I just read Bersa is going to be making 1911's in the US and the MSRP is approx $1,000.

A thousand dollar Bersa 1911? For sure that's going to sell like hot cakes.

That was my initial thought as well.
Bersa = Budget ala Taurus & similar.

If there are known quality 1911s out there for sub-1k, why would anyone buy the Bersa?

I'm sure there are a few dozen Bersa fans out there are delighted by this news. But for everyone else...

Bersa's usual bread and butter is the budget-focused customer, ala Taurus. But in that realm with 1911s they can't compete with the wildly inexpensive Phillipino and Turkish 1911s. So I guess they've decided to shoot for a higher tier of customer here, despite the existing stiff competition at that price point.

I agree, that's an insane price for them. Taurus makes a decent 1911 for less money but there are others out there I would choose first at the same price point.

Colt is selling 1911's for a bit under a thousand now. Bersa makes a good gun, but...

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
Colt is selling 1911's for a bit under a thousand now. Bersa makes a good gun, but...

I looked a Colt a while back, I suspect that Bersa might make a better 1911. Friggin detents for the safety were MIA and the safety had no detent in either position. Seriously how can you assemble a 1911 and fail to test the safety for function? Colt is now on my Not Interested list for new guns.

They've had a competition 9mm for years, but it never seemed to quite catch on in the United States. The decocker/safety only system and generally expensive (when they're shipped to the US market at all) magazines may have had something to do with their lack of popularity. It's a longer-barreled version of their standard duty/defense 9mm, which itself never really caught on in the US.

http://midwayusa.com/product/1021607911

Maybe this is Bersa regrouping and taking another crack at the competition market?

FWIW, the Ballester-Molina .45 1911(ish) was made by another Argentinian company, but still seems to have a fan base here in the U.S.

ETA: Not that it makes the pistol all that much more attractive, but I did get an email today from an online retailer that prices them at $839.99.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Il Cattivo,

I'm saving up for a Lorcin 1911.

quote:

Originally posted by adobesig:
I'm saving up for a Lorcin 1911.

snerk

quote:

Originally posted by adobesig:
I'm saving up for a Lorcin 1911.

Nah, hold out for the blowback operated High Point 1911 10mm

Still waiting on Glock to get into the game

And for a little over $300 one can buy a Tisas and be quite satisfied with its overall quality (even if its retro 1911A1 sights are pretty sucky). I like my Thunder 380 well enough for what it is, but Bersa management down in Argentina must be fairly delusional if they think this is going to go well based on their prior low budget market experiences.