advice is don't let them shoot it if you ever plan to shoot it as well. my 12 y/o son loves my 45 and burns through ammo like crazy. I never see it when we go to the range. thankfully I reload!!

[trigger945]

A good lesson from rm1911.

Very well said sir.

[snypr]

The owner is asking $550 for it...

[SoGetThis]

The owner is asking $550 for it...

$585 for a new one at kygunco. http://www.kygunco.com/products2.cfm?id=1962

Now you'd have to pay sales tax and transfer fee so add another $100 onto that price. But $550 is a bit high especially in that condition. $500 would be fair price IMO.


You could also go to a LGS and get a brand new RIA tactical for $580 OTD which is the same price that the Springfield will wind up costing you. With the RIA you also get a lifetime warranty and some additional features like skeletonized trigger and hammer, beavertail grip safety, etc. The finish on their guns does however suck though.

[Jefferey13]

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how much it's worth to a buyer depends on how much they need it, would like it, want it, would enjoy shooting it, and what they could have in its stead.

whether one went for $500 last week, or one went for $800 last week does not matter. whether the average price of the same/similar model on GB is $637 does not matter.

Those two comments actually contradict each either. The very item they could have in its stead is the identical gun for a cheaper price, hence why what the average price and past selling prices is the best determining factor for current price.

I don't know how much it's worth, I'm just a simple austrian economist.

[1911R SSS]

500 max, that's 530 after Dros. That extractor is way out there, although it is a NM serial number the finish is well worn. And it's a Mil spec not a GI.

[snypr]

You guys rock!, I greatly appreciate all the info...so looks like $500 tops?

[PutTogether]

You guys rock!, I greatly appreciate all the info...so looks like $500 tops?

It's hard to define 'worth' in that we don't know how bad you want a 1911, if your main motivation is to get a great deal and experiment with a platform you aren't familiar with, or to make sure you make a fair offer to a friend.

What I can tell you though is that if you pay him $500 for THAT gun, he didn't get ripped off and you certainly can't get hurt either. If you decide you don't like it and don't want to keep the gun, you'll be able to get out of it pretty easy.

[Gem1950]

MilSpec
NM frame
80% finish cond. +/-
450.00 - 500.00

[rm1911]

Those two comments actually contradict each either. The very item they could have in its stead is the identical gun for a cheaper price, hence why what the average price and past selling prices is the best determining factor for current price.



I don't know how much it's worth, I'm just a simple austrian economist.

Good to know another Austrian. I teach high school Econ and my kids get a nice dose of Hayek, mixed with a foundation of say, cantillon, de Tracy, bastiat (lots of bastiat) and a smidgen of mises, though I'd love to bring some rothbard into the mix it might be over the top. I cover real money and bring in my silver coins and show them all the evils of fiat currency, and use the Feds own Econ data and graphs.

I also present the hahekian business cycle theory and show the malinvestment. It's actually quite interesting and I'd love to share with you.

The point I made was that value is subjective (menger) and that just because someone bought the same item the actors involved are different. Everyone values items differently.

Let's say I really want the gun. I'd pay more for it. Maybe the seller really wants another gun instead. He'll accept less. The buyer and seller have different motivations, always do. Asymmetrical information is key. Which party had a better read on the other. Not cheating. Just information.

It's like recently I was looking to buy some powder off the classifieds. Guy wanted trade only. Even if paid more than purchase price. He needed powder, not pieces of paper. So money was secondary. I didn't have what he needed. No trade.

However, the powder for me wasn't immediate need, but trying to grab another couple of pounds of something I'm 3# deep in. I go through it relatively quickly and I was thinking of the future a bit. So it wasn't urgent. I wouldn't have paid much above going rate, but if I was needy I would have.

As for cheaper price, he probably wouldn't pay more than a retail price. But how much less??? What if LGS can't find one. Or it's a 2 month delay?

By the way, on another note, I really miss Jeff tucker and the mises daily. He was fun to read.