Top-End Custom 1911s Sell Fast

posted on August 26, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ii2015_fs.jpg (3)

From our Go Figure Department comes word of record-setting sales in the most expensive custom pistols offered by legendary 1911 customizer Wilson Combat. “We’re back-ordered more than we’ve ever been,” founder Bill Wilson told the Insider. “It’s not our $2,000 guns that are selling, it’s our top-of-the-line $4,000 models like the Super Grade.”

It seems counter-intuitive that high-end custom handguns are in such high demand given the tempo of our economy, however, Wilson has a logical explanation. “Our customer base wants quality. Our typical customer might only buy one new gun a year, but when he does, he wants the very best,” the Arkansas-based entrepreneur said.

Bill added that the Wilson Combat custom line of AR rifles is also moving briskly. “We can’t keep up with those, either. It’s the same thing—our customer wants the best and is willing to pay for it.”

Fueling the desire to own high-quality guns might be caused by a demand for tangible investment instruments, which is pushing gold and silver to record highs. “People are scared,” Bill added. “They’ve seen their paper investments go to nothing while gold has risen. Guns are the same.”

Indeed, according to The S&A Digest—an investment newsletter—the stock of Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR) has out-paced gold for three-month, six-month, one-year, three-year and five-year periods. Ruger stock is up over 130 percent so far in 2011, a greater rise than gold itself.

High-grade guns like Wilson Combat custom 1911s and ARs hold their value just like precious metals, collectible art or vintage automobiles—stuff has value, paper does not.

Latest

springfield armory kuna
springfield armory kuna

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Preview: 1791 Gunleather Cobra Gun Belt 01

Employing the same rugged and rigid 0.25"-thick American steerhide as 1791 Gunleather’s original Gun Belt 01, the new Cobra Gun Belt 01 offers enhanced ease of use by taking advantage of a high-strength Cobra quick-latch/release buckle.

NRA CEO Hamlin and President Bachenberg Hold First Virtual Townhall

In the interests of transparency, NRA CEO and EVP Doug Hamlin and NRA President Bill Bachenberg held a live Townhall event, where both answered direct questions from NRA members.

Benelli Adds New 28-Gauge Models to Super Black Eagle 3 Line

Benelli initially introduced the 28-ga. chambering to its Super Black Eagle 3 line in 2022, but this year, the company added three new models tailored specifically to hunters.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.