NYH, I paid $569 for mine at Academy Sports. They are, I believe, a national chain of sporting goods stores and hopefully one near you. The PT-1911 comes from the factory with every customized and factory tuned option you can get on a 1911. At least do yourself the favor of going and looking at one. I think you'll see they blow the S&W away and I bet will outshoot it to boot. I'm not good enough to do it off hand but from the bench I can shoot clipful after clipful into one gaping hole. Look at the gun and then decide.

Go to the Taurus website and check out their factory and see who Taurus really is. Trust me, they are not just a bunch of Brazilians sitting under a tree with a hammer and a file trying to make pistols. They have one of the most high tech arms factories there are. Each 1911 is handfitted and the parts serialized. Look at the gun. Don't take my word for it.