To my snobbish self, you can change the sights on a 1911 and do a trigger job, maybe change the beaver tail… but if you make any changes that can’t be backed out and set back to “government”… then it’s a .45, not a 1911.
TO my snobbish self, if it wasn't made by Colt, for the US Govt before the A1 changes in the early 1920s, its not a 1911.
If it was made by Colt, for commercial sale its not a 1911 or 1911A1, its a "Govt Model" and the guns say so, right on them.
If its some other maker's gun, done in a 1911A1
pattern, and they name it 1911, fine. Just be sure to include the maker's name to clarify what gun you're talking about. A 1911 and a RUGER 1911 are quite different in many, many ways.
My son got a S&W 1911PD model. I got to keep it for a couple years while he was in Korea. Nice gun. Well made. All the bells and whistles a race gun fan would want (and some I don't).
Takes standard GI pattern magazines. Will NOT take GI grips (or aftermarket grips made for the GI/Colt guns) The spacing of the screw holes is just enough different that you need grips made for the S&W or they won't fit.
Not sure about Ruger, wouldn't surprise me if they were the same way.
Yes, S&W "Scandium" frames are scandium, the way steel shot is steel. (in case you don't know, "steel shot" is iron, with just enough carbon to chemically qualify as "steel" so is much softer than the steel alloys used in gun parts).
Looking back over the last 50+ years that I've been into guns, Ruger has always sold their guns that are roughly comparable to S&Ws at a lower price point.
A Security Six always cost less than a K frame....etc.
Why expect anything different today??