Originally Posted by
JonInWA
I appreciate a quality 1911 (or, for that matter, any quality gun...). In my opinion, the semi-custom 1911 world has spun out of control, especially pricing-wise in relation to discernible value (at least to me). I'm basically seeing a $1K+ rise in price over a 10 year period for the same gun-and often the current ones are decontented.
I'm not against profit, or how anyone else spends their discretionary income. But you better be buying these things for the enjoyment and appreciation of them, because I darned don't see much viable appreciable investment potential out of them. As others have mentioned (and I have personally empirically experienced) in this thread and elsewhere, the semi-custom 1911 resale market is pretty soft. That's a heck of a clue. The rise of 1911 semi-bespoke pricing is a great example of style (and especially marketing) over substance, in my opinion. Adding fuel to the fire are some very credible 1911 users who have attached their name to some of the blinged out/inessential feature-laden pricy semi-bespoke offerings, apparently forgetting that it's more the Indian than the arrow-and arguably the simpler and less bejeweled the arrow, the better the value, if not the overall performance (or perhaps there's a realization that there's simply less personal and/or corporate profit in remaining true to previously espoused and executed values). (And I need to say that a clear exception to this is what Jason Burton did for Todd Green-in that gun, every feature was in fact properly weighed against empirical experience and had a quantifiable justified value).
Then there's the arrogance and apparent outright incompetence of some of the manufacturers. For that matter there's the issue as to what exactly is a manufacturer...I've long suspected that there are very few actual manufacturers, and many cottage industry parts assemblers and tuners (albeit with superb marketing assistance and positioning). And there should be a special place in perdition for manufacturers who are either fundamentally unable to adequately support their efforts that require justified reasonable after-sale adjustments/repairs/replacement-ostensibly part of what the semi-bespoke experience offers is a higher quality firearm, with higher quality components and assembly attention, and a higher quality performance and experience. If that can't be provided, then there are probably numerous third-world countries where they'd be welcomed with open arms and preferential treatment-and they can make whatever they want, albeit at a market-sensitive price accordingly that attaches to such a market...
Okay, rant off. My thoughts on the state of the 1911 are this: For a new gun, Dan Wesson and Alchemy seem to offer a decent value at a relatively decent price (at least relative to the other semi-custom manufacturers). For entry-level 1911s, Colt, Ruger and Springfield Arms-but I'm frankly unsure exactly what constitutes a Colt 1911 these days-I get the impression that they're also more of a parts assembler-but I'd love to be proven wrong on that.
For pretty much anything else, caveat emptor. Take a hard, hard look why you're going down the 1911 path. If it's because of the merits of the single action and/or historic atmosphere that you appreciate, great.
If you want a hard use, accurate, reliable, low maintenance pistol for duty (and most other venues), I think you need to be able to quantify the merits of spending literally thousands more than say, a HK, Glock, Beretta et al. And if you can't objectively do so, but still want a 1911 "just because," that's perfectly fine too. I'd suggest, however, that you be be realistic in your outlook and perspective-and expectations.
With all that said, there is truly can be something special about a 1911-platform pistol that's well designed, well executed, and well supported after you take possession. I appreciate mine-but I'm far more likely to be carrying, and depending on something else...
Best, Jon