For that kind of money you can become the proud owner of a Cabot S100 or one of their other models. Please check them out! You will find no other 1911 is as well made, with tolerances as close and finely machined and operating, as a Cabot. That's why a lot of the folks that are winning competitions are shooting Cabot firearms. I don't have a thing to do with the company, but I sat up at a gun show near the Cabot booth one time. I was amazed at the quality of work. I've looked at, sold and shot dozens if not hundreds of other 1911s, but none of them come close to the quality of the Cabot. You write that you've narrowed your decision down to "Nighthawk, Ed Brown, Les Baer and Wilson Combat...." Please, please, please reconsider! If you think these are good quality firearms, you'll find that Cabot is so far above them that you won't even look at them any more. Best of luck and tell us what you decide.