1911 Help - Colt "Clark Meltdown" ???

[Carrots]

I have been offered this but funky 1911 Colts are new to me. What exactly is this, is it any good and what is it worth? A quick google search indicates that the "Clark Meltdown" is an upgrade package of sorts which would lead to me believe that this is a basic Colt 45 with a bit of tweeking. As a complete noob what do I need to know about this/

Thanks folks

[joe817]

I don't know anything about it either, but it sure looks good to me! I found this:

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2009 ... 991a1.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's Clark's Meltdown website: http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It talks about that model. if you don't mind me asking, how much are they asking for it?

[fannypacker]

I took a Colt LW Officers Model to Princeton,LA when the Dad was alive and got the meltdown. Mine has Clark Meltdown embeded at the top of gun in front of the sight. They repace the trigger, hammer, sights, add a better safty and tighten the slide to frame fit. They reblue as well. Mine is a beauty and priceless to me. It shot much tighter groups when it came back. If memory serves it cost $850 several years ago and they used my gun.

[Carrots]

Thank you, and so if this work was done approx 15yrs ago how much "value" is left in it now? I noticed you said "when it got back" so I assume its not quite the same these days. I only have these poor pictures and so I can't really get a handle on what the finish is like but I presume not great. So a series 80 with a 15yr old meltdown package leaves me with a pistol that is worth what exactly? Will this outperform my newer Nighthawk with its 1" at 25yrd ability? I asked for a Brown or a Wilson and so far I am not convinced that we are in the same ballpark. However I don't want to pass up a diamond in the rough and looking at the Clark site this package is now $925. Thanks again.

[Ropin]

It worth nothing, you should give it to me. Where can we meet?








Did I look sincere enough? Seriously, nice lookin piece. Wish I could be more help.

[srothstein]

Basically, the purpose of the meltdown, and what is meant by "dehorn", is to improve the concealed carry quality of the pistol. They round all of the normally sharp edges which could snag on clothing. In the pictures, you can see this effect on the sights, but they also rounded the edge of the slide a little (for example), among other areas. Based on the current 225 web site price for the basic meltdown, I would probably add half that to the current value of the pistol. With a new 1991 going for around $800, I would probably go $5-600for this (including the meltdown).

That price estimate is just what the pistol would be worth to me. I am not an appraiser and have no idea what the gun would be worth to someone who really wanted one.

[Carrots]

Excellent info thanks all, I am going to pass on this.

[WildBill]

Thank you, and so if this work was done approx 15yrs ago how much "value" is left in it now? I noticed you said "when it got back" so I assume its not quite the same these days.

The work that was performed on it did not deteriorate after "it got back". If you value that type of work, then all of the value is left.

[STI Shooter]

This gentleman is in the same class as Bill Wilson, Ed Brown, Les Bare and any other 1911 gunsmith you can name. Jim Clark Sr. and Pachmayer were doing custom 1911s when other people were only thinking about it. I never did understand how much the asking price was but you can be assured it is a quality piece ( barring someone else has not "fixed it"). Good luck.

[CompVest]

Piece of trivia:

Mr. Clark is the father to Kay wife to Jerry Miculek.