More is better---a custom 1911 COSTING $2000-----will never be WORTH $2000-------and will never shoot any better or kill any faster than the others listed--------it will just sit there and look pretty.
Objectively untrue on several fronts.
- Custom 1911s made by well-known 'smiths retain their value very well. Hence many are worth $2,000 or more... meaning you can sell them for that much money and find buyers easily. I know I did when I had to sell a Burns Delta Elite for about the $2,000 I put into it. If they don't "feel" worth $2,000 in your heart, well la di da, but the market says different.
- If you are too bad a shot to tell the difference between a <1" @ 25 yard custom gun and a 3" @ 25 yard factory gun, that's your problem. For the people who actually put in the practice, the more expensive gun very often DOES shoot better... in measurable, objective terms. Talk about "combat accuracy" all you want, group size at distance is an objective performance measure... either the gun can do it, or it can't.
- Custom guns commonly rack up astounding round counts, since the owners bought superior hardware so they could
use it. It may be comforting to stereotype folks who invest money in good hardware as effeminate dilletantes who don't use their hardware... but it is by and large an
unfounded stereotype.
Observation: I heard a story about a prissy guy at the range with a Wilson. Conclusion: Most folks with high-falutin' hardware baby their hardware, and can't possibly be a serious he-man shooter like me and my 4 Rugers.