The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: General Handgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 9, 2011, 02:26 PM   #1
Robk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 324
What is the big deal about "TALO"??

So I have seen many firearms being sold with the TALO description. As far as I understand it, Talo is a distributor of firearms. So they take a gun, put some nice grips on it, change the finsih and viola, an extra $300-$400 dollars retail. Is this just a cosmetics job or do they really enhance the firearm. By such I mean, better reliabity, accuracy, and durability. At the moment I place them along side a commerative that no one asked for or no one cared anout. Am I right in this assumation or not?
Robk is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 02:47 PM   #2
Tom Servo
Staff
 
Join Date: September 27, 2008
Location: Foothills of the Appalachians
Posts: 13,057
No, you're pretty much correct. Often, the grips themselves are wretched.

Fifteen years ago, Talo did some unique 1911's, but most of their exclusives nowadays aren't different enough to merit the price premium.
__________________
Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change.
--Randall Munroe
Tom Servo is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 04:15 PM   #3
johnbt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 1999
Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
Posts: 6,004
I don't care what anybody says, I'm sorry I didn't buy this the day I bought my Colt WWI Repro. The Repro was $999 and the Dragon was $1350 I believe. I should have purchased both of them.

http://www.taloinc.com/images/ColtDragon_Big.jpg
johnbt is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 05:46 PM   #4
Jason_G
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 1,902
Quote:
I don't care what anybody says, I'm sorry I didn't buy this the day I bought my Colt WWI Repro. The Repro was $999 and the Dragon was $1350 I believe. I should have purchased both of them.

http://www.taloinc.com/images/ColtDragon_Big.jpg
Eh, I think you made the right choice.

Jason
__________________
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -Amendment II, Constitution of the United States of America
Jason_G is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 06:14 PM   #5
KyJim
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2005
Location: The Bluegrass
Posts: 9,137
Occasionally, they'll come out with an unusual configuration that may be of interest to those interested in a firearm for shooting, rather than as a wall decoration. The recent Talo CCO Colt is a good example.

The Dragon isn't my style but I'll have to say I like some of the Colts with the super fine blue finish.
KyJim is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 06:31 PM   #6
Pahoo
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 16, 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 8,783
They look pretty !!!

Quote:
Is this just a cosmetics job or do they really enhance the firearm.
Yes and Yes as well and another yes, on the enhanced price. Talked to a dealer that had as few Talos and basically asked the same questions you asked. The dealer is very familiar with the guy that's behind the Talo. He pretty much said the same thing and that there were no improvements in practical function. .....

Would add that a friend of mine, wound up with a 10/22 Talo and did not like how it felt, so he put the action on another stock and likes. He's a big guy and this Talo, just did not fit him. Asked me if I wanted to buy the stock and I passed. .....


Be Safe !!!
__________________
'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.
Pahoo is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 06:53 PM   #7
EdInk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2009
Posts: 3,968
That is the ugliest 1911 I've ever seen.
__________________
Sic Semper Tyrannis
EdInk is offline  
Old August 9, 2011, 07:51 PM   #8
mrvco
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 1, 2011
Posts: 214
I'm guessing that the Colt Dragon must look better in person.
mrvco is offline  
Old August 10, 2011, 07:05 AM   #9
loose_holster_dan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 5, 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 2,461
i'm with ed. that thing is about as classy as a pink flamingo in your yard.
__________________
Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm
Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK
Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7
"A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."
loose_holster_dan is offline  
Old August 10, 2011, 07:21 AM   #10
MikeNice81
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 17, 2010
Posts: 579
Jon I'm with you. The Dragon and the Day of The Dead Colts are on my list of fantasy BBQ guns.

Talo does mostly cosmetic stuff. However, there is nothing wrong with that. It use to be common for a person to show pride in their tools. Macines would be made with ornate touches where other means would have been more practical. There is nothing wrong with bringing the same thing to guns.
__________________
Here's my credo: There are no good guns, There are no bad guns. A gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing. Any gun in the hands of a good man is no threat to anyone, except bad people.
Charlton Heston

Last edited by MikeNice81; August 10, 2011 at 07:28 AM.
MikeNice81 is offline  
Old August 10, 2011, 07:55 AM   #11
johnbt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 1999
Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
Posts: 6,004
"pink flamingo"

I like dragons, but I don't like pink flamingoes. If it shot as great as the WWI Repro does it would make a great range gun no matter if they're laughing with me or at me.
johnbt is offline  
Old August 11, 2011, 04:22 PM   #12
only1najeep
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 21, 2008
Location: MS
Posts: 157
I agree with most of you the TALO editions are normally not worth the premium price, however the Boy Scout 10/22 was very nice. If I ever see one for sale locally it will most likely follow me home.
__________________
Better to be tried by 12, than carried by 6.
NRA basic rifle instructor
NRA basic shotgun instructor
NRA range safety officer
only1najeep is offline  
Old August 11, 2011, 07:23 PM   #13
VTRich
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 3, 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 288
Here is a Talo Colt I recently purchased used. I found this one was done with a bit of class. Not too much "bling". I added the grips.



VTRich is offline  
Old August 11, 2011, 08:39 PM   #14
GuitarsAndGuns
Member
 
Join Date: April 4, 2010
Posts: 17
VTRich that is a great looking Colt. Very tasteful and classy in my opinion.
GuitarsAndGuns is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 08:10 AM   #15
whyrob
Junior Member
 
Join Date: August 12, 2011
Posts: 6
TALO guns



http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...ix1009copy.jpg


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w26/whyrob/200.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...CCColtJPEG.jpg


These guns are normally ordered from the factory in special configurations, with special factory serial numbers, in limited edtions. TALO has raised over $500,000 for the USA Shooting Team using Ruger guns
whyrob is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 08:37 AM   #16
whyrob
Junior Member
 
Join Date: August 12, 2011
Posts: 6
2004 Article on TALO Dragon



In 2004, We made 100 blue guns & 200 Stainless about a year later. They were done using copper, silver & gold inlays. Special serial numbers.
Wiley wrote them up. He wasn't too sure about a company that would drape a dragon over one of his favorite .45's but he wrote a nice story & the photographs were amazing. This is well before we ever considered working together.

Sure, it doesn't appeal to a lot of folks. It did make 300 people very happy.
You don't often see them coming up for resale & when they do they bring a reasonable premium for a 7 year old Colt.

Heck, we try to provide value & interesting products. If you follow the forums you know how tough it is to please all the people, all the time.
We're enjoying the process.
whyrob is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 08:42 AM   #17
chadstrickland
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 26, 2011
Location: alabama
Posts: 537
Beautiful pistol. Different sure, but pretty nonetheless
__________________
Two weapons that was designed by the same man still in use by the us military 100 years later...1911 and m2...is there anything that comes close.....lol annd maybe perhaps a sig sauer p226 tac ops edition..
chadstrickland is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 08:49 AM   #18
D-Ric902
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2004
Location: Northeastern Indiana
Posts: 402


This one was worth it for sure.
But it is the only TALO I have.
__________________
mercysdad.com
D-Ric902 is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 09:17 AM   #19
mavracer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2008
Location: midwest
Posts: 4,209
I wanted a 1911a1 replica that I could shoot this Talo limited edition was ~$100 more than the others. It's fit and finish is outstanding and accuracy is supurb.
__________________
rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6
Quote:
originally posted my Mike Irwin
My handguns are are for one purpose only, though...
The starter gun on the "Fat man's mad dash tactical retreat."
mavracer is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 01:49 PM   #20
buck460XVR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,341
Quote:
So they take a gun, put some nice grips on it, change the finsih and viola, an extra $300-$400 dollars retail.

I just picked up a Talo 3-5-7 686plus. It had the unfluted cylinder and the 5'' barrel I wanted on a 686. The grips were a moot point to me as I changed then immediately to X-frame shock absorbing grips to match my X-frames, 629s and other 686s. The list price is a whole $10 more than a standard 686plus. My dealer gave it to me for the same price.......so in other words, I got a gun with features I wanted, that not everybody has, for no more monies. Sounds like a win-win to me.

buck460XVR is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 01:55 PM   #21
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,401
As a few other posters have said-
Occasionally, they'll have a "Distributor Exclusive" that is a configuration (barrel length, metal finish, etc) the manufacturer doesn't normally produce. When that happens, you buy the Talo version, or continue to wish for the manufacturer to pull their head out...

Generally, I find their 'Exclusives' to be stupid, and over priced. $400 for plastic sights and butt ugly grips; when both are a down-grade from the factory versions? Yea....
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old August 12, 2011, 05:23 PM   #22
KyJim
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 26, 2005
Location: The Bluegrass
Posts: 9,137
whyrob --

Welcome to the forum. From your posts, it sounds like you are associated with Talo. I'm a SW and Colt revolver guy but that Ruger looks very sweet.
KyJim is offline  
Old August 13, 2011, 04:42 PM   #23
whyrob
Junior Member
 
Join Date: August 12, 2011
Posts: 6
TALO guns

Thank you. I am associated with TALO as the Executive Director for the last 14 years. I helped to make Lew Horton Specials before this.
I'll take responsibility for most of the "stupid, over-priced, downgrades".

I am not offended. Can't please them all.

Much of the email we get at TALO is from folks who are pretty happy with their guns.

We'll keep doing it.

Thanks for the kind words.
whyrob is offline  
Old August 13, 2011, 07:13 PM   #24
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,401
Quote:
Thank you. I am associated with TALO as the Executive Director for the last 14 years. I helped to make Lew Horton Specials before this.
I'll take responsibility for most of the "stupid, over-priced, downgrades".

I am not offended. Can't please them all.
And that's the perfect attitude to have (as I'm sure, you know very well). If there was a one-size-fits-all solution, we'd all be using the same, boring weapons. It's the variety that makes people love particular pieces.

I just happen to find many of the TALO exclusives to be unappealing. But, they're obviously selling to some one. ...And there IS, occasionally, something interesting.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old August 13, 2011, 08:35 PM   #25
Jason_G
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 18, 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 1,902
Post #13 is absolutely sharp. Classy, and not gaudy. I like the Ruger as well. That dragon is awful to me.

Jason
__________________
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." -Amendment II, Constitution of the United States of America
Jason_G is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:50 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08788 seconds with 9 queries