Should I ?

Don357 · 07-15-2008, 09:35 PM

I was browsing a pawn shop today and saw a gun there that I saw there about a year ago. It was a .45acp double stack 1911. It looked rough but after closer inspection it seems tight. The man said it belonged to a friend of his who used it for a "truck/boat gun. ( We've all heard that song and dance before) Anyway, the finish was shot, down to pure metal. He said that he'd take $150 for it. I researched it as much as I could find and I think it is a Llama IX-C made in the 1990's. Now for the questions. 1. Should I buy it? 2. Is it worth having? 3. Will aftermarket parts work on it? ie. hammer, barrel, bushing, grips, sights, etc.

Pred · 07-15-2008, 09:38 PM

I could think of many worse ways to spend $150. If nothing else, refinish it and sell it for $300. If it shoots fine, have fun with it.

Asphalt Cowboy · 07-16-2008, 04:04 PM

If it is indeed a Llama, I personally wouldn't wast my time with it. The Llama's have been out of production for quite some time now and repair parts are difficult to find. Few (read as very few) aftermarket parts will interchange with these.

Some folks praise them, others curse them. My grand-uncle unwittingly saddled me with two .45 Llama's, consecutive number guns at that. Since he had fired one of them I decided to see what I could get it to feed with. You've no idea the work it took to get that thing to feed a decent defence round. That and the rear sight was a migraine. Fool thing would not hold zero, kept shooting loose. It fit so loosely I had to solder a piece of shim stock to the bottom of the rear sight to make it sit down in the dovetail properly.

nathangdad · 07-16-2008, 04:20 PM

you just don't know if the banged around in a boat or vehicle story is really true.

Personally, I shy away from deals like this as wear and tear can tell a rather honest tale.

If you want to refinish (and it is enjoyable and can be profitable) I would go to a reputable gun store and check out the used but still in production and popular guns. I have done some good things with shotguns.

Good luck and good refinishing.

lorcin25 · 07-16-2008, 04:32 PM

I had a llama for a little while. Not a terrible gun...but I would save my money. If the finish is gone and he still wants that much for it....he is ripping you off.

Niko911 · 07-16-2008, 08:59 PM

Well Ive never done anything with the llamas but i do see that they go for 300-400 bucks on auction sites in decent shape

Cyrano · 07-16-2008, 09:11 PM

I own a Llama IX-A, a M1911A1 clone. It shoots fine. I know that at least the barrel (with barrel link), guide rod and spring are US GI stock-compatible, and that it takes GI issue M1911A1 magazines. I won't testify about other parts. But that's a IX-A, not a IX-C. Two questions: First, how many magazines come with it? Second, How easy is it to find additional magazines to fit it and where do you get them?

If it were me, I'd spend the money and buy it, then spend another $20 and get a Birchwood Casey rebluing kit and reblue it. Yes, Llama is now out of business, but the company rep for building crappy pistols in the 1950s was lived down by the mid-'70s. The guns they were making from that point until the went out of business are as good as any entry-level .45 out there, and in my opinion better than some.

gandog56 · 07-17-2008, 03:58 PM

I don't think many Llama parts are exchangeable with regular 1911 parts. Heck, I don't even know if regular 1911 magazines fit.

M14man · 07-17-2008, 04:22 PM

The early Llamas very few parts fit,not the barrel, slide grips or magazines. I think some of their later models could swap a few parts, but not many. $150 for a working gun is not bad. If it needs work then I'd pass. Maybe the seller will allow a test firing....

GlockMeister · 07-17-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pred

I could think of many worse ways to spend $150. If nothing else, refinish it and sell it for $300. If it shoots fine, have fun with it.

I completely agree with this post. I'd also add, that if you get it, she's tight and shoots great, I'd put the extra cash into it and give it a custom Dura-coat finish. Good luck...

meatloaf · 07-18-2008, 03:20 AM

not worth the money offfer 80 for it.

gandog56 · 07-18-2008, 12:10 PM

My old roomate had a Llama .45. It went bang every time you pulled the trigger, but I never could get a decent group out of it. That and it is NOT a standard 1911 would make me leery. On the other hand, a working .45 for 150 may be too good to pass up.

07-15-2008, 09:35 PM	#1
Don357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Semmes Alabama Posts: 273	Should I ? I was browsing a pawn shop today and saw a gun there that I saw there about a year ago. It was a .45acp double stack 1911. It looked rough but after closer inspection it seems tight. The man said it belonged to a friend of his who used it for a "truck/boat gun. ( We've all heard that song and dance before) Anyway, the finish was shot, down to pure metal. He said that he'd take $150 for it. I researched it as much as I could find and I think it is a Llama IX-C made in the 1990's. Now for the questions. 1. Should I buy it? 2. Is it worth having? 3. Will aftermarket parts work on it? ie. hammer, barrel, bushing, grips, sights, etc. __________________ NRA member #151239009 NAHC Life member #40649874 G&G CETME Club Minister

07-16-2008, 04:04 PM	#3
Asphalt Cowboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A one horse town in E.Kansas. Posts: 305	If it is indeed a Llama, I personally wouldn't wast my time with it. The Llama's have been out of production for quite some time now and repair parts are difficult to find. Few (read as very few) aftermarket parts will interchange with these. Some folks praise them, others curse them. My grand-uncle unwittingly saddled me with two .45 Llama's, consecutive number guns at that. Since he had fired one of them I decided to see what I could get it to feed with. You've no idea the work it took to get that thing to feed a decent defence round. That and the rear sight was a migraine. Fool thing would not hold zero, kept shooting loose. It fit so loosely I had to solder a piece of shim stock to the bottom of the rear sight to make it sit down in the dovetail properly. __________________ Yes, I Ride A Motorcycle. I Have To, It's Cheaper Than A Shrink.

07-16-2008, 04:20 PM	#4
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,480	I would pass as . . . . you just don't know if the banged around in a boat or vehicle story is really true. Personally, I shy away from deals like this as wear and tear can tell a rather honest tale. If you want to refinish (and it is enjoyable and can be profitable) I would go to a reputable gun store and check out the used but still in production and popular guns. I have done some good things with shotguns. Good luck and good refinishing.

07-15-2008, 09:38 PM	#2
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	I could think of many worse ways to spend $150. If nothing else, refinish it and sell it for $300. If it shoots fine, have fun with it.

07-16-2008, 04:32 PM	#5
lorcin25 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 291	I had a llama for a little while. Not a terrible gun...but I would save my money. If the finish is gone and he still wants that much for it....he is ripping you off.

07-16-2008, 08:59 PM	#6
Niko911 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 134	Well Ive never done anything with the llamas but i do see that they go for 300-400 bucks on auction sites in decent shape

07-16-2008, 09:11 PM	#7
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,356	I own a Llama IX-A, a M1911A1 clone. It shoots fine. I know that at least the barrel (with barrel link), guide rod and spring are US GI stock-compatible, and that it takes GI issue M1911A1 magazines. I won't testify about other parts. But that's a IX-A, not a IX-C. Two questions: First, how many magazines come with it? Second, How easy is it to find additional magazines to fit it and where do you get them? If it were me, I'd spend the money and buy it, then spend another $20 and get a Birchwood Casey rebluing kit and reblue it. Yes, Llama is now out of business, but the company rep for building crappy pistols in the 1950s was lived down by the mid-'70s. The guns they were making from that point until the went out of business are as good as any entry-level .45 out there, and in my opinion better than some.

07-17-2008, 03:58 PM	#8
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 4,328	I don't think many Llama parts are exchangeable with regular 1911 parts. Heck, I don't even know if regular 1911 magazines fit.

07-17-2008, 04:22 PM	#9
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 437 Images: 10	The early Llamas very few parts fit,not the barrel, slide grips or magazines. I think some of their later models could swap a few parts, but not many. $150 for a working gun is not bad. If it needs work then I'd pass. Maybe the seller will allow a test firing....

07-18-2008, 03:20 AM	#11
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 904 Images: 3	not worth the money offfer 80 for it.

07-18-2008, 12:10 PM	#12
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 4,328	My old roomate had a Llama .45. It went bang every time you pulled the trigger, but I never could get a decent group out of it. That and it is NOT a standard 1911 would make me leery. On the other hand, a working .45 for 150 may be too good to pass up.