Auto Ord 45 Value
While I wait for my beloved SW to come home from the gun doctor I thought I would like to shoot somthing pleasant. So I got out an old 45 I'v had for years. It is a Auto Ordanance 1911-A1, and I took a few boxes of factory 230 ball and headed for the range. Well to make a long story short, it just does'nt have the accuracy that I am used to. So I am thinking of tradeing it in or selling it to finance a new gun. Now I know what the book value is but what I don't know is how are these guns are thought of in general. Now my dealer is an honest and good guy but he is also a good horse trader.It would help me to know how these guns are percived and if they are worth book value or not. I would like some opinions if any body is willing to give one. Thanks in advance to all.[?]
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In average condition...say NRA 75%....$350.00...
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Despite the book value, I think that you will have a difficult time selling it at any price. Folks just don't hold this brand in high regard. The quality is not real high, and there is no brand name recognition. I know a couple of guys who haven't been able to sell theirs at anywhere near what they paid.
If you plan to sell it to your dealer, prepare yourself for a real low offer. If he's as sharp as you say, he too will know how difficult they are to sell.
Neal0 -
the 1911 in such form is NOT a target gun. It is a COMBAT gun and most will shoot accordingly. I hope you don't think you got a TARGET gun for the original cost. The Auto Ords have vintages like wine, but most can be made to shoot just fine with some polishing and burr removing etc., or just use. A few hundred rounds work miracles with such guns. It also wasn't sold to be pretty etc. It's a well designed, COMBAT gun and should work for that. You didn't pay for a Gold Cup so don't expect Gold Cup performance.
At 25 yards it should shoot 3-6 inches with ease. And that is just GREAT for a COMBAT gun and more than satisfactory. Auto Ord should bring $350-$400 with ease. If you can't get that contact me and we can do business.0 -
Just a thought: if there's nothing wrong with the gun overall and there shouldn't be, you could see about sprucing it up and make it into a fine shooter. As far as I know, it's a stock 1911 machine and some judicious work could make it hold its own. This might not make it a show piece, but decent sights, a trigger job, and a fitted bushing might make a major change in what you get out of it.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
When I dealt in guns, the Auto Ordinance 1911 was a poor seller and, as a result, the price had to be very low. If Darrell (above) will give $350 for it, then my recommendation would be to let him have it.
On the other hand, if the gun is reliable, you might want to hang on to it for a general "knockaround" gun--a gun you don't mind getting a little roughed up and tarnished. It would make a great gun to keep in a fishing tackle box...or for under the seat of your truck...or...
I have a gun like that strategically located in my workshop.
Respectfully,
Rafter-S
"What is truth? No wonder jesting Pilate turned away. The truth, it has a thousand faces -- show only one of them, and the whole truth flies away! But how to show the whole? That is the question."
--Thomas Wolfe, "You Can't Go Home Again" (1934)0 -
All that is said is true in my experience. Since it seems reliable but the accuracy is not near standard I have a suggestion. It worked for a military model I have.
Get a Wilson group gripper, the short one and a fitted barrel bushing ($26 + $17). This should get that gun in the 2-3 inch group range if there is reasonable milspec fitting of the origonal parts. It has been my experience the barrel bushing has a large effect on a stock 1911. You will probably be very fond of the pistol then.0 -
Thanks to all who responded, I got this gun about 20 years ago, That was when I still belived if you did not carry a 1911 you were some kind of commi. or somthing. I knew then as I do now that it was a combat piece, but my thinking has changed a lot in 2 decades. It will shoot a 6 inch group at 15 yards, and is very reliable with mil. ball ammo.I'll head into town with a better idea of the value to a dealer and if we cant come to some kind of trade that I feel good about I'll just do what has been sugested about making it a more accurate piece. And I'v always got that little pocket on the side of the seat in my pick-up. Thanks again And MERRY CHRISTMAS to every one. 0 -
I bought mine new in 1992 for retail of $259. Out of the box it jammed, then it jammed, then it jammed again. After polishing the feed ramp, it stopped jamming. (Except after every third round.) Replaced extractor. Now it doesn't jam anymore. Had Millet factory install adjustable sights. Now it will shoot a 1" group at 15 yards. Long story short, After an additional $250 worth of improvements including the above, it's still not worth much more than what I paid for it.
No matter where you go, there you are.0 -
This just may be a coincedence, but may be worth mentioning. Seems to me like the new Kahr produced Auto Ord 1911's are alot nicer than the older ones. I'm pretty familiar with the "battlefield" quality of the older Auto Ords, but seems like the fit and finis one the newer ones are alot nicer. Though I haven't gotten to shoot one yet. 0 -
20 years ago Auto Ord, despite their sales of Tommy guns, produced the poorest quality-controlled of the 1911 guns. My favorite of their line was a unique piece called the Pit Bull, but I was afraid to buy one because of the notorious reputation. If you have "shot it in" for reliability, keep it, and accuracy can be improved. That's far better than having one of their jamomatics. They were inconsistent, to be kind, so it is a dice roll on those older ones. As someone said, if Darell will give you $400 for one of the old Auto Ords sight unseen, take it. Now if you'd bought a Star PD 20 years ago, you'd have a well-made gun. Frankly, I'd have a Pit Bull, if they started making them again, now that Kahr owns the company. 
Life NRA Member
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."0 -
I said I'd pay $400? Here are my EXACT words.
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Auto Ord should bring $350-$400 with ease. If you can't get that contact me and we can do business.
Sounds like some negotiating power there.
I called my fav gunsmith and asked about Auto Ord's. He said $50 worth of time and a little work most will be just fine for the intended use. As I said it is about final fit and finish in most cases and some shooting can cure that. His shop sold a lot of them and he also said the mags were not the best and urged customers to get other mags. His last Auto Ord (pre ownership change) sold for $440 and the previous owner had NO complaints with it once it broke in.0 -
I'll see if I can get in befor the cap. shuts this down I got 325.00 trade towards a new large frame S&W Heiritage Edition. Thanks to every body. Hope you all find what you want under the tree. 0
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