More likely a .44 Magnum.

Maybe so, but I would be surprised. I think the .40 Smith & Wesson is more popular in that gun.

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If you're looking for an investment that would gain in value, at least on a collector's level, Colt and Smith & Wesson's wheel guns would be the better way to go. I think the romance of these wheel guns are a draw for many, as they each have a story that goes with them...whether it's a story of a long gone family member that was in law enforcement and carried the Colt Police Positive Special, or the businessman that carried the S&W Chief's Special.

As far as 1911's go, the older war models hold a pretty decent value...they can remain stock as a historic shooter, or easily be updated to today's standards and still be a great shooter.

Most firearms, and I really mean mainly the big names such as Colt and S&W, gain value slowly for awhile. They'll maintain their value, generally, until they are no longer made, and a newer model comes out...at that point, they slowly increase as the gun shops start running out of them, then they start to gain momentum.

With the current politics of gun control, the value has skyrocketed on many former military models. I didn't pay a penny over $80 for my Mosins, yet they are now going for $200-$250, depending on the gun show and movement in DC. The cost (not value) of guns such as the AK, Mosin, AR, and other military rifles have damn near doubled since December of last year. Buying one now as an investment would be insane...because the bubble will burst, and the market will be flooded with these once again, as long as DC backs off of the gun control legislation.

In the end, revolvers seem to hold value the best, at least as far as I can see.

Now, since you've mentioned a 1911, they are one of the most versatile handguns I've ever owned. Kimber is really nice...they make a kit that allows you to shoot .22, so a day at the range won't kill your wallet. I saw where you were concerned about the .45 being possibly too much caliber for you...not to worry, they make muzzles that force the recoil into something very manageable. If my 5', 110 pound 65 year old mother can shoot my Springfield 1911A1 without as much as a flinch, then anyone can do it.

If you're just looking for a self defense handgun that will hold it's value or increase in value, look at the S&W M&P line...price isn't bad, they're accurate, adjustable, customizable, and easy to carry. S&W makes them with high capacity magazines, as well as in a capacity that even New York can live with.

Since around October of last year, I've been picking up the dreaded and hated S&W Sigma handguns in .40 and 9mm. They were loved by those that owned them, and hated by those that like steel instead of plastic. The originals were an exact enough copy of Glock, that S&W lost a lawsuit over them. I generally don't pay a much over $200 for them (I have 2 that were $80 each), replace the springs in the trigger that past owners removed, thinking they were lessening the trigger pull, and selling them for $275-$325, depending on the number of magazines that came with it and the magazine capacity. Those that hate these, have never owned one...those that love them, own multiple versions of them. They are reliable, accurate once you get used to the DAO trigger, and fun to shoot. Their value has gone up because they accept higher capacity magazines, and many states are wanting to regulate those.

I know, I probably rambled a bit here, but I hope that some of the information helps you.

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I have an original "Ace Conversion" kit including the original box. It turns a standard 1911 into a .22 and a really good one.

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I'm just going to slide this in here....
[HD] Snatch: Replica vs Desert Eagle .50 - YouTube

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"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

The full size original Desert Eagle was not made for .45auto. It comes in .50 action express, .44 mag, and .357 mag.

If the one in question was indeed a .45, it was either a "Baby DE", one of their 1911 models, or one of their other semi-auto pistols now on the market. They now make a bunch of models that all carry the DE moniker in this country, which confuses the issue further.

.45 Auto is a sweetheart of a cartridge. Out of all my pistols, there are two I shoot most often. One is a polymer framed Sig Sauer 9mm and the other is my Smith and Wesson 1911. The Sig has it's good points. MBZ quality fit, finish and reliability. It's the only tupperware gun I own. It will eat any ammo I feed it and in thousands of rounds has never had a fail to fire or fail to eject. It will shoot dirty as accurately as it shoots clean. It didn't cost an arm and a leg like my all metal Sigs, they designed it to compete with Glocks and their other competitors.
The Smith 1911 is similar in it's reliability. Since I reload and am a cheapskate, I have dialed the reloads for both guns down to the absolute minimum powder charge that will still group shots well and consistently cycle the pistols. In a side by side comparison, the Sig is much snappier and has noticeably more muzzle flip than the 1911. This is due in part to the guns themselves, the 1911 is heavier and easier to control, but is largely due to the nature of the rounds themselves. 9mm by design is a high pressure round no matter how you load it. 45 auto is low pressure. Bigger bullet, more control, .45 FTW.

Larry, I shoot IDPA twice monthly all winter long. I'm sure this varies from match to match at places around the country, but I can tell you 1911s are the minority in my experience. We're always at a disadvantage in stages that allow loading to 11. I don't care. I'm after accuracy over time and usually shoot the 1911 anyhow. IPSC I think is a different matter. Lots of 1911s there, most of them souped up to the point of absolute un-originality.

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Don't knock the Tupperwear guns...While I'd never own a Glock (I don't like the feel of them) the S&W versions are really nice. The grips are angled like the 1911, which puts them in the perfect position to easily aim and fire. If it wasn't for the S&W line, I'd only own all steel handguns.

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1987 560SL
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I knew you would be along with lots of good information.

Learn something new every day. I shot a few IDPA matches about 15 years ago and they were local yokal. I'm really surprised that the 1911 based guns are not still commonplace for these events.

That was the last time I did a lot of pistol shooting. I was shooting my .45's alot at that time and pulling the handle on the Dillon a LOT in those days. I drifted away from it and shot skeet and a little trap for many years after.

I agree regarding the .45 round. I'm a big fan. I'm almost out of large pistol primers and can't seem to come up with any more. I have recently gotten the hankering to shoot the .45's again.

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I fired a Glock about fifteen years ago and just couldn't warm up to it. My biggest problem was all the trigger take up. I'm just used to a good 1911 trigger and couldn't get past that.

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That's the one.

- Peter.

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1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
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Like anything new, there is an adjustment period. I used to go back and forth between a Glock 19 and a Colt GCNM without too much trouble, although I admit that I was more accurate with the 19.

Adjustment period or not, I will take a nice, crisp, 3 1/2 to 4 pound SA trigger over the plastic master. I went through a hundred rounds and never warmed up to it. They are great weapons or they wouldn't be so popular.

For those who love their Glocks, more power to them. That's why they make different guns, because different people like different things. Same way with cars.

I like my 1911's and everyone else is free to like their weapons.

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Takes a little getting used to. Like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. As Larry says to each his own, but I've personally never shot a Glock that didn't hurt my hand, you can't shoot lead in them due to that goofy octagonal rifling and that absurd trigger leaves me scratching my head in disbelief. On the other hand, they always go boom.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
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1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I'm a big fan of Beretta shotguns, but not a big fan of their pistols.

I'd bet many of the 1911's you guys are seeing at the shoots are from Kimber.

What does the rifling have to do with lead?

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S