How badly did I get swindled?

Question

My very first handgun purchase, way back on my 21st birthday, was an Essex Arms 1911. It has a Remington Rand slide, and I was told had some work done to make it a competitive target gun. The dealer (in California) told me it had seen action in WW2, which based on the Remington Rand slide, I believed. I paid about $600, which was cheap in that state for virtually any firearm.

I recently became curious about this weapon's history, and contacted Essex Arms. Based on the serial, it was produced in 1985 (so, no WW2 service). Realistically, this precludes military service at all, because by 1985 I think the Army was done buying 1911's (correct me if I'm wrong).

What is this pistol worth? It's a standard 1911, with 5 inch barrel, etc. It looks exaclty like other military 1911's, except the receiver and slide are different makes (common on military guns though).

Besides the sentimental value of what this gun has gone through with me, do I have a reason to keep it?

Thanks guys.

Answer 1

A gun is a gun is a gun. How it got into your hands and for what price doesn't matter. The question is, now that you have it, what is it worth to YOU?

If you turn and sell it for $400, then you just leased a gun for $200 for all the years you've had it. Not a bad deal if you look at it that way.

Answer 2

The Remington Rand slide probably did see action in WWII.  If you got it for a good price then more power to you.  In California $600 was probably a steal for a 1911.

H

Answer 3

I would say you probably overpaid a bit for your mixed parts gun. I guess it's possible that your slide may have seen WWII action. I wouldn't worry much about it, though. In the big scheme of things, who really cares? I say keep because it was your first handgun. Real money, I would say it's probably worth $300-$500 depending on condition. I have seen quite a few Essex Arms 1911's. Every one that I have scene did not have an Essex slide which leads me to believe that Essex only makes frames for custom builds. Most that I have seen have had Colt slides.

Answer 4

A gun is a gun, but boy did you get screwed over. You should have checked the number first, then bought it. Then you could s***w with the guy's mind and ask him details like the theater in which it served, the branch of the military its owner served, etc. But, like I said, a gun is a gun and you paid for it, so might as well keep it.

Answer 5

No Essex receiver ever saw action in the military

It is an after market frame that a few builders use

It is not a bad brand I know quite a few people who have built guns on that frame

The Remington receiver most probably did see action

It is not unheard of to rebuild the old war horses on after market frame and Essex is a good one for the task

Without knowing what tweaking was done it is hard to say what that was worth

But you know if the gun is competition accurate and dependable

You probably paid too much

But most of us did for our first gun

But the longer you keep it the closer to that price the gun gets

Around here that would be a $450 gun today, and we can get just about anything we want

Just look at it this way

Way back on my 21rst birthday a Norinco 1911 was about $200

The Book is calling them $525 guns today

Answer 6

I have not handled an Essex. Are all the parts forged or machined?

Does your pistol function correctly? Reliable? Accurate?

Id worry about this stuff more than the back story.

Even the cheapest 1911's bring near $600 now days... I looked a an Armscorp today that was listed for $500 and change. Don't beat yourself up to bad... if the pistol works right and you like it it's all good.

Advise (but ya know this)...do a little research before you buy.

Tattle on myself... I passed on a Caspian 1911 once ...for cheap.

I didn't realize that Caspian was the premium custom shop a few years back... and Caspian built guns are nearly collectible on the merit of the Caspian name alone.

Live and learn.

Answer 7

if i was you, i would keep it, caus eyou wont get what you paid for it unless you swindle someone else like the first guy did you. you said there was some sentimental value to it, so keep it for that.