I agree with 98redline....

Para Ordnance is a great .45ACP for money. They say Ft. Lauderdale, FL but are actually made in Canada.

The "High Standard" model is a poor knock-off/copy (sorry to say) and not very reliable from what I've heard.

Colt: #1 in my book. Timeless classic. The "original" of all originals. It all started here.

Kimber: Very very good .45ACP and (I think) the model chosen by the FBI. But while very good, it is also very pricey.

Les Baer: Just like Kimber, but even more quality and customization ability. You can take a Les Baer and break it all down and rebuilt it into something totally unique. Very very very pricey!!

Springfield Armory: The best of the 1911 "clones". Legendary quality that is right along side Colt.

Para Ordnance: A wider version of the 1911 with "double stack" magazines, and just as rugged and reliable. Their new "LDA" versions have a different trigger than the original 1911 style. The "P" versions are a double stacked mag version of the 1911.

Auto-Ordnance, Firestorm, Llama, High Standard: The rest of the pack. Nothing fancy, no frills. However, these models sometimes will not shoot JHP's reliably. They almost require youto shoot the common 230gr FMJ "ball" rounds.