Frustrated, where/how to buy?

[RASelkirk]

Hi All,

After reading John Browning's bio, I'm looking into adding an early M1911 service pistol to my (meager) collection. I have looked on GunBroker and see very few come up for sale. The Gander Mtn. guns look "rode hard and put up wet". I realize these are quite spendy and want to buy a collectible and not a mish-mash. I have no idea where to look other than GB and some pay sites I've run across. I'd love to have a pre-WWI or failing that, nothing later than WWII. I'm just clueless on where to look and how NOT to get burned.

Thanks!

Russ

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[SA M1Dom]

Try guns international.

Guns International, Used Guns For Sale Online, Antique Guns, Collectible Firearms

[RASelkirk]

Try guns international.

Guns International, Used Guns For Sale Online, Antique Guns, Collectible Firearms

Aye, that's gonna make it worse! What can I put in for search terms that'll keep the good stuff and weed out all the new & repop stuff? That's one of my problems. I'm not really sure what to search for, If I use "M1911*", I get all kinds of cr@p, if I use "1911* military", I get more refined results but always seem to miss a few...

Russ

[Scott Gahimer]

Did you ever consider a gun show?

[mike radford]

Did you ever consider a gun show?

I agree with Scott. I have the best results at the NGD/SOS in Louisville. You will not be the only Texan there by any stretch. Mike Steves, co-author of the K98k series will be there and many more, not to mention folks from Europe. You should have a few hundred to chose from. Great show and worth the trip IMO. Good luck.

Of course Tulsa show is no slouch either and the Las Vegas Show, I think this weekend?

[Mikesm44]

You're in TX? Try Texas Gun Trader. I got 2 off there. Basically just luck, but in 3 years of going on there every once in awhile when I'm in a buying mood, I've found all kinds of stuff. A mint M1 carbine and Garand come to mind, the 2 1911's, a Colt and S&W M1917, just lots of stuff. Patience is really the only answer. If you want it now you're going to pay the price for getting it right now, either in actual price or in condition.

[Neal Myers]

I think we all feel your frustration. It is really difficult to get good original classics guns today, at any price. Your only defense against getting ripped off is knowledge; owning a good book, & finding a collector friend willing to help you analyze gun show, gun store, & online auction offerings.

It took me 5 years to find the Colt 1911A1 of my dreams; another 5 years to find the minty Luger from WW2.

I found Charles Clawson's Collectors Guide to Colt .45 Service Pistols (the small book) to be invaluable. (I paid $40, I see them offered for prices up to $150 on Amazon.) The fellas may suggest other books.

In TX, check out Collectors Firearms in Houston. Their website has photos that do not meet my requirements, & they are not close enough for me to travel there. They accept returns, but the buyer pays shipping both ways, even if their description was faulty.

If you don't have a C&R license, it would be a good investment now.

Neal

[RASelkirk]

Thanks for all the info and links! Checking them out now. Scored a nice M1 Carbine last December at a local show, but as a rule, they're pretty lame. The Houston shows might be worth a trip...

Russ

[jmoore]

Or maybe Scott Gahimer's site? (see the link in Post #4) He posts some super photos in this forum.

[RASelkirk]

Or maybe Scott Gahimer's site? (see the link in Post #4) He posts some super photos in this forum.

Yeah, I checked it out, saw that it was a pay site and ventured on. After another look, it's only $30/yr, so that may be the way to go in order to get enough valid info to make an educated purchase...

Russ