How to price a babied Beretta 96 Vertec INOX?

[GunGoogler]

Hello my fellow gun nuts! I have another question for you...

I have a babied, perfect condition (or as near perfect as I can tell) Beretta 96 Vertec INOX taht comes with Hogue wraparound grips as well as the factory grips. I also have 5 magazines--2 11rd magazines and 3 10-rounders.

I'll try and post some pics tonight, but based on what I've shared, how would you guys price that gun if you were to try and sell it? I'm not willing to part with it for peanuts and if I won't get much for it, I"d just as soon keep it. Do you think I'll have trouble selling it on this forum or elsewhere?

I love the pistol, but I'm trying to understand what I can reasonably expect from it as I consider my first 1911 purchase. Obviously, the money I get would go toward that purchase. Once I figure out fair market value, I can will figure out my purchasing power and begin narrowing my search for the 1911.

[rockcreek]

The blue book says $435 in 95% condition. Seems about right, might bring a little more because of the extra mags.

[GunGoogler]

The blue book says $435 in 95% condition. Seems about right, might bring a little more because of the extra mags.

Hey, that's great since its more than I paid for it. Thanks for the info. Do you own a copy of the blue book, or is there someplace I can look that up?

[Bulldog1856]

I think if you took it over berettaforum.net you could probably do better. $500+. If it was a 92 vertec it would go for even more. Vertecs have been in high demand. There are guys turning them into frame safety 1911 style berettas.

[GunGoogler]

I think if you took it over berettaforum.net you could probably do better. $500+. If it was a 92 vertec it would go for even more. Vertecs have been in high demand. There are guys turning them into frame safety 1911 style berettas.

Wow were you right! I put it up on Berettaforum.net and no sooner had I uploaded the pictures than I got a buyer at asking price ($650 +shipping), followed by another offer of $725. The first buyer, of course, wins so long as funding comes through.

This brings me to my new question: Buyer is out of state, which means shipping. Do I take the pistol to my FFL and have them ship it to his FFL or do I simply ship it to his FFL? I'm not sure what the protocol is on this and it happened pretty quick!

[Bulldog1856]

You can ship I believe ups or FedEx next day air only and I believe you have to through the hub not the retail stores. Might save a couple bucks that way or you can have an ffl ship. I was watching the listing on BF and I had a feeling it would go quick. The last 96 vertec went for $650 parted out. Congrats on a quick sale. She looked like a super piece.

[45Badger]

Your FFL can ship via USPS, so his fee plus actual postage ($11 for flat rate priority).

[GunGoogler]

I did some reading--don't tell anyone, it'll ruin my rep--and determined that it will cost $36.97 to next day air it from UPS to the buyer's FFL in Iowa. I've sent over very clear and specific terms and conditions and a bill of sale. One SNAFU, I don't have (or want) a fax machine and the buyer's FFL doesn't like to e-mail his license information. Can't say I understand the reasoning, but it isn't my issue anyway. We'll work that out, I'm sure.

Now, if I can just find a Colt 1911 Wiley Clapp Commander to "replace" this with...

[Eric Marleau]

Check on the Springfield Range Officer before you spend money on the Colt.
I've had mine for several weeks, and after I broke it in, am getting some amazing groups at 25 yards.
I'm beginning to think that it tops my Kimber Custom Target II.
For sure it is tighter.
I will know more when I stretch it out to 50 yards, but for now, I am really impressed.

Eric

[GunGoogler]

Check on the Springfield Range Officer before you spend money on the Colt.
I've had mine for several weeks, and after I broke it in, am getting some amazing groups at 25 yards.
I'm beginning to think that it tops my Kimber Custom Target II.
For sure it is tighter.
I will know more when I stretch it out to 50 yards, but for now, I am really impressed.

Eric

Thanks for the tip. I"ve heard a bit about them. Let me ask you a couple of questions. How do you like the all black front sights? Did you replace them because they are hard to see? I've also heard that you can easily damage the action by releasing the slide on an empty chamber, but I've been curious how that could be.

Let's see? I know it's pretty heavy and its full-size (which is why I wanted that particular Colt, but I can always use a full-size for non-carrying fun, right?), but that match grade barrel sounds nice. I don't like the grips at all, so those would have be changed out. I've also seen three in person and all of them had lots of scratches on the slide. They were all blued, but it was still alarming that it appeared that they scratched really easily. Do you have the blued version?

[Eric Marleau]

Everything about this gun I like.
I wouldn't change a thing, but what you mentioned is true. Every shooter has different likes and dislikes.
Many don't like the black sights which are adjustable.
I really like black sights. When I shoot, I focus on the x ring only and don't want anything else to think about like lining up the dots. 75% of other shooters most likely would rather have the dots, and that is an easy fix for them.

I like real nice wood grips, but again, they can be cheaply changed.

My pistol is pristine as far as any scratches. The finish is perfect, and looks like it should hold up. My Kimber Custom Target II has that Parkerized type of finish, and after many years and thousands of rounds, has aged beautifully. The finish now looks like a smooth WWII GI gun.
I think that the Springfield will do the same with its Parkerized type of finish.
Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It also doesn't have the serrations on the front of the barrel which makes it look more like a GI gun.

As far as releasing the slide on an empty chamber, I won't do that to any pistol even putting a shell into a chamber. It just beats up a gun.

One more thing. The advertisement on this gun claims that you don't need a 1911 wrench when taking it apart. Yes you do. This gun is tight. If you don't have this wrench, and buy this pistol, get one.

I hope this helped.

Eric

[GunGoogler]

Everything about this gun I like.
I wouldn't change a thing, but what you mentioned is true. Every shooter has different likes and dislikes.
Many don't like the black sights which are adjustable.
I really like black sights. When I shoot, I focus on the x ring only and don't want anything else to think about like lining up the dots. 75% of other shooters most likely would rather have the dots, and that is an easy fix for them.

I like real nice wood grips, but again, they can be cheaply changed.

My pistol is pristine as far as any scratches. The finish is perfect, and looks like it should hold up. My Kimber Custom Target II has that Parkerized type of finish, and after many years and thousands of rounds, has aged beautifully. The finish now looks like a smooth WWII GI gun.
I think that the Springfield will do the same with its Parkerized type of finish.
Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It also doesn't have the serrations on the front of the barrel which makes it look more like a GI gun.

As far as releasing the slide on an empty chamber, I won't do that to any pistol even putting a shell into a chamber. It just beats up a gun.

One more thing. The advertisement on this gun claims that you don't need a 1911 wrench when taking it apart. Yes you do. This gun is tight. If you don't have this wrench, and buy this pistol, get one.

I hope this helped.

Eric

Awesome information and thank you for sharing your opinion. I completely agree on the ability to switch out grips and sights on the gun, which seems like the purpose behind this particular pistol. Springfield appears to have given shooters a solid match-grade barrel, proper fitment, and a good triggers system and assumed that most shooters would customize beyond that point, which I think is very smart. Thanks again, Eric. It is on my list to consider.