Is this a good price, colt 1911?

B

BobR

New member
After languishing for a couple of days up on the gen handgun and semi-auto forums with no response, I figured I had better post here in hopes of an answer.

I have the opportunity to pick up a series 80 Lightweight Commander. It is about 95 %, has not been shot much, less than 500 rounds. It has a caspian frame, blue slide and looks to be box stock. What is the going price for one of these puppies these days. I am thinking of sinking more money into it to make a summer carry gun if I can get it for a decent price, asking price is 500 dollars. Too much, not enough?
Will be my first Colt 1911, have a P90 and a Para P-14 presently and the smaller one would be nice.
I can already see a bit more money following the initial purchase for mods. At the very least a trigger job, ambi safety and some new sights...anything else to make this gun a decent carry piece?

bob
 
BobR, it is NOT a "Colt .45." It is a Caspian .45 ACP. $500 is way too much money for a "hybrid" like you listed, around these parts, anyway.

Might go for $325, if in good shape, here. But I'd want to shoot it first before buying it. Sometimes, the "parts" guns are not reliable. Depends on who put it together and how skilled that person was.

JMHO. J.B.
 
To add to what JB said. A Series 80 Lightweight Commander is a Colt, BUT a Colt would have a Colt frame. What you are looking at is a Frankenstein gun, some of which are very good and can be very expensive. A big question on the value of the Caspian frame is if it has a cast alloy frame or a milled alloy frame. The milled frame is much stronger. It is also more desirable if the frame has a steel insert in the feed ramp, an option from Caspian. I also question if it has the Series 80 parts in it. It sounds like you are just reading what is on the slide and have not really inspected the gun. To add Series 80 internals would have required much more machining on a Caspian frame to get the extra parts in.

Its' worth is dependant on who did the work and the quality of the components. The barrel could be worth $50 or $180 depending on who made it. If the slide in Colt, it is worth about $150 in used condition. Since it is a Frankenstein there is no telling what kind of internal parts were used, again depends on who assembled it.
 
Pass it up. This is a potential money pit. There's no way to know how many parts you might need to replace due to poor quality parts or poor quality gunsmithing. Unless the seller can provide receipts for all work done from a recognized gunsmith with the serial number on the receipt, I would pass on it. You can't just slap these parts together and expect them to work. Look for something that says Colt on slide and frame. Or Springfield, or Kimber, etc - you get the idea.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. It has been a very educational, yet short, thread.
I guess I will save my pennies and pony up for a Kimber or equivelint soon.

bob
 
O.K. folks. I'm gonna ask ya'lls opinion and give Bob an option at the same time. How about the Hartford Colt or the Colt Sistema offered at J.L.D Enterprises. The Hartford was made in the states for the Argentines, the Sistema was made in Argentina with Colt factory specs. Seems like a good deal on a piece of history for about 300 to 400 bucks. Again, opinions are welcomed!
 
I had a sistema that i just lost in a trade for a 1943 colt 1911. i will order another from JDL as soon as i can arrange finances. they seem like one of the best bang for your buck deals going right now.
 
just picked up my sistema today, beautiful specimen. No dings or evidence of prior rust. Barrel is a little frosted and trigger pull is weighty.........but a very nice 1911 in all. I highly recommend them for the price and JLD as well.

hth, danny
 
You can find much better prices on used guns made by the factory that produced them. In my neck of the woods a good used 1911 from Springfield, Colt, Randall and other makers can often be found for under $450.
 
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