My 50th Bday is coming up next year. I would like to buy a 1911 that was produced during my birth year. I am watching a NOS - Colt 1911 NRA 100th Anniversary Edition in GB. Start Bid at $1,950, Buy It Now $2,050.

Not buying this as investment. Just for my own collection. I don't want to OVER PAY. Any idea on what is a FAIR PRICE? (I know it is always worth MORE to someone who really want it).

I am not particularly looking at a NRA Anniversary 1911. Just want to get a Colt 1911 produced in 1971 (NOS). The only thing that came back on my search is that NRA Anniversary pistol.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ador,

It's worth what you're willing to pay, it's a bad time to buy firearms and expect a fair price although higher end firearms have not increased in price as much as lower end have.

Look at sold items in Gun Broker. (Not current auctions - look at the closed ones.) I see plain Colt 1911s in very good to NIB condition selling for $1300 to $1500 and tarted-up 1911s in similar condition selling for $2000 to $2500. The market price is the fair price. That is the definition of market/fair - the price paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller neither of which are operating under any extraordinary pressure.

It seems like, at first glance, the asking price isn't out of the expected range.

You are better able to judge which ones are comparable to the one you are interested in.

I wouldn't be willing to pay a premium for a NRA commemorative, but if the market is, then they are going to be worth more. And maybe some fancy ones are worth more than others.

a standard Series 70 Gov't Model dated to 1971 NIB is ~$1500+ in 45acp,
38 super will add $$$ as well other options on finish, etc etc, (and of course commanders etc)

they will likely tip up a tad next year since they become C&R guns,
that matters to some folks that live in states like MD

Colt also made some NRA Centennial 1971 Single Actions. The ones I have seen look good

Commemorative is another word for LOSE MONEY.

FIND a nice colt 1911 and buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
Commemorative is another word for LOSE MONEY.

FIND a nice colt 1911 and buy it.

this,

they are rarely worth more or sometimes even the same as the same model it is based on,

and if you shoot one, loose the box etc, in other words do anything with it, it is worth less then the same model not done as a commemorative,

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I am not particularly looking at a NRA Anniversary 1911. Just want to get a Colt 1911 produced in 1971 (NOS). The only thing that came back on my search is that NRA Anniversary pistol.

The price seems very high, like close to double. Commemorative guns like that, even Colts and Winchesters, usually sell for a substantial discount compared to the equivalent non-commemorative model. A good example would be the Colt 1911 WW1 commemoratives that were made in the late 60s. A standard Gov't Model of that vintage in mint condition easily sells for $2000. But you can buy one of the WW1 repros for $1000 without much trouble.

I agree that a commemorative is not a good way to make money. But if you happened to want a 5" N-frame S&W .44-40 revolver, you would have a hard time finding one that was not a commemorative. So when I saw the commemorative, I bought it. It was about the same price as any other similar S&W. I did not buy it to make money, I bought it to shoot. And I am very happy with it. I can honestly say that I have not shot it since this morning and that I enjoyed every minute of it. It may not be a NIB commemorative any more, but I am happy with it. I also bought one of the Colt SAA NRA commemoratives. A 7&1/2" .357 Mag. I got a good price on it, at the time I had been looking for a .357 SAA and this was the best one I found at what I considered a reasonable price. It was a brand new second generation SAA for less than a used third generation gun. I may ruin its value as a commemorative by shooting it, but I will let my heirs worry about that. If you are looking for a 1971 gun, that 1911 will do it.

To me, it seems like the question is this: am I willing to pay a possibly slightly inflated price for a commemorative 1911 made in 1971 NOW verses paying less but having to wait to find a 1911 made in 1971 for sale at some probably years off future date. My answer is this: I wouldn’t but you ain’t me so why listen to me?

When are you going to find another NOS 1971 Colt? Just buy it if the year really means that much to you.