A good quality 1911, meaning quality of materials, assembly and fitting, is a fine pistol.
Granted, they usually require a bit more knowledge and experience from the shooter, both in manipulation (grip functioning the grip safety, and proper use of thumb safety lock) and preventive maintenance. However, they also seem to entice too many folks to fiddle with them, which can easily compromise the simplicity and reliability of the design.
Another potential issue is the variability of magazine design and quality of manufacture.
I've long been a 1911 aficionado and user.
Even though the previous head armorer was a machinist and serious 1911 tuner (who said he gained a lot of his knowledge from Bob Chow), I finally managed to get my former agency to send me to the Colt armorer class (what they call their Model O Pistol armorer class) after his retirement. Aside from being approved for off-duty carry, the only folks carrying 1911's on-duty were the swat teams, so my services as a 1911 armorer weren't needed as much as my armorer training for other guns. That was okay, though, because I really just wanted to fine tune my ability to service, maintain and repair (if needed) my own 1911's (and for a couple of friends) after I retired.
Thus far, I've only had to repair a broken ejector in a friend's Colt XSE since retirement. He had the front post break off below the top of the frame, which was a bit tricky to remove, since it sits in a blind hole.
I don't carry my 1911's nearly as much as I used to as a younger cop, as I tend to appreciate the lighter retirement weapons nowadays. My '05 vintage SW1911SC 5" stainless(slide)/Scandium aluminum framed gun makes for a nice shooting and decent carrying option, in that regard.
I still miss my early 70's lightweight Commander, though, if only because it was my first 1911. I traded it away for a steel Combat Commander, and never got around to replacing it with another lightweight Commander length model.
I only have 5 1911's, though, all chambered in .45ACP, being 4 Colts (3.5", 4.25" & 5") and that SW1911SC.
Granted, they usually require a bit more knowledge and experience from the shooter, both in manipulation (grip functioning the grip safety, and proper use of thumb safety lock) and preventive maintenance. However, they also seem to entice too many folks to fiddle with them, which can easily compromise the simplicity and reliability of the design.
Another potential issue is the variability of magazine design and quality of manufacture.
I've long been a 1911 aficionado and user.
Even though the previous head armorer was a machinist and serious 1911 tuner (who said he gained a lot of his knowledge from Bob Chow), I finally managed to get my former agency to send me to the Colt armorer class (what they call their Model O Pistol armorer class) after his retirement. Aside from being approved for off-duty carry, the only folks carrying 1911's on-duty were the swat teams, so my services as a 1911 armorer weren't needed as much as my armorer training for other guns. That was okay, though, because I really just wanted to fine tune my ability to service, maintain and repair (if needed) my own 1911's (and for a couple of friends) after I retired.
Thus far, I've only had to repair a broken ejector in a friend's Colt XSE since retirement. He had the front post break off below the top of the frame, which was a bit tricky to remove, since it sits in a blind hole.
I don't carry my 1911's nearly as much as I used to as a younger cop, as I tend to appreciate the lighter retirement weapons nowadays. My '05 vintage SW1911SC 5" stainless(slide)/Scandium aluminum framed gun makes for a nice shooting and decent carrying option, in that regard.
I still miss my early 70's lightweight Commander, though, if only because it was my first 1911. I traded it away for a steel Combat Commander, and never got around to replacing it with another lightweight Commander length model.
I only have 5 1911's, though, all chambered in .45ACP, being 4 Colts (3.5", 4.25" & 5") and that SW1911SC.
. I own both. 
