.38 SUPER....before and after

*We Band of 45-70er's*

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

27 August 2009, 00:54

Wink

I like the after better, although I still prefer the lines of the original trigger guard.

27 August 2009, 07:33

<Andrew cempa>

Gosh, my 98% early 1911 38 super just increased about 1% in value since it now somewhat rarer...

I personally would have sacrificed a les baer frame and slide etc to produce the new-fangled rig you now have...

To each his own! Shoot it well.

27 August 2009, 08:37

Chuck1911

The trigger gaurd is squared so my hands dont slide up when shooting competitively. Les builds great stuff and has since his pre springfield days. When I start from scratch, I prefer Caspian...

...The Colt was a rusty one when I started...no collecter by any stretch

30 August 2009, 02:55

congomike

I like custom 1911's but in this case I personally think you took a gun that is worth between 1500 and 2000, spent money on it, and turned it into a gun worth about 900-1000 max. I was in the gun business off and on for over 30 years and with the rare, rare exception, never saw anyone get the money they paid for a custom 1911 back out of it when they sold it.
Original Colt 38 Super Gov't Models are one of the most sought after of the commercial Colt pistols. Nice looking piece, but I have to agree with Andrew, you should have started off with a much less valuable gun and had the same work done.

30 August 2009, 06:40

Chuck1911

I will re-iterate this gun was rusty and pitted, mostly on the right side.Thats the good side showing. I, too have been in the gun business for over twenty years and have been building 1911s for the same. I can assure you what appears to you as a colleible gun was not . As for it being a $1500-$2000.00 gun made into a $900 dollar gun you are more than off a little.
while I will agree that most custom guns dont return an investment as a stock gun does, I can assure you my customers have felt the money well spent for the guns built for thier purposes. Be it duty, IPSC, or IDPA,my guns return the value in use. If ever there becomes some collectability, cool. The value is realized in the using. This gun is one of my personal pieces, and I wouldnt hesitate to use a nicer one if the desire arose.

Eagle Machine Gunsmithing

31 August 2009, 02:11

ForrestB

quote:
Originally posted by congomike:
I like custom 1911's but in this case I personally think you took a gun that is worth between 1500 and 2000, spent money on it, and turned it into a gun worth about 900-1000 max. I was in the gun business off and on for over 30 years and with the rare, rare exception, never saw anyone get the money they paid for a custom 1911 back out of it when they sold it.
Original Colt 38 Super Gov't Models are one of the most sought after of the commercial Colt pistols. Nice looking piece, but I have to agree with Andrew, you should have started off with a much less valuable gun and had the same work done.

I'll pay your max price of $1,000 for the first one you can find for me like this one.

31 August 2009, 03:31

Chuck1911

31 August 2009, 07:30

congomike

Damn...I guess this will teach me to keep my opinion to myself...so now I guess it is time to

before I have to end up doing

!!!
Anyway, sorry if I offended anyone, but if I have any defense, I only saw the nice side, not the rusty, pitted one.....

Seriously, I never really intended to offend you Chuck..you do some very fine work. I just have a real soft spot in my heart for commercial Colt 38 Supers.

31 August 2009, 08:25

Chuck1911

no offense taken.

you make a valid point, and I,too, have a soft spot for old Supers.
Besides, you cant be a gunsmith without thick skin...lol.
....and I wouldnt be any kind of Man if I couldnt respect a different opinion!
Chuck