My comment was directed at the people who claim the 1911 to be the best platform out there but that one must spend over $1500 to obtain the benefits of it. FWIW, Glocks have been around for 30 years. JMB died in 1926 so I doubt he spent thirty years perfecting the 1911.
I would give a whole-hearted vote for the Ruger SR1911 or the SW E-Series. For what those pistols offer in their price ranges, especially with Ruger's CS, I don't think a guy could go wrong. And either of those pistols would do everything their $1500 counterparts do for 95% of the people who own the more expensive models. One of the older Colt's would likely do as well, but without some of the preferred options, like beavertail safeties and Heine or Novak sights.
People too often equate value with the lowest price point. This is why people are suggesting guns like ATI. People think that the best value or the most for their money is directly related to the the lowest price point. There is nothing wrong with a low end RIA or ATI 1911 but they are what they.
IMHO they do not represent the best value or the most for your money. I personally think that Colt, Dan Wesson and Les Baer do.
Colts start at about $700 to $750 NIB if you buy smart. You can take that Colt out shoot a few thousand round through it and sell it for what you have in it. If you took care of it and did not abuse it.
The same thing can be said of a Dan Wesson. They used to be a steal when you could get a CBOB for about $900. If you were lucky enough to know who Bob Serva and Dan Wesson was back then you have a gun that cost less than $1000 but you could sell used today for about $1100. I paid $700 for a LNIB one years ago. It has thousands upon thousands of round through it and the only thing I have needed to replace is springs.
Les Baers to me represent the entry point into semi-custom no frills combat 1911s. They are an incredible value when you consider the time and materials that go into them. They are not cheap but they are what they are which is a tight, accurate, long lasting workhorse of a 1911 and you will have to spend almost 30% more to get to a Wilson or Ed Brown to get better.
This does not mean you cannot get a lot out of lower end 1911s. If you are only shooting a few hundred rounds a year any 1911 will do. I think that when you get to this level not only do they hold up, shoot well, shoot accurately but they also hold their value. The lower end guns do not. In the case of Colt & DW they sometimes even go up even if you shoot them. That IMHO is value and getting the most for your money.
I could sell my DW for $1000 today which would have netted me $300 + over 4 years of shooting.....
YMMV
