Need help on a possible trade please. Pic Heavy

Handguns » 1911 Discussions

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need help on a possible trade please. Pic Heavy

Posted: 12/16/2010 6:53:30 PM EDT

I currently have a Taurus 85 in .38 Special with a shrouded hammer in Titanium. I paid $395 for it a few years ago. My buddy has this 1911. From the little research I have done, it is a mil-spec, but that is all I really know. He is wanting the .38 and $200. Is this a deal? I have wanted a 1911 for a long time now, but haven't done much research beyond "man I sure would like a colt."

Thanks for any help/advice!

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:05:30 PM EDT

[#1]

offer $100 and the tuarus. Springfields are solid.

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:17:23 PM EDT

[#2]

Non-stock sights. What else has been buggered up?

ETA: A Mil-Spec should have a spur hammer.

m

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:21:05 PM EDT

[#3]

Looks like millett sights if I recall correctly. I'd get a real set of sights installed. It's a $500 gun so figure it from that ballpark. I have 4 springfields 1 colt and 1 para 1911. I would buy another springer before either of the others.

The Milspec is a good base gun to build on. Those sights are hideous though. I would consider it if you're willing to spend a few bucks with a competent smith to make it the pistol you really want. Drop in parts are crap, if you're the kind of guy who wants to just buy a few things here and there and slap them on I'd move to another gun that's already the way you want it. It'll be cheaper and you'll be happier in the end.

Personally I'd rather have it bone stock than with those sights installed.

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:33:36 PM EDT

[#4]

Correct on the Millett sights. Make sure the front sight is stable on it, I've seen a lot of them that were improperly installed, and there's some wobble to the sight.

Also, the hammer and grip safety are not stock. Who did the work? This could be pretty important to know who did the fire control work, as it could be anything from really really dissatisfying or downright unsafe if the work has not been done correctly.

Otherwise, I'd concur that SAs are pretty solid shooters.

~Augee

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:40:12 PM EDT

[#5]

Ymmv, but I consider getting a sa and losing a taurus a win-win proposition.

Some might balk at a molested (nodded) gun but so long as the barrel, bushing and frame where the beavertail was installed weren't hacked, it's got great potential for competant custom work.

Posted: 12/16/2010 8:22:13 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Correct on the Millett sights. Make sure the front sight is stable on it, I've seen a lot of them that were improperly installed, and there's some wobble to the sight.

Also, the hammer and grip safety are not stock. Who did the work? This could be pretty important to know who did the fire control work, as it could be anything from really really dissatisfying or downright unsafe if the work has not been done correctly.

Otherwise, I'd concur that SAs are pretty solid shooters.

~Augee

Yeah all the more reason to mill the slide for a Novak cut.

Posted: 12/16/2010 8:22:48 PM EDT

[#7]

It's been worked on.

I'd want to know exactly who worked on it and what they did (with what kind of parts).

Could be great, could be pretty screwed up.

Aside from the sights - which would go in my world, at a minimum the hammer and grip safety have been replaced.

Problem is they're fire control parts and it looks like they may have been integrated into the existing thumb safety, possibly sear etc.

Were they properly fit? Do you have complimentary steels at critical engagement surfaces or do you have tool steel wearing on MIM or what?

I'd get some answers before I made an offer.

Just remember - a NIB milspec is a $500-ish gun. If it's quality smithing that's adds to that.

If it's a WECSOGS job - straight trade at best.

Posted: 12/16/2010 10:12:29 PM EDT

[#8]

The sights are MIllet, not top of the line.
The front sight is put on with two holes that are drilled through the slide, then two tenons on the sight are swaged from the bottom to expand into the drilled holes.

To put any other front sight on, the drilled holes have to be filled, ususally by welding, which then means refinishing the slide., with the welding marks generally being visible even with an excellent refinishing job.

Ask me how I know about Millet front sights!

I would pass on this one, because of the Millet front sight....

Posted: 12/16/2010 10:28:25 PM EDT

[#9]

It's a $500 gun that has been turned into a $400 gun because it has been worked on.
Smithing almost always lowers the value unless it is by a "big name" smith and is top notch work, too many people think that because they spent money to have something done it added that much value, it doesn't.

I myself would not make that trade, the titanium Tauruses are hard to come by. At best it's an even trade with no money added on your part.

Posted: 12/16/2010 10:37:13 PM EDT

[#10]

Love my Springfields, but I'm not loving that one. No trade for me. If I want my guns worked on, they go back to Springfield. You never know who got drunk and decided to do some 'smithing....

Posted: 12/17/2010 4:35:01 AM EDT

[#11]

Make the trade. Use the Springer as a platform to build on. At the very least, toss those sights. Those are ugly.

Posted: 12/17/2010 5:02:57 AM EDT

[#12]

The trade would be good if it weren't for that front sight.

I'd be pretty apprehensive to end up with that pistol because of it.

Maybe if you can trade closer to straight up, it'd be worth it.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 12/17/2010 5:08:37 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
The sights are MIllet, not top of the line.
The front sight is put on with two holes that are drilled through the slide, then two tenons on the sight are swaged from the bottom to expand into the drilled holes.

To put any other front sight on, the drilled holes have to be filled, ususally by welding, which then means refinishing the slide., with the welding marks generally being visible even with an excellent refinishing job.

Ask me how I know about Millet front sights!

I would pass on this one, because of the Millet front sight....

I just noticed the front site is a Millet...does make any changes interesting

Posted: 12/17/2010 5:41:19 AM EDT

[#14]

The gun your looking at reminds me of the project gun I'm working on. I have the same sight set up. I have changed out rear sight but the sight was somehow bent so I have another on the way. Instead of changing out front sight I took a file to it to reshape it. If it got screwed up in the process no loss. While at it I bobtailed the frame and stuck on a set of cheap grips I had lying around. I still need to finish up everything and refinsh the frame in matt silver. The OD has to go. I will have about $450 total invested into it when done.

Before:

Work in progress:

So if you are looking for a project gun the one you are looking will do. If you want to just get it and go shoot it I would be leary of the work done by someone you don't know. $200 and your gun, I don't think so. Even trade at best.

Posted: 12/17/2010 6:39:44 AM EDT

[#15]

I'd, after inspecting, do it. You may have paid ~$400ish for the taurus, but round here they don't carry much resell.

Posted: 12/17/2010 6:45:20 AM EDT

[#16]

Man I can't thank you all enough for the replies. Sounds like I am going to keep the Taurus for now. I may just offer him a little more cash for it if he wants that. The front site was what concerned me most, but I wasn't really sure why except that I didn't like the way it looked.

If I was to take it to a decent gunsmith it sounds like I may have more in it than it is worth and could have just bought a better one up front. I like the idea of a project gun but I have limited skills for it and also limited funds that are already going for other projects.

Thanks again, any more thoughts on this is more than welcome.

Posted: 12/17/2010 6:45:36 AM EDT

[#17]

You can check whether the front sight is a dual crimp or tenon version by looking inside the slide. If it's a tenon, you can just have a dovetail milled in.

That being said, the Millett front sight's not horrible as long as it's properly installed. Just dump that rear and install a fixed sight like the Harrison Retro or 10-8 NM and file the front to fit.

~Augee

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need help on a possible trade please. Pic Heavy

Handguns » 1911 Discussions

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us