A Ruger 1911 at last....

[bafsu92]

It is my contention that most 1911 owners own more than one.  Many own several and are willing to bring another into the fold if it piques their interest.  I think people that look at the market and assume that it is a "one gun per buyer" market are way off base, especially where 1911s are concerned.  If they make a decent gun at a decent price they will do well.  A lot of people wont drop the big bucks on a custom gun like Wilson, Baer, Nighthawk, etc., but will eventually spend several times that on multiple guns over the years.  1911 are very addictive.

"Hi.  My name is Ichiban and I'm a 1911-aholic."

I'm one of the one's your talking about. I've got around a dozen 1911's of one configuration or another yet I don't own an all stainless model. I have/had an AMT Hardballer that was an all stainless pistol until the slide rail sheered off. It is now an AMT Hardballer stainless frame with a blued Series 70 Colt slide, my bastard child 45. I own 2 different Kimber's with a stainless slide on an aluminum frame but WHEN I purchase my Ruger 1911 it will be my only all stainless 1911. I just have to decide if I wait for a checkered front strap model or buy right away and get it checkered aftermarket. I guess it depends on what kind of deal I can get. I'm curious to see if they try to over-markup these ala the LCP/LCR/LC9 or if there's not enough demand for that.

[bafsu92]

I have two and would like a nice officer size model. Being a lefty it won't be a Ruger.

Why does being a lefty preclude you from buying a Ruger 1911? I'm a lefty as well and plan on buying one so I was curious as to your reasoning?

[TAB]

I'm one of the one's your talking about. I've got around a dozen 1911's of one configuration or another yet I don't own an all stainless model. I have/had an AMT Hardballer that was an all stainless pistol until the slide rail sheered off. It is now an AMT Hardballer stainless frame with a blued Series 70 Colt slide, my bastard child 45. I own 2 different Kimber's with a stainless slide on an aluminum frame but WHEN I purchase my Ruger 1911 it will be my only all stainless 1911. I just have to decide if I wait for a checkered front strap model or buy right away and get it checkered aftermarket. I guess it depends on what kind of deal I can get. I'm curious to see if they try to over-markup these ala the LCP/LCR/LC9 or if there's not enough demand for that.

oh I'm sure all the ruger fan boys will cuase the prices to go thru the roof for atleast the 1st 6 months.

If I was looking to buy one( which I'm not at this point in time, might change after I actually shoot one and see if it hype or not, ruger is known for lots of hype after all)I'd be looking end of 2012 start of 2013.  that way the market will cool down and there is even a chance to pick one up used for cheap.

[MikeBjerum]

I'm one of the one's your talking about. I've got around a dozen 1911's of one configuration or another yet I don't own an all stainless model. I have/had an AMT Hardballer that was an all stainless pistol until the slide rail sheered off. It is now an AMT Hardballer stainless frame with a blued Series 70 Colt slide, my bastard child 45. I own 2 different Kimber's with a stainless slide on an aluminum frame but WHEN I purchase my Ruger 1911 it will be my only all stainless 1911. I just have to decide if I wait for a checkered front strap model or buy right away and get it checkered aftermarket. I guess it depends on what kind of deal I can get. I'm curious to see if they try to over-markup these ala the LCP/LCR/LC9 or if there's not enough demand for that.

From what I have seen over the years these probably will not demand a premium.  The 1911 is not viewed as a hot new commodity by the masses, so unless Ruger shorts the supplies and as long as we don't stampede to buy every one most shops will be reasonable.

[MikeBjerum]

Quote from: ratcatcher55 on Today at 09:18:32 am
I have two and would like a nice officer size model. Being a lefty it won't be a Ruger.


Why does being a lefty preclude you from buying a Ruger 1911? I'm a lefty as well and plan on buying one so I was curious as to your reasoning?

This is the one thing that I think most mass makers of the 1911 are missing.  I would have thought by now someone would have come up with an easily convertible ambi safety.  I wouldn't want a dedicated ambi for daily carry, but I would think there would be a market for a safety that could be set up right, left or ambi with a simple part exchange.  I have an idea that would be a simple operation with no disassembly, but nobody has asked me ... then again I haven't offered it either.

[Sponsor]

[bafsu92]

From what I have seen over the years these probably will not demand a premium.  The 1911 is not viewed as a hot new commodity by the masses, so unless Ruger shorts the supplies and as long as we don't stampede to buy every one most shops will be reasonable.

I was leaning this way as well. I think it will be a hot item but if they are truly targeting the consumer who already owns multiple 1911's then that person probably won't mind waiting a few months to get theirs. As long as they put out a decent number I'd be surprised if you had to pay over MSRP. I would expect to pay less. I recently bought 2 LC9's and paid $339 ea. with $22 shipping, $700 total to my FFL. I'm sure some unscrupulous dealer will try to rape consumers but if you shop it you should be able to buy one at a decent price.

[bafsu92]

Quote from: ratcatcher55 on Today at 09:18:32 am
I have two and would like a nice officer size model. Being a lefty it won't be a Ruger.


Why does being a lefty preclude you from buying a Ruger 1911? I'm a lefty as well and plan on buying one so I was curious as to your reasoning?

This is the one thing that I think most mass makers of the 1911 are missing.  I would have thought by now someone would have come up with an easily convertible ambi safety.  I wouldn't want a dedicated ambi for daily carry, but I would think there would be a market for a safety that could be set up right, left or ambi with a simple part exchange.  I have an idea that would be a simple operation with no disassembly, but nobody has asked me ... then again I haven't offered it either.

I'm totally happy with the Wilson Combat slim ambi, not totally drop in but pretty easy to fit. I run them on almost all my 1911's although a couple have Swenson's which I like better but are harder to find.

[Timothy]

Quote from: ratcatcher55 on Today at 09:18:32 am
I have two and would like a nice officer size model. Being a lefty it won't be a Ruger.


Why does being a lefty preclude you from buying a Ruger 1911? I'm a lefty as well and plan on buying one so I was curious as to your reasoning?

This is the one thing that I think most mass makers of the 1911 are missing.  I would have thought by now someone would have come up with an easily convertible ambi safety.  I wouldn't want a dedicated ambi for daily carry, but I would think there would be a market for a safety that could be set up right, left or ambi with a simple part exchange.  I have an idea that would be a simple operation with no disassembly, but nobody has asked me ... then again I haven't offered it either.

I work in 3D modeling.  We work primarily with sheet metal but the software was originally designed for molding and machining in mind.  I can produce a right or left hand model of anything in a few clicks of a mouse!

It would be nothing to produce a 1911 in a complete left hand version from the design side and the 5 axis machining centers used today could care less what "hand" their milling.  I'm surprise that no one has made a complete left hand version of a 1911, a Block, a "insert name here", yada, yada, yada.  They've done a few revolvers haven't they?  Charter Arms comes to mind...

If they can do it with an AR platform, a 1911 would be a piece of cake!

[ratcatcher55]

Why does being a lefty preclude you from buying a Ruger 1911? I'm a lefty as well and plan on buying one so I was curious as to your reasoning?

My understanding is they are wrong side safety only. A left only would be fine but I use the ambidex safeties on my pistols with manual levers.

[ratcatcher55]

PS: Lowering quality isn't the only, and certainly not the best, way of increasing margin. Changing/modernizing manufacturing processes accomplishes the same thing while actually increasing quality. That's why I spend today's podcast talking about the line at Ruger. Think about that EDM'ed breech face as an example. Using a draw tool, for example, to cut the breech face means that each breech face must be examined, then "cleaned up" by hand or an additional tool...not a lot of time, but still time, and time is always money. If the breech face comes out to the EDM machine 100% ready to go, the manufacturer has saved money.

That's why small parts are such an issue...John Browning designed the gun to have the small parts fitted by hand by experts, because at that time expert hand-fitters and gunsmiths were cheap and machines expensive (and limited in what they could machine). If the small parts can be made to very high tolerances and the frame and slide machined appropriately, then final assembly is actually a matter of assembly rather than fitting. And you increase the margin. The control of the small parts has always been one of STI International's secrets of their super high quality guns (IMHO, the highest quality out-of-the-box guns in America) and I was impressed to see Ruger go down the same path.

Michael B

This implies a large capitol expense. That has to be passed on over some period of time. Add operator training, a non bubba skill and that adds cost.