llama 1911 - The Firearms Forum

Luke · 11-12-2007, 08:16 PM

hi there i recently found a llama1911 .45 cal model IX-A for $325 and have it on hold at the gun store. I was wondering, is this gun overpriced? its in very good condition, i belive it was produces in the 50's, and has what looks like a police or military set-up, having a lanyard loop on the bottom of the grips. I was wondering if this is a good starter handgun, or if theres somthing better that i can buy for the money, being only 16 i dont have much to spend.... maby another type of 1911, around the same price, because i've heard that the llamas arn't all that great. thanks,
Luke

pickenup · 11-12-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

i've heard that the llamas arn't all that great.

I agree with that opinion.

travihanson · 11-13-2007, 06:28 AM

Yeah....I would probably save my pennies and buy a Springfield in the used department or out of a local swap/sell/trade guide.

Xracer · 11-13-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

hi there i recently found a llama1911 .45 cal model IX-A for $325 and have it on hold at the gun store.

Don't hold it.....let it go. First off, it's overpriced.

Blue Book value:

Llama Model IXA:

98% - $295
95% - $235
90% - $195
80% - $180

Secondly....while most Llamas look fine from the outside, they tend to be poorly finished on the inside. Poor fit & finish, pretty crude machine work, etc.

Thirdly.....the biggest knock on Llamas is very inconsistant quality control. If you get a good one, it's OK (not great, merely OK). If you get a poor one, it's a "jam-o-matic".

For just a little bit more, you can usually find a used Springfield or Kimber.....both far superior guns.

Pistolenschutze · 11-13-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickenup

I agree with that opinion.

You're being overly generous, Pick. POS is more like it.

Bill DeShivs · 11-13-2007, 02:09 PM

1950s and 1960s Llamas were actually good guns. It is difficult for an inexperienced person to tell when the guns were made. Later Llamas are hit/miss.
I would suggest a different gun for a new shooter.
Bill

hankroberts · 11-14-2007, 07:54 AM

The firearm is overpriced: you can get a Thompson or Springfield for about the same, and have a better deal.

I've owned several Llamas, and been satisfied with each of them. However, you need to understand two things going in: the pistol almost always needs work on the action (which I don't mind doing) and on many Llamas, the modifications in design mean that not all generic 1911 parts will work in it.

Luke · 11-15-2007, 02:43 PM

ok thanks for all your opinions it is a late 50's or early 60's i was told, but i think im just going to end up buying a walther P-38 off of JGsales, only 250 bucks
thanks,
Luke

909RAI · 12-01-2007, 12:36 PM

i hate llamas with a passion they break all the time mine fell victim to reapeted firing pin problems and jammed alot when it was working it was a horible 1st time buyer 45 got rid of it and went to SA

Tom Militano · 12-01-2007, 01:00 PM

I've had two and got rid of them both. Very unreliable in my opinion and poorly made. Quality contol didn't exist in the plant where mine came from. I bought them from the Rod and Gun Club where I was stationed at in Germany in the mid 60's. They were cheap and for good reason.

berto64 · 12-01-2007, 10:27 PM

Do Not Buy the Llama! Do Not buy the Llama.

repeat after me, Do not Buy the Lama!

Pistolenschutze · 12-01-2007, 10:38 PM

If ya gotta buy a llama, make it one of these Luke. At least these guys are useful for something!

berto64 · 12-02-2007, 01:42 AM

Jes' don't let'em spit in yore eye.

AR1911 · 12-28-2007, 09:42 PM

Now you guys oughta go easy on them Spaniards. Those Basque gunmakers knew how to make fine guns, and did so for most of a century.
I have a couple of .380s made in the 1940s very nice scaled-down 1911s.
They are a pleasure to hold and behold, and good workmanship is evident. I would call them equal to a Sistema of the same era.
I also have a Max-I made around 2000. This gun has not been fired but seems well-made. I have disassembled it and found no faults or roughness. I have heard nothing about this model except that they are reliable workhorses.
Gabilano (?) or Llama went through a spell in the 1970s and 1980s when their quality was suspect. Those guns are pretty evident just by looking at them - they look rough. Those are the guns that gave Llama the reputation that put them under.
But anything made before or after was worthwhile, in my opinion. The last decade of production turned out some decent guns, and real bargains.

11-12-2007, 08:16 PM	#1
Luke V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 105	llama 1911 hi there i recently found a llama1911 .45 cal model IX-A for $325 and have it on hold at the gun store. I was wondering, is this gun overpriced? its in very good condition, i belive it was produces in the 50's, and has what looks like a police or military set-up, having a lanyard loop on the bottom of the grips. I was wondering if this is a good starter handgun, or if theres somthing better that i can buy for the money, being only 16 i dont have much to spend.... maby another type of 1911, around the same price, because i've heard that the llamas arn't all that great. thanks, Luke -->

11-13-2007, 06:28 AM	#3
travihanson Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Milo, ME Posts: 582	Re: llama 1911 Yeah....I would probably save my pennies and buy a Springfield in the used department or out of a local swap/sell/trade guide. __________________ The two loudest sounds in the world are a click when you expect a bang, and a bang when you expect a click.

11-13-2007, 02:09 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,478	Re: llama 1911 1950s and 1960s Llamas were actually good guns. It is difficult for an inexperienced person to tell when the guns were made. Later Llamas are hit/miss. I would suggest a different gun for a new shooter. Bill __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

11-14-2007, 07:54 AM	#7
hankroberts Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 38	Re: llama 1911 The firearm is overpriced: you can get a Thompson or Springfield for about the same, and have a better deal. I've owned several Llamas, and been satisfied with each of them. However, you need to understand two things going in: the pistol almost always needs work on the action (which I don't mind doing) and on many Llamas, the modifications in design mean that not all generic 1911 parts will work in it.

11-15-2007, 02:43 PM	#8
Luke V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 105	Re: llama 1911 ok thanks for all your opinions it is a late 50's or early 60's i was told, but i think im just going to end up buying a walther P-38 off of JGsales, only 250 bucks thanks, Luke

12-01-2007, 12:36 PM	#9
909RAI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pomona CA Posts: 22	Re: llama 1911 i hate llamas with a passion they break all the time mine fell victim to reapeted firing pin problems and jammed alot when it was working it was a horible 1st time buyer 45 got rid of it and went to SA __________________ rather be convicted by 12 than carried by 6 There is only one gun law in this country, the 2nd Amendment. All else is bureaucratic nonsense that I choose not to comply with.

12-01-2007, 01:00 PM	#10
Tom Militano Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jacksonville, AL Posts: 1,255	Re: llama 1911 I've had two and got rid of them both. Very unreliable in my opinion and poorly made. Quality contol didn't exist in the plant where mine came from. I bought them from the Rod and Gun Club where I was stationed at in Germany in the mid 60's. They were cheap and for good reason.

12-01-2007, 10:27 PM	#11
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,394	Re: llama 1911 Do Not Buy the Llama! Do Not buy the Llama. repeat after me, Do not Buy the Lama! __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

12-01-2007, 10:38 PM	#12
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: llama 1911 If ya gotta buy a llama, make it one of these Luke. At least these guys are useful for something! __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter) Last edited by Pistolenschutze; 12-01-2007 at 10:39 PM..

12-02-2007, 01:42 AM	#13
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,394	Re: llama 1911 Jes' don't let'em spit in yore eye. __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

12-28-2007, 09:42 PM	#14
AR1911 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 122	Re: llama 1911 Now you guys oughta go easy on them Spaniards. Those Basque gunmakers knew how to make fine guns, and did so for most of a century. I have a couple of .380s made in the 1940s very nice scaled-down 1911s. They are a pleasure to hold and behold, and good workmanship is evident. I would call them equal to a Sistema of the same era. I also have a Max-I made around 2000. This gun has not been fired but seems well-made. I have disassembled it and found no faults or roughness. I have heard nothing about this model except that they are reliable workhorses. Gabilano (?) or Llama went through a spell in the 1970s and 1980s when their quality was suspect. Those guns are pretty evident just by looking at them - they look rough. Those are the guns that gave Llama the reputation that put them under. But anything made before or after was worthwhile, in my opinion. The last decade of production turned out some decent guns, and real bargains.