What would you pay for this Series 80?

[mikem]

Hi,

We're talking about a 1991 Series 80 Government Model (01991 NRM). It was manu. in 2001, according to Colt, and comes with (orig.?) Cocobolos. 96% cond.

It has had work done by Wilson Combat that I have had verified with Wilson Combat. Here's what was done:

1. Orig blued (alum. or steel trigger - owner is not sure of composition) replaced by Wilson Match trigger.

2. Orig. recoil spring replaced by Wilson 18lb recoil spring.

3. Orig. MSH replaced by Wison Checkered MSH.

4. Trigger job done at Wilson. Very light (too light?) trigger breaks right at 3lbs. according to the owner.

5. All original parts are still with gun. Comes with orig. case, manual and 2 correct Colt mags.

What is a fair price for this if it is as described?

Thanks,

Mike

[paul45]

I notice you have 2 threads running....asking about pricing on Colt 1991s. The bottom line is .......

What is a fair price for this if it is as described?

The price you pay is fair if you really want the piece.....what is fair for me might be a rip off for you.

I will mention that the supposed Wilson Combat work on this gun would not add anything to the price of the piece for me. Meaning....the original owner chose to have work done and/or add aftermarket parts......might be nice, but do not ask me to pay for it.

So, we are talking about a 6 year Colt that I can buy brand new at Buds for about 700 bucks.....

[mikem]

I notice you have 2 threads running....asking about pricing on Colt 1991s. The bottom line is .......



The price you pay is fair if you really want the piece.....what is fair for me might be a rip off for you.

I will mention that the supposed Wilson Combat work on this gun would not add anything to the price of the piece for me. Meaning....the original owner chose to have work done and/or add aftermarket parts......might be nice, but do not ask me to pay for it.

So, we are talking about a 6 year Colt that I can buy brand new at Buds for about 700 bucks.....

Yes sir,

That is correct. I have two threads running asking about pricing on two different 1991s, one NIB and one used. (By the way, they are out of stock on these at Buds unless they got some in today).

This post concerns the used one; it's a rather different animal than the new one, isn't it?

"I will mention that the supposed Wilson Combat work ..." I don't know why you say, "supposed" when referring to the work done at Wilson. I believe this some how shows your mindset. For some reason, I think you are trying to take this pistol and me down a peg. I don't know why. But this is how it feels.

Anyway, I spoke to the fellow today who did the work at Wilson. His business card is in the case. He keeps very scrupulous records. I gave him the serial # and confirmed he did this work.

The pistol has about $50 worth of Wilson aftermarket parts installed in it. I have no idea of the price(s) Wilson charged to do the installation of the MSH.

I AM sure, however, about the cost of the trigger job, also done by Wilson. It was $100, including the match trigger.

The changes the previous, and only owner, of this pistol made are EXACTLY the changes I would make on a new 1991 (01991) Govt. Model. Plus I had intended to have the work done by Wilson. Quite a coincidence I would say and perhaps a fortuitious one.

Hence the second post asking opinions about what a fair price for this pistol would be.

Buying it would save me the expense of having the work done, plus I wouldn't be paying the shipping to Wislon. Nor would I be waiting whatever their turnaround time is these days.

I'm trying to balance the price of a NIB vs used but with exact changes I would make on the new one. Get it? It's kind of a tricky equation for me since I really don't know Colt 1911s. This is why I asked the question!

So you see, we are really talking about 2 very different pistols here aren't we?
I'm merely asking what others would pay for this specific pistol. That's all. It's a pretty simple question, paul45.

You say, ".....what is fair for me might be a rip off for you." I would maintain this statement is a bunch of malarkey, pure and simple.

A fair price is a fair price. And a rip off is a rip off. No two ways about this, sir.

I am obviously new to the world of Colt 1911s or I wouldn't be asking questions about them. I am 54-years-old and have owned firearms since I was 11. And I have owned many. But never a Colt 1911.

Sorry if my question(s) bother you. But I thank you for your input anyway.

Mike

[paul45]

I re-read my post trying to figure out why you are being so rude......so far I don't see anything to give your rudeness license.

I am quite aware you are talking about 2 different 1991s.......that is why I used the PLURAL, sir. Perhaps you were unable to see that.

You say....
A fair price is a fair price. And a rip off is a rip off. No two ways about this, sir.

We shall disagree on this.....at this point I won't bother explaining my opinion on this to you.

You also say....

I would maintain this statement is a bunch of malarkey, pure and simple.


Sorry if my question(s) bother you

May I ask just what is your problem?? You asked on the WORLD WIDE WEB for opinions on a particular piece......I give mine.....and you go on a rant and call my opinion a bunch of marlarkey. I would maintain to you, Mike, that your reply to me is uncalled for ......just plain RUDE.

[dakota1911]

In the $600-$800. range I think depending on what part of the country.

[Tommy D]

Mike,
you can buy the used pistol, or you can buy the new one, but something you might consider would be the work itself. I've never heard anything bad about Wilsons work. However, if you purchased the new O1991, and had the same work performed by Colt, at basically the same prices, they would still stand behind you pistol. If wilson did the work on the new gun, basically you would void any warranty.

I have to agree with paul45 on the fact that the aftermarket parts wouldn't add to the value. That is personal preference.

To answer your question, unless the used gun was a minimum of $200 less than the total cost of the new one... I'd go new.

[Blackhawk]

I would estimate value in $450 to $500. The upgrades in Wilson parts and trigger job on the pistol usual do not factor in to pricing because this may be what another person wants. If you like the add-ons as you have said you do I would suggest offering somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 to $625 for the gun. 3 to 3.5# trigger pull is not too light. This is about normal for custom trigger jobs.

[OD*]

Mike,

If you are not real familiar with the Colt Government Model and what to be on the look-out for buying used, I would also go with a new version with Colt's Lifetime Service Agreement.

[mikem]

Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to help out a novice and offer some insight.

Mike

[mikem]

I re-read my post trying to figure out why you are being so rude......so far I don't see anything to give your rudeness license.

I am quite aware you are talking about 2 different 1991s.......that is why I used the PLURAL, sir. Perhaps you were unable to see that.

(yawn) I don't think I was INITIALLY the "rude" one in this exchange, sir. Your initial diatribe speaks for itself. (yawn)

We shall disagree on this.....at this point I won't bother explaining my opinion on this to you.

Thank you for that.

May I ask just what is your problem?? You asked on the WORLD WIDE WEB for opinions on a particular piece......I give mine.....and you go on a rant and call my opinion a bunch of marlarkey. I would maintain to you, Mike, that your reply to me is uncalled for ......just plain RUDE.

No problem here, my friend. I just suspect you had a bad day or something and felt like handing some stuff out to someone.

I wasn't in the mood to accept it.

You never did answer the question. You merely gave me some rather brusque, backhanded bologna that had nothing to do with what I asked.

I'm done with this now as I hope you are.

Mike

[daveohno]

I would agree with OD* (I know, you're all surprised by that :) )
I am a minute or two younger than you are and I've been collecting Colt semi autos for a couple of years now, my level of knowledge is novice also, so I bought all new pistols mostly. Mostly more towards the top end also, because I wanted to make sure I got ones I wouldn't have to worry about because they were the better models available and them being new, I could send them back for repair if I had to because I can't fix them myself, yet.

The nice thing about the forum here is that it is easy to make a friend or two that can mentor you about these pistols (thanks Dan & Hunter). You can learn to do a minor repair or two and there are many people here that show work from gunsmiths so you have access to to reliable smiths should you want to have some custom work done to your own.

[paul45]

Why are you so rude? Yawn? Diatribe? What is your problem?
(yawn) I don't think I was INITIALLY the "rude" one in this exchange, sir. Your initial diatribe speaks for itself. (yawn)

No problem here, my friend.Please...

I wasn't in the mood to accept it.
You never did answer the questionMake up your mind.

I'm done with this now as I hope you are.You go on a ranting tirade against my post that offered an opinion and now you want to be "done with this"?? Yeah.....that is a good idea....you need a nap.

[mikem]

Ranting tirade!?!

Please.

I asked what folks thought was a fair price. "Price" usually involves a dollar amount. Wouldn't you agree?

I'll say it again. You never answered the question, sir. You instead just dished out nonsense which really had nothing to do with the specific question. And your answer, on top of telling me exactly nothing, had a rather rude tone to it.

I responded in kind.

Over the years, I have observed that folks who take static from others and don't speak up tend to take a lot of static. It almost becomes a habit for them.

Taking static is not one of my habits.

Did you take not of the other responses? Each and every one of them was brief, to the point and instructional. Your answer was none of the above.

Now, can you let it rest?

Mike

[OD*]

That's enough fellas, please.

[jeff1124]

I gotta agree with Paul45 here, a new gun is worth about 700.00, a used gun is worth what you want to pay for it! The Wilsons stuff adds no value as it was custom work per the original owners desires. If you want the gun, try talking the guy down to what you want to pay, if he won't move on price, then you have to decide if those Wilson things add value in the direction you would've gone if you'd been the owner. I re-read Pauls post twice and I don't see where he was being rude. This forum has always been as nice to me as I make it!

[elijdub]

I gotta agree with Paul45 here, a new gun is worth about 700.00, a used gun is worth what you want to pay for it! The Wilsons stuff adds no value as it was custom work per the original owners desires. If you want the gun, try talking the guy down to what you want to pay, if he won't move on price, then you have to decide if those Wilson things add value in the direction you would've gone if you'd been the owner. I re-read Pauls post twice and I don't see where he was being rude. This forum has always been as nice to me as I make it!
Well put Jeff. +1.

[2112]

Please allow me to interject. I sent my 91 a1 out for some serious cosmetic surgery ($ 1800.00) worth. After reading jeff1124 I'm not sure that was a good idea. Do you guys think that it would have been smarter just to buy a "custom gun" ? I ask this in a resale context.

[jeff1124]

you can make a gun into a custom gun to your taste but you can't make a gun a collectible. If your money made the gun desirable to others then, perhaps, you've added value to it. But, before I sunk money into a gun, I'd want to be sure that it was going to be something that I would want to keep because all the changes might not be what potential buyers of it might want. In other words you wouldn't be able to get what you put into it, just what someone would be willing to give.

[2112]

I agree with that 100%, moreover she is a keeper not an investment. Just for laughs and giggles... Colt has a better frame, superior name, and all around quality. My thought is that the target demographic in the custom gun circles would be willing to pay more for tastefully done colt than say a Wilson Combat out of the box. Just thinking out loud. A well done Harley always makes money.

[Tommy D]

The Harley reference is just like the guns... I have a few of each... you will never get the money out of a Harley for a bunch of extras, same with pistols. UNLESS, you find a certain individual that wants EXACTLY what you want. That's why they are so many accessories for both, so everyone can have something different from the other guy. And just as Jeff said, you really can't make a collectable. Colt's and Harleys are worth more as they get older if bone stock and unmolested. Anyone can screw one up. But it is a special person who can preserve one, especially when using it for it's designed intention.

[wetidlerjr]

Off the top of my head, the pistol is worth around $600 in unaltered condition (98%). Since you desire the alterations done to it and, of course, the confirmation that it was done by Wilson, it may well be worth $600 to you, altered. If you aren't collecting Colt's then go for it .
Remember, "Patience is a virtue." and being patient and calm when someone on an internet gun board seems to be short or brusque with you will help keep your 'net life a little less complicated and may even win you a friend. It is often hard to convey feeling when you can't see the author of a comment. That is why I rely a lot on the "smileys" to let people know my mood or intent.
"A kind word turneth away wrath."
Don't run off, mad or otherwise and you will learn much here.
Of course, if you do get it, pics are mandatory no matter what your temperament.

:D

[dogdollar]

C'mon fellas; let's all rally around the campfire for a big 'ol GROUP HUG !!!!!
:lh:
Seriously, though.... a 1991A1 can be made into a most excellent custom gun. As a matter of fact, it could be argued that if you're going full house anyway, and pretty much everything is going to be replaced anyway, WHY NOT start with a less expensive base gun?
But I digress.......
Mikem, I would, for the sake of simplicity, just figure them as being worth the same, and make a personal judgment. Each has features the other doesn't...what is most important to you? I personally would LIKE the fact that it had been through Wilson's shop. I'd buy the used one if the former owner shot it and liked it. After all, if it's not THAT used, then so what? Slabs are kind of like anvils.....do you really NEED a new one? Absolutely not.
As our friend Forrest Gump said: Buying a new slab is like a box of chocolates............you never know what you're going to get!
T.

P.S. - Here's mine - I have all kinds of different slabs, including some darned expensive ones. No matter; this remains one of my favorites.
Good luck!!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/VB4.jpg

[Joni Lynn]

There's such variety in 1911 and so many out there it's often hard to pick one over another. However I still somehow manage to bumble through ;).
Your perspective is all that's important here. Look at the prices, think about what you want and how you are feeling about the different guns and make the decision to buy or not. If it was through Wilson's at least the work has been properly done.
The biggest problem I've seen with a lot of 1911 around where I am is that too many get kitchen gunsmithed and afterwards some of the problems that have been created are difficult to repair.
Good luck!! (don't forget how much we love to see pics of the guns!!!:D)

[mikem]

Hey,

I decided to go with a new Sereis 80 Gov't. Model. Ordered it today. It'll be here next week.

thank ya'll for some solid advice.

mike

[daveohno]

I bet you'll be happy with it. Don't forget to post a couple of pics so we can all oooh and aaahhh your new gat!

[OD*]

Congratulations, Mike.

[larry starling]

IMHO I wouldn't pay any extra for a gun that has been customized. from my experience most people aren't willing to pay for the work or the parts involved in the work done. Also there was a Novak customized Colt .38 Super available locally starting price was $1499 and it had all the paperwork from Novak and recipts. 6 months later the price was dropped to $900 and somebody finally purchased it......So I would say if your happy paying a set price for something then do it if not then pass.for me I would rather purchase a stock Colt with the knowledge that in the future it will be worth more than most other available 1911's. :)