Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
I see Para-Ordnance 1911's selling on the auction sites in the $700-$1,000 range. Prices seem to be based more upon the features included in any given model than any sort of "collector" status. In other words, their many "special editions" do not seem to command a premium. What does drive the price up is the quality of the sights, addition of a "beavertail" grip safety, extended thumb safety and slide release, and that sort of thing.
You would find, if you dared to dive into these waters, that 1911 platform pistols are endlessly customizable. Many, many manufacturers produce variants of this pistol, from the basic "mil spec" (as issued to our troops in two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, etc.) to some pretty wild customs, and everything in between.
The whole thing has kind of rattled down into a few specific upgrades that most expect (or like) to see on our "civilian" pistols. The mil-spec guns are the starting point, but are very basic and crude in comparison to the ones most manufacturers sell today. They have tiny little sights that can be very difficult to see, small controls like the thumb safety and slide release, and a hammer and grip safety setup that tends to "bite" the web of most folk's hands when the hammer is cocked by the cycling slide.
As a result, civilian guns almost always have better sights. Some are fixed, some are adjustable, some have glow in the dark inserts, and on and on. Same for the controls on the left side - many guns have enlarged, easier to use thumb safeties and slide releases. To eliminate the hammer "bite", many have "beavertail" grip safeties that effectively keep the web of your hand from rolling over the top of the safety where the hammer can bite it.
In the end, it is the presence of these upgraded features in some combination that drives the price of mass produced guns like the Para. It's just like ordering options on your car - every one you add to the list adds to the cost. In this world, with mid priced guns like the Para, it's not much, with the difference between their base mode "mil spec" and their fully optioned, top of the line model being maybe a couple hundred bucks. And that, in the end, is what drives their value, at this price point, anyway.
Oh, and welcome aboard. This is a truly fun and rewarding hobby. You will find there is as much to learn here as there is with any similar hobby, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Shooters love to share...
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