Pawn Shop Circuit: 1911 Cravings

I got off work early today, and used my spare time to hit a few pawn shops and gun stores. My favorite pawn shops had the usual fare of Ruger double action pistols, Glocks and such, nothing that I was interested in. I resolved to darken the door of a gun store.

At the first gun store, there were a couple of interesting pistols. A Colt New Agent 1911 was in the case. It was Series 90 pistol, with an enhanced lightweight frame and a gutter in the slide instead of sights. It had slim grips, and a tapered slide reminiscent of a Browning Hi-Power. Intriguing to say the least. It was also blued, and priced at $947. It looks like Colt is starting to get on the ball with CCW, but I would have preferred the pistol be hard chromed and priced more attractively.

The proprietor also had a Colt WW1 Reproduction for sale. I asked to see it. As I turned it over in my hands, I noted an off center recoil plug tunnel, and a double struck United States Property rollmark. I was also put off by the tapered leading edges on the slide and the raised margins of the rollmarks. The 1911 reproduction is a pistol I may someday buy. I intend to shoot it if I do though, so a new one would depreciate rapidly. Original M1911s routinely sell for greater amounts, and the chances of finding a correct example in my price range is slim. I looked at the tag. this reproduction was tagged at $1047. I asked if they could work with me on the price. The answer was no.

I remembered why I essentially stopped going into gun stores. I started to drive over to a local gun store that I have not visited in five years. I walked out after the owner's wife was insufferably rude half a decade ago, and vowed to never return. I thought about it today, just to see if there was another Colt WW1 Reproduction in town at a fair price. There was likely one there, but I could not bring myself to offer them any further patronage.