Ballpark value: 1911 Bulls-eye Match

mrerick · 09-20-2013, 06:55 PM

Hi David,

It is a little more difficult to value a bullseye M1911a1 because so much of the potential work can be hidden. If you don't have a good description of the work that was done, and the parts specifically used it's even harder. Is there possibly documentation of the work (like gunsmith receipts) available.

Someone that would invest in a Caspian frame is working with a gunsmith at the higher end of M1911a1 modification, customization and tuning. The trigger job might have included the use of some of the higher end sear and safety parts. Is the barrel still a Colt barrel? Does it have a match chamber?

The bullseye shooters that I know at the club can pour many hundreds to a couple of thousand dollars into their guns - and that's after purchasing the original firearm. They rarely think about getting their money back out of the finished guns because they are lifetime purchases.

So... could be a $800 gun. Could be a $2,500 gun. Most likely in the mid $1000-1500 range.

Be particularly careful about shooting the hand loads. I personally don't shoot someone else's hand loads. I take them down to components and reload them.

Marc

gunbugs · 09-21-2013, 01:24 AM

Excellent advice on the handloads. Never shoot someone else's handloads. You can't tell how much of what kind of powder is in there, and you can't tell what kind of procedure was used to load them. Pull them down and start over. Ammo is cheap compared to a damaged gun due to suspect handloads.

rhuff · 09-21-2013, 04:40 PM

IF there was any way to determine exactly who built this bullseye gun, that would help a lot. If built by a recognized pistolsmith, that definitely adds value......if by "old Joe that works on 1911s", it may definitely drop the value. Custom weapons built to the owner's specs can be hard to sell for reasonable values.

09-20-2013, 06:55 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Hi David, It is a little more difficult to value a bullseye M1911a1 because so much of the potential work can be hidden. If you don't have a good description of the work that was done, and the parts specifically used it's even harder. Is there possibly documentation of the work (like gunsmith receipts) available. Someone that would invest in a Caspian frame is working with a gunsmith at the higher end of M1911a1 modification, customization and tuning. The trigger job might have included the use of some of the higher end sear and safety parts. Is the barrel still a Colt barrel? Does it have a match chamber? The bullseye shooters that I know at the club can pour many hundreds to a couple of thousand dollars into their guns - and that's after purchasing the original firearm. They rarely think about getting their money back out of the finished guns because they are lifetime purchases. So... could be a $800 gun. Could be a $2,500 gun. Most likely in the mid $1000-1500 range. Be particularly careful about shooting the hand loads. I personally don't shoot someone else's hand loads. I take them down to components and reload them. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

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09-21-2013, 01:24 AM	#2
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 683 Thanks: 375 Thanked 1,228 Times in 415 Posts	Excellent advice on the handloads. Never shoot someone else's handloads. You can't tell how much of what kind of powder is in there, and you can't tell what kind of procedure was used to load them. Pull them down and start over. Ammo is cheap compared to a damaged gun due to suspect handloads.

09-21-2013, 04:40 PM	#3
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,751 Thanked 999 Times in 734 Posts	IF there was any way to determine exactly who built this bullseye gun, that would help a lot. If built by a recognized pistolsmith, that definitely adds value......if by "old Joe that works on 1911s", it may definitely drop the value. Custom weapons built to the owner's specs can be hard to sell for reasonable values.