[Edward Tinker]

Although little to do with Dave's luger, I received an unexpected call about two 'shooter' 1911A1's from RIA.

I haggled a bit and got them for about $700 each shipped - one is obviously worth a bit more than the other. One is a Nickle plated, with all military markings gone from it and has antler / stag grips. - result, my wife likes it, the grips are very nice and probably worth a couple hundred by themselves, and the bore cleaned up nicely. Its a very tight 1911A1. With a nice Remington Rand marking on the left. I figure a shooter 45 goes for around $600-$750?
The second is a Remington Rand frame with an Ithaca slide. Although the sn range says its a Rem Rand frame and not an Ithaca, it has all the characteristics of a Ithaca, but they shared a lot of parts. So, I am assuming a mixmaster possible made up later. Barrel was much rougher, but I swapped it with a newer colt barrel. Finish was frosted with light pitting here and there and a slight orange color that today cleaned up very nicely. A well worn, but decent war-horse. I think if selling I could ask $1000-$1200 ?

On both purchases (Simson and these) I sent a personal / biz check. Received Simson in less than a week, and received these about 14 days after sending the check. Both were much quicker turnarounds than I have seen before, but they also have my credit card on file, so I assume they figure they could always charge it.

Anyway, prices are always more than I like at auction, and the descriptions on the regionals are so awful and vague that you can't go by the codes they suggest IMHO.