Why do 1911's cost more than revolvers?
- Thread starter evolture
- Start date
Me thinks the prices just jumped $100 on those Rugers? 
I'd imagine its to do with the capitalism side of things.
You could buy a norc 1911 for 3-400 bucks. It'll do all the same things the rugger does but it'll be uglier (fit and finish). You paying for the brand name. Same reason a Colt 1911 is over a grand, its the name and "quality".
You could buy a norc 1911 for 3-400 bucks. It'll do all the same things the rugger does but it'll be uglier (fit and finish). You paying for the brand name. Same reason a Colt 1911 is over a grand, its the name and "quality".
Part of it is economy of scale (Ruger makes way more revolvers than 1911's). Another is the design. 1911's require some degree of handfitting for the slide and trigger components. The GP100 demonstrates advances in engineering design since JMB's time. (Designed around the manufacturing methods and more detail specs on part fit and tolerances means it can be put together more cheaply/with less handfitting.)
Ruger could put research into a 1911 design that requires less handfitting, but there's really no point. They'd have to recoup the cost of R&D, and it'd do little good to a person who would buy a Ruger SR1911 as a starter platform to build off of.
That is only the case for Ruger, though. Revolvers aren't less expensive than 1911's by any general rule. (As long as you don't try to do something cute like compare the price of a Taurus revolver to a Wilson Combat 1911.)
Ruger could put research into a 1911 design that requires less handfitting, but there's really no point. They'd have to recoup the cost of R&D, and it'd do little good to a person who would buy a Ruger SR1911 as a starter platform to build off of.
That is only the case for Ruger, though. Revolvers aren't less expensive than 1911's by any general rule. (As long as you don't try to do something cute like compare the price of a Taurus revolver to a Wilson Combat 1911.)
There's just as much, actually in many ways more, hand fitting of a revolver. Getting the timing on a revolver sorted out can be tricky. Years ago I did the S&W armorers courses for automatics (3900, 5900, 4000 and 1006 pattern guns) and revolvers. The automatics course was 5 days and we built 5 complete guns (though some of the slide to frame fitting was already done) while the revolver course was 7 days and we built 3 guns (barrel was already fitted to the frame) the revolver course was much more intense.
easyrider604
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It is always about Capitalism...Law Number 1 the law of supply and demand is always in effect everywhere, not just in the firearms business.
Sellers will always sell at the maximum price buyers are willing to buy, buyers will always buy at the least price sellers are willing to sell. This is the Market price.
Market price has little to do with cost of manufacturing and sales.
Sellers will always sell at the maximum price buyers are willing to buy, buyers will always buy at the least price sellers are willing to sell. This is the Market price.
Market price has little to do with cost of manufacturing and sales.
If you compare 1911's and revolvers with a similar amount of hand work involved in production (forged, largely hand fitted 1911 (Colt) with a Smith 686) you'll see the prices are quite similar. As PH says though fitting a revolver is much tougher, a revolver that meets max spec in all dimensions (one that might 'squeek by' in parts QC) won't necessarily function at all.
In the 1980's, revolvers were more expensive. And autos were about the same if not slightly cheaper. Typically $500-600. I noticed in the 1990's that the prices of revolvers fell, while some autos went up in price and others stayed around the $6-800 range.
Colt Python revolvers have always been expensive. But that's a lot of hand work to put it together and polish it up so nice. I imagine its the same with 1911's: if you want inexpensive, you can find Chinese, Philippines, Turkish and Brazilian 1911's that function decent. But if you want top fit and finish, you'll spend much more or do the work yourself to pimp it out.
One thing to consider is that the manufacturing processes for one 1911 company may be different from another. Tech has changed, and some newer processes are cheaper, others provide better parts, but the machine may not be affordable to another mfg. CNC milling and turning for instance, may not be used by the bottom end manufacturers (dunno why though).
Colt Python revolvers have always been expensive. But that's a lot of hand work to put it together and polish it up so nice. I imagine its the same with 1911's: if you want inexpensive, you can find Chinese, Philippines, Turkish and Brazilian 1911's that function decent. But if you want top fit and finish, you'll spend much more or do the work yourself to pimp it out.
One thing to consider is that the manufacturing processes for one 1911 company may be different from another. Tech has changed, and some newer processes are cheaper, others provide better parts, but the machine may not be affordable to another mfg. CNC milling and turning for instance, may not be used by the bottom end manufacturers (dunno why though).
you have to remember that it's RUGER- msrp=shop around and you may find cheaper, even with exactly the same model and features- or some folks "willing" to make a deal- on some ruger models, you can save as much as 100 bucks- i found a poor , orphaned redhawk that way- 624 as opposed to 750-800- all that was wrong was it had a 5.5 inch barrel which no one wanted and a set of grips
