Under $1,500 ....in full sized 1911's in 9mm....I'm seeing some pretty nice guns coming from Colt, CZ, Sig and Springfield lately.../ they are not as refined as the semi custom guns out there but they are good values - with decent internal components.
As you go thru this process figure out the features you want in a gun....don't just pick a mfg...figure out what you really want ...want to pay for...
1. mag well or speed chute / 1 piece or 2 piece..
2. ambi safety..size of tabs ( some are really small, some not..)..or none
3. Steel or alloy frame, finish ...stainless, 2 tone, etc
4. what kind of sights you like ( I like the new Battlesights in rear, gold dot or red fibre optic up front - but these days you have a lot of options..).
5. do you want front strap & main spring housing checkered...some are smooth..
6. cocking cerrations on front and back of slide......one or other .... or none..
7. Barrel type ...match grade with bushing, cone barrel, etc
8. Trigger style ... solid, skeletonized, weight you want it to break at ( 3.5 - 4.5 ), etc...
9. Guide rod...full length or GI style
10. Internal or Extermal extractor
11. Series 70 ....or series 80 models...
12. Will gun fit a standard 1911 holster ..( slide on some Sigs will not..)...others ??
13. Some guns have plastic main spring housings ....some are steel..
To me, some of these are a big deal...some not so much...
What's funny about this...is I had this same discussion with a shooter at my range today...range had a 2 day " Glock Days Event "...T shirts, service, free inspections, etc...and it brought out a lot of new people...as we were waiting in line to check in - a guy asked what model glocks I liked ( none)...but he heard me and a RSO talking about what I was shooting ...I said my carry gun....we know eachother, he knew it was a 1911 in 9mm...but this guy didn't .../ and I didn't say none, I just told him it was a 1911...and he was probably in his 30's or early 40's and had never thought about a 1911 as other than a .45acp...he was legitimately surprised about 1911's in 9mm...
I discussed these items above with him -- pros & cons as I see them...let him put a few rds thru my gun so he could understand the features on my gun, etc.../...nice guy, he just had no idea...he just assumed almost everyone carried & shot stock Glocks...or something poly....and had no idea all these items above were things we really cared about...or at least thought about.
I also told him once in a while I carry a revolver too.....not sure he believed me...but I had a S&W model 627, 8 shot, 2 5/8" barrel in .357 mag with me too ...at that point I had him totally confused...