So, first a bit of backstory. About a year ago I picked up a Colt SCG at a really good price a bit due to it having a takedown scratch. I figured at the price I got it for I could send it off to Wilson Combat, have them a do a couple upgrades, refinish it and I would still be in a good spot financialy. So in March of this year off it goes in the mail.

Today, I get an urgent phone call from Wilson..... apparently in the process of checkering the front strap, the gunsmith slipped and scratched the frame. Purely cosmetic but not up to Wilson quality and they want to make it right. So far they have offered to replace the frame with one of their series 70s, swapping everything over from the SCG, promising a tighter slide to frame, etc . Basically build me a semi-new pistol, hand fitting everything to ensure its at normal Wilson tolerances and quality. They will also bump it up the priority list on each remaining step of the rebuild, so that I get it back in my hands sooner.

A few of my concerns are how this will affect the value. Worth more now that on paper it's a better gun or less since it's not on the factory Colt series 80 frame. Second concern is registration. Since they are replacing the frame, the serial number is going to be different. Meaning it's not going to be in Colts databank as one of their SCGs. Also means another trip back to HPD to register and potentially a couple trips if I need to get a permit to acquire since it's got a new number...

So the question for you guys, did I benefit and leave the deal as is or considering my concerns, do I ask for more compensation?

Also, shit happens even with the professionals, so I'm not upset. Wilson is going to do everything to make it right, just want your opinion on what that should be.

Also, shit happens even with the professionals, so I'm not upset. Wilson is going to do everything to make it right, just want your opinion on what that should be.

me, personally, i would take their offer
but if you don't want to go through the hassles of re-registering, could you have them refinish or checker the damaged area?

Maybe they can serialize the new frame the the same as the old colt one?

You lucked out. Take the series 70 as fast as you can. Screw the 80 series.
Legally, I think it's like selling and buying out of state.

Yeah I'd rather have a 70 series than an 80 too.

Overall the gun would be worth more as a Wilson than a Colt, only issue I have is with the swap out of the frame and how that goes down.

I don't have pics of the scratch but after talking to the rep some more, sounds like they do not want that frame to come out the shop with their name attached to it. Its cosmetic but bad enough that if it would have happened to one of their guns during the build process they would have considered it destroyed and tossed it for another frame. I think that says enough that Im going to let them swap the frame. I asked about the fitting of the frame swap and sounds like there is the potential for some of the Colt parts to be outside of Wilson tolerances and if so, they will get replaced with hand fitted Wilson parts. They are going to lose hundred of dollars fixing their mistake but sounds like they have no problem with it as long as the customer (me) is happy.

Thanks for all the input guys, as much as it sucked getting the call this morning, sounds like its going to work out for the best.

I don't have pics of the scratch but after talking to the rep some more, sounds like they do not want that frame to come out the shop with their name attached to it. Its cosmetic but bad enough that if it would have happened to one of their guns during the build process they would have considered it destroyed and tossed it for another frame. I think that says enough that Im going to let them swap the frame. I asked about the fitting of the frame swap and sounds like there is the potential for some of the Colt parts to be outside of Wilson tolerances and if so, they will get replaced with hand fitted Wilson parts. They are going to lose hundred of dollars fixing their mistake but sounds like they have no problem with it as long as the customer (me) is happy.

Thanks for all the input guys, as much as it sucked getting the call this morning, sounds like its going to work out for the best.

that's a stand-up company!
they are going to lose more than hundreds in lost time because it sets other projects back too
you are going to get back a much better and more valuable pistol

I don't know if you asked, but I would be curious how much trade-in value they would give me on a brand new 70 series. 

If the difference is minimal (hopefully discounted to make up for the inconvenience), I personally would much rather have them replace it with a new, factory fresh 70 model.  That saves them the cost of labor and parts retrofitting the old gun with mostly new parts.

A factory new gun will come with a full warranty, and it will retain its resale value much better than a used/rebuilt "Frankengun", even though Wilson did the work. 

They aren't upgrading the gun, just reusing what they can.  There's a risk you'll have to ship it back for additional tweaks.  There's a risk of repairs on new guns, too, but at least those are under warranty.  No clue how long they will warrant the work they do on the old gun.

That's what I would prefer, but it all depends on the amount they want for the exchange.

Good luck!

I don't know if you asked, but I would be curious how much trade-in value they would give me on a brand new 70 series. 

If the difference is minimal (hopefully discounted to make up for the inconvenience), I personally would much rather have them replace it with a new, factory fresh 70 model.  That saves them the cost of labor and parts retrofitting the old gun with mostly new parts.

A factory new gun will come with a full warranty, and it will retain its resale value much better than a used/rebuilt "Frankengun", even though Wilson did the work. 

They aren't upgrading the gun, just reusing what they can.  There's a risk you'll have to ship it back for additional tweaks.  There's a risk of repairs on new guns, too, but at least those are under warranty.  No clue how long they will warrant the work they do on the old gun.

That's what I would prefer, but it all depends on the amount they want for the exchange.

Good luck!

Maybe he can have some custom work done on the slide where they cross out the word "Colt" and engrave "Wilson Combat". 

Yeah I'd rather have a 70 series than an 80 too.

Overall the gun would be worth more as a Wilson than a Colt, only issue I have is with the swap out of the frame and how that goes down.

+1  No question a WIlson Series 70 is far more desirable than a Colt Series 80.  And factory hand fitted by Wilson?

 Why is this question even being asked?

I don't know if you asked, but I would be curious how much trade-in value they would give me on a brand new 70 series. 

If the difference is minimal (hopefully discounted to make up for the inconvenience), I personally would much rather have them replace it with a new, factory fresh 70 model.  That saves them the cost of labor and parts retrofitting the old gun with mostly new parts.

A factory new gun will come with a full warranty, and it will retain its resale value much better than a used/rebuilt "Frankengun", even though Wilson did the work. 

They aren't upgrading the gun, just reusing what they can.  There's a risk you'll have to ship it back for additional tweaks.  There's a risk of repairs on new guns, too, but at least those are under warranty.  No clue how long they will warrant the work they do on the old gun.

That's what I would prefer, but it all depends on the amount they want for the exchange.

Good luck!

Wilson will hand fit the parts regardless of it being a Colt a Wilson a Series 70 or Series 80.  It may not be hand fitted by the same guy, but it will be hand fitted.  It's one of the reasons why 1911's are so much more expensive than other pistols.

FWIW though I too would think it would be better off getting a "fresh" Wilson rather than a Colt built by Wilson.......even if it means coughing up a little extra money.

Kind of a long over due update.

Asked about trade in towards a brand new Wilson and ultimately the answer was no. Wasn't really an issue as long as the returned 1911 looked good and performed. As for warranty, its got the same "warranty" that a brand new factory Wilson would. Win here. After the initial WTF from the phone call, WIlson has kept me happy and I got nothing bad to say about the company or the customer service folks I dealt with.

In any case, just got her back today and here is how she looks...



Old Colt CSG test target. 3 rds at 15 yards.



New Wilson "Frankengun" Test target. 3 rds at 15 yards.



All they reused were the barrel, slide, trigger and grips/screws. Everything else replaced by Wilson parts. Now the real question, what do I do with the baggie of old Colt parts......

And thanks to the folks that provided guidance and helped to keep me calm after the call. 

Now you just gotta get some Wilson Combat panels and your all set , that's a beautiful Pistol.

How did they deal with the Serial, did they have to issue a new one with the 2 week wait and all?

How did they deal with the Serial, did they have to issue a new one with the 2 week wait and all?

New serial but it was shipped back to my house. They treated it like it was sent to them for modification/repair and not a new firearm so they could send it back direct. See how HPD treats it.  Plan is they either treat it like an out of state purchase or just update the original registration.

You came out on top of that deal dude.

Now the real question, what do I do with the baggie of old Colt parts......

Give them to me. 

Give them to me. 

I thought about picking up a complete slide, trigger and building another 1911 but honestly I'm not familiar enough with the platform to trust myself fitting everything. So......

Bag of good is all yours! I see a hammer, backstrap/magwell, beaver tail safety, plunger tube, recoil spring and a bunch of other shit I can't really identify.

I'm going to hang onto the frame until I get the registration sorted out.

Shoot me a PM/text and we can meet up over the weekend.