Hi again ugly dog,

If you ever intend to get a consensus on this site.....on this subject....good luck!

If you stick with the better known brand names.....decide which features you absolutely can't live without (another way of saying "features you are willing to spend money on") and pick the model that appeals to you most! There is no such thing (okay, okay, nearly no such thing) as a bad 1911! Only degrees of better.....

Good luck with your decision.

Dave

P.S. One other thing to consider. If it's your first 1911.....consider buying a "basic" model, made by any company known for quality, go get some experience on the range.....and then determine "from your own experience"....how you'd like to "trick it out"!