The Escalating Springfield
I was at an Academy Sports today, and I noticed a 1911 in the pistol case. I went forward to take a look. 
It was a Springfield GI45........for $639. Yep, a plain old parkerized five inch GI45 with the US grips and an olive drab GI45 hangtag for almost six and a half!
I started to ask to see it, wondering if the sales kid would call it a "Mil-Spec" but I resisted. I suspected he might also tell me how this pistol was carried by the Marines at Iwo Jima and in Baghdad today. I just took note of the price and thought I would ask.........Are they this high all over now? Is Academy Sports trying to gouge naive customers? I don't know, but I'm certainly glad that I bought mine from a reputable dealer in 2003 for a mere $400!
It was a Springfield GI45........for $639. Yep, a plain old parkerized five inch GI45 with the US grips and an olive drab GI45 hangtag for almost six and a half! I started to ask to see it, wondering if the sales kid would call it a "Mil-Spec" but I resisted. I suspected he might also tell me how this pistol was carried by the Marines at Iwo Jima and in Baghdad today. I just took note of the price and thought I would ask.........Are they this high all over now? Is Academy Sports trying to gouge naive customers? I don't know, but I'm certainly glad that I bought mine from a reputable dealer in 2003 for a mere $400!
Labels: Gun Counter Rumors, Gun Tradin', Springfield
posted by Xavier at 3:07 PM
15 Comments:
IIRC a new Springfield is only running about $100-$150 less than a comparable Colt in my area, at least for the basic models.
I'm not a 1911 man, but at those prices I would just spring for the original. Probably the reason why RIA guns have gotten so popular recently.
I just looked: MSRP is $619. Yikes. For a basic parked GI 1911 I'll take a Rock Island instead.
Joe
I know prices have been going up, but that's amazing. I bought my Springfield GI NEW, in the cheapo plastic box, for $499.99 plus tax less than two years ago (before I knew better than to do stuff like that).
I am going to ask a leading question...what is a good out of the box 1911 .45 for carry? Not saying I might not have it modified, but for now I am not so heavy in the wallet at present.
I live in Portland where guns always seem to price high and my 4 inch parkerized cost $468.00. Brand new.
Just checked Gunbroker.
Right off spotted a couple of these:
claiming NIB
MSRP 599.
buy now 469.99
I bought mine several years ago used, but like new. Just no box, for a little less than $400. I liked it, but admit that for some strange reason liked my ol' chinese Norinco better. Anyway, I have a son who made captain in the Army and so I gave it to him this last Xmas.
The Academy by me took out all the SA 1911 altogether. The replacements are now fullsize 9mm and 40S&W HK USP and Para-Ord 1911, both single and double stacked models. They still carry the SA XD's and of course the usual Ruger and GLOCK semi-auto with the usual S&W, Taurus, and Rossi revovlers. But now more SA 1911. Which sucks, they used to carry the GI Champion model for little under $500.
My SA GI Stainless was luckily a trade in.
BTW, I live in Houston, TX.
$469 retail at Vance's in Columbus, Ohio
My first 1911 was a Springer GI. I bought it in the cardboard box for $425 and change in early 2006. It's been a great gun, but I don't know if I'd pay more than six Benjamins for it....especially considering that I got my parkerized Loaded for just a shade over seven-and-a-half. And the Loaded wouldn't have cost me much more than that if I had gotten it at one of the local fun shops instead of an FFL who's a friend of a friend of the family; my gun shop of choice quoted me a price of $750 plus tax. I'd guess Academy was trying to gouge someone, but maybe that's just me.
I paid $499 + all the California gun buyer harassment fees for my SA Milspec (not the GI model) back in the summer of 2004. It has the NM serial number prefix and a one piece stainless steel barrel and bushing.
Accurate and absolutely reliable right out of the box.
If you want to carry a 5" 1911 this is a very good one for the money. Even at today's price.
That's nuts. I just got a quote about 2 or three days ago from my local shop- the G.I. parkerized was $529 or so, and the Stainless was $569, if memory serves.
And there was a used Taurus with tritium for $499....
I bought my GI .45 here in Stockton, Ca. for $469 in 2006, and they are still selling them for the same price. Mine is a great shooter, eats every thing I feed it without jamming. In that respect it is more reliable than my 1959 Colt Commercial. It shoots baseball sized groups at 25 yards with Cor-Bon 230 grain HPs, which is good enough for me. I put a long trigger in it, as I have big hands, and use Wilson model 47 seven shot magazines. It is 10 times the handgun than the Norinco 1911s, and is my "all around" pistol. No frills, it just works every time you pull the trigger. Of course, YMMV. ;-P
I just checked a couple of my favorite retailers and they both have them for about $500.00 That place you swa them at is trying to give customers the okie-doke...
Got mine for a little under $500, mostly due to your approval.
It has proven to be extremely reliable, stovepiping only twice within the first 200 rounds.
Smooth sailing since then.
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