Rugers (Split from Get a Grip) (1 Viewer)

[kilted vampire]

Brand new guy to the hobby that I am I would add my .02 to this topic.

Been collecting since early June, yes last month. I really have no long term understanding of the industry or event this hobby per say. I guess I can at least claim to be very objective {sm4} But one of my other passions is firearms, handguns in particular. The only type of handguns I am now buying are 1911s. Within the 1911 field there are 1911s that can be purchased for $400 and 1911s that can be purchased for $3500 and up. These 1911s like the toy soldiers are niceties and not necessities.

As you can imagine this can lead to a bit of debate within the 1911 community (and there is indeed a large an active 1911 community online) about prices and recent price increase by some 1911 manufactures. No one likes a price increase but we all realize they are a part of the real world. Yet the debate continues on those forums about the intent and decisions of those manufactures when they do raise prices.

Being pretty active on those forums and brand new here I really see the similarities between the 2 topics. In fact in the last 30 days I have spent enough on toy soliders to get a pretty nice 1911 {sm4}.

I have the same viewpoint on both subjects, I can either pay the asking price or move on to a different offering from a different company. Or of course not buy at all. If I do not want to pay $40 for a K&C figure I can buy a W.B. for $28. Maybe I wanted the K&C more than the W.B. but it is my choice to make if I want price to factor into my choice. The same is true of 1911s. Maybe I want a Wilson Combat 1911 but I am deterred by the $2500 asking price, I get one of the new Ruger 1911s for $700 instead. I wanted the Wilson but let price guide me towards the Ruger. Again my choice. Or I could buy 2 W.B. figures instead of one K&C, or two Rugers instead of 1 Wilson. All choices I need to make.

I do not think any of these companies are trying to price anybody out of the market, they are just trying to maximize profits while keeping there customers happy and in fact to keep them as customers. Not an easy balancing act at all, yet one that almost every company in the world does daily. I have no ideal of the business structure or business cost of K&C but I would guess these price increases are a combination of both the needs of K&C and the desire for them to maximize profits. Time will tell if it was the right choice. I guess Andy knows a wee bit more about running this type of company than I do so I will defer to his wisdom on the subject.

I will say I started collecting K&C but have already branched off into W.B. and John Jenkins because I have reservations about paying $40 for a single piece of K&C in the future. I have also discovered the great used market as well as the older pieces by these companies as a way of stretching my dollar. Had the prices not increased the month I started the hobby (yeah that is pretty much my type of luck) I would not have looked at these different areas of the hobby. I have stumbled into the world of glossy because of this and I think I might be in love..... So in a way the increases made the hobby more enjoyable for me.

I have even started to try and paint my own, the verdict is still out on that {eek3} I will say those folks painting for K&C are artist IMO and deserve the money they get paid. I mean Andy could hire me to paint and you could get figurers for $10 or so but the paint job would be....lets' say questionable. {sm3}

All in all I can understand the concern many have on prices. I agree that stress should not be part of the hobby. But stress is something we are putting on our self in this case IMO. Imagine being new and wanting everything! That is where I am now {sm3} But just like the 1911 field I am just happy to have so many choices to choose from in the toy solider field.

I am excited about this hobby, it is kinda sad to see some folks talking about walking away because of pricing. I hope they stay around and keep this hobby healthy and exciting.

Again I am the newbbie here but I just wanted to share my thoughts. :redface2:

I have been away from the shooting community for a long time. Ruger is making a 1911?????????????? Wowzers!

 

[Ruggles]

Re: Get A Grip

I have been away from the shooting community for a long time. Ruger is making a 1911?????????????? Wowzers!

Yep about $700 at retail

 

[kilted vampire]

Re: Get A Grip

Yep about $700 at retail

Verra nice indeed!

 

[lancer]

Re: Get A Grip

Yep about $700 at retail

I'm more or less out of the gun market, too, but I have watched the explosion in interest in the 1911's. It seems that every gun maker now offers their version of that good, old standard. Even more surprising to me than Ruger, is that now Smith & Wesson offer a 1911. That, to me, is like Ford making and selling Camaros. The 1911 is exceedingly popular and everyone wants a piece of the pie with the result that a 1911 can be bought with all the bells and whistles the buyer wants. All one has to do is hunt for a version with the options one wants. Someone out there is making it. A great time for we 1911 addicts.^&grin -- Al

 

[Mike97]

Re: Get A Grip

I'm more or less out of the gun market, too, but I have watched the explosion in interest in the 1911's. It seems that every gun maker now offers their version of that good, old standard. Even more surprising to me than Ruger, is that now Smith & Wesson offer a 1911. That, to me, is like Ford making and selling Camaros. The 1911 is exceedingly popular and everyone wants a piece of the pie with the result that a 1911 can be bought with all the bells and whistles the buyer wants. All one has to do is hunt for a version with the options one wants. Someone out there is making it. A great time for we 1911 addicts.^&grin -- Al

Wow, don't get me wrong, I own a number of Rugers and have a lot of respect for 'em as a gun maker...but a 1911 ??? It'd be like Chrysler trying to build BMW"s in my mind-not to mention the 'legacy' that S&W has had with their semi-auto handgun efforts in the past....
mike

 

[lancer]

Re: Get A Grip

Wow, don't get me wrong, I own a number of Rugers and have a lot of respect for 'em as a gun maker...but a 1911 ??? It'd be like Chrysler trying to build BMW"s in my mind-not to mention the 'legacy' that S&W has had with their semi-auto handgun efforts in the past....
mike

^&grin I agree. There is only one original, Colt.:wink2: -- Al

 

[Ruggles]

Re: Get A Grip

The Ruger is getting rave reviews so far, I have never owned one so I can not say for sure. I have owned a S&W 1911 and they make a great 1911 indeed

There just a ton of great 1911s on the market today. Remington just released their new R1 1911, Magnum Research (of Desert Eagle fame) and Ruger are the latest on the 1911 bandwagon. It is a good thing to be a 1911 fan indeed!

Here are mine :

And this one I am paying off in layaway

I think I am done after this one

Sorry to get off topic but I do love to talk 1911s {sm4}

 

[wayne556517]

Re: Get A Grip

The Ruger is getting rave reviews so far, I have never owned one so I can not say for sure. I have owned a S&W 1911 and they make a great 1911 indeed

There just a ton of great 1911s on the market today. Remington just released their new R1 1911, Magnum Research (of Desert Eagle fame) and Ruger are the latest on the 1911 bandwagon. It is a good thing to be a 1911 fan indeed!

Here are mine :

And this one I am paying off in layaway

I think I am done after this one

Sorry to get off topic but I do love to talk 1911s {sm4}

You own 3 hand guns..................{eek3}
WHY ????

 

[lancer]

Re: Get A Grip

The Ruger is getting rave reviews so far, I have never owned one so I can not say for sure. I have owned a S&W 1911 and they make a great 1911 indeed

There just a ton of great 1911s on the market today. Remington just released their new R1 1911, Magnum Research (of Desert Eagle fame) and Ruger are the latest on the 1911 bandwagon. It is a good thing to be a 1911 fan indeed!

Here are mine :

And this one I am paying off in layaway

I think I am done after this one

Sorry to get off topic but I do love to talk 1911s {sm4}

Ruggles, you have a beautiful group of 1911's. I have owned a half dozen different 1911's over the years but currently just own one. It was my father's, issued to him by the US Navy during WW2. The 1911 is a Colt manufacture, dated (by the serial #) in 1943. It is parkarized with issue plastic grips. The finish is still 95% as he didn't use it much and I haven't shot it in 20 years. It is in tip-top shape and awaits a call to duty.:wink2: Of all the pistols I have owned, it is my favorite. Glad to see the shooting public hasn't abandoned the 1911, like the military did. The military should reconsider when the Barettas wear out. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Re: Get A Grip

Ruggles, you have a beautiful group of 1911's. I have owned a half dozen different 1911's over the years but currently just own one. It was my father's, issued to him by the US Navy during WW2. The 1911 is a Colt manufacture, dated (by the serial #) in 1943. It is parkarized with issue plastic grips. The finish is still 95% as he didn't use it much and I haven't shot it in 20 years. It is in tip-top shape and awaits a call to duty.:wink2: Of all the pistols I have owned, it is my favorite. Glad to see the shooting public hasn't abandoned the 1911, like the military did. The military should reconsider when the Barettas wear out. -- Al

Special OPs still uses .45s.

 

[lancer]

Re: Get A Grip

Special OPs still uses .45s.

i'm guessing that is because Special Ops wants the best weapons. :wink2: -- Al

 

[Ruggles]

Re: Get A Grip

Ruggles, you have a beautiful group of 1911's. I have owned a half dozen different 1911's over the years but currently just own one. It was my father's, issued to him by the US Navy during WW2. The 1911 is a Colt manufacture, dated (by the serial #) in 1943. It is parkarized with issue plastic grips. The finish is still 95% as he didn't use it much and I haven't shot it in 20 years. It is in tip-top shape and awaits a call to duty.:wink2: Of all the pistols I have owned, it is my favorite. Glad to see the shooting public hasn't abandoned the 1911, like the military did. The military should reconsider when the Barettas wear out. -- Al

Sounds like a great 1911, I love a gun with a history It being your fathers just makes it that much sweeter! Thanks for the compliment!

The military had open bidding for a new .45 ACP handgun to replace the 9mm Berettas but closed it due to funding issues as I understand. A number of small units still use the 1911. Here is one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEU(SOC)_pistol

 

[Ruggles]

Re: Get A Grip

You own 3 hand guns..................{eek3}
WHY ????

I actually own 5 handguns right now with one more in layaway.

I did not post this one (the other 4 and the layaway gun are posted on this thread)

It is basically a mini 1911 chambered in .380 ACP. The type of gun you carry concealed when bigger guns are to large too do so.

As to why....for personal protection (both as a concealed carry gun and home defense) and because I really love a nice 1911 {sm4} Texas allows folks to carry guns concealed for personal protection.

We are a gun owning country, and being in Texas even more so.

I also own a couple of AR15s in 5.56mm as well

The dreaded "assault" weapons the media loves to speak about. With the "high capacity" 30 round magazines and all! {eek3}

I leaned from Uncle Sam and the Marine Corps how to shoot one in the late 1980s so I guess I better keep one around just in case, the Swiss do it so I guess the Texans better do it as well {sm4}

The second we start to not actively use our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms I think we will start to lose it {sm2}

But believe me I am a small fry in the 1911 owning world, and in the gun owner world as well.

These belongs to one of the forum members on the 1911 forum I use. He is not the only one who owns this type of quantity

 

[lancer]

Re: Get A Grip

Sounds like a great 1911, I love a gun with a history It being your fathers just makes it that much sweeter! Thanks for the compliment!

The military had open bidding for a new .45 ACP handgun to replace the 9mm Berettas but closed it due to funding issues as I understand. A number of small units still use the 1911. Here is one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEU(SOC)_pistol

Great article, Ruggles. Thanks for posting it. Just proves that people in the know go 1911.^&grin^&cool -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Re: Get A Grip

Sounds like a great 1911, I love a gun with a history It being your fathers just makes it that much sweeter! Thanks for the compliment!

The military had open bidding for a new .45 ACP handgun to replace the 9mm Berettas but closed it due to funding issues as I understand. A number of small units still use the 1911. Here is one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEU(SOC)_pistol

Another reason is it's lighter and easier for women soldiers to use. Chris