In 1940 , the Singer Manufacturing Company produced an order of 500 M1911A1 pistols for the U . S . Army . Rock Island Auction Company sold the finest-known Singer example in 2010 for a then-unprecedented $ 166,000 , then auctioned the same pistol again seven years later , where it broke its own record with a stunning $ 414,000 . The Singer pistols aren ’ t engraved or linked to any worldfamous figures . Instead , they ’ re another example of how the convergence of popularity , scarcity , and condition in the field of classic firearms can create expanding price ceilings to rival the most impressive gains in the collectible arts pursuit . Collect at Any Level Compared to other investment-grade blue-chip collectibles , the fine arms market presents a comparatively low barrier units produced during the World War II era . The prominent pistol has become a proven high riser at every level , from comparatively common pieces experiencing double-digit annual growth in recent years to the most exclusive examples of the genre becoming some of the most pursued items in arms collecting .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 49