I personally would start with a SA mil-spec. You can modify from there if you end up liking the 1911 platform. I started with a Wilson which is a bit high. I no longer own the Wilson. I sold it after a got a SA Pro. The only 1911 I have been looking for since buying the Pro is another Pro without the rail. Oh and a SS TRP. So I can have it sent to SA custom shop to have it modified to Pro specs, only stainless.
Colt 1991 with the “O Package”. But there’s nothing wrong with an SA either.
That is a good deal in my opinion. A new a TRS will run $1,700 - $2,000. For the record I have a Les Baer TRS and it has been a very reliable pistol. I would love to have another one.
You also may want to check out a few articles by Hilton Yam. http://www.10-8performance.com/id2.html.
The TRS at $1400 is a decent buy depending on condition. It’s also one of the sub-$2k pistols I’d recommend. The other used to be the Ed Brown Special Forces that was selling two years ago for $1800 NIB street price, but there appears to have been a big spike and now I see then for $2200 all the time. Maybe I should sell mine afterall…
The Springfield Operators are also a good value at their price. I wouldn’t get confused and think that this translates to their base “loaded” models however.
Like it or not, the 1911 is a pistol that was designed in an era of cheap labor. You may get lucky and buy a cheap one that runs just fine, or never shoot it enough to ever find it’s flaws. But getting a problem child for “cheap” gets really expensive when you have to start sending it here and there to get it straightened out. I hate forced tinkering and prefer to (perhaps over-) spend the first time to help ensure that I don’t get sidelined by it.
Rob, most of the time I would agree with you but with the modern CNC, MIM, and other precision machines and techniques used in building ‘guns’ today, I would and do recommend other less costly companies. STI and Charles Daly get their frames and slides from ARMSCORP in the Philippines and are of extremely high quality. They aren’t the solid billet of a Les Baer or Ed Brown, but then again, they shoot extremely well and don’t cost an arm and a leg!!! Look at Taurus and Springfield…they both get their frames and slides from a foundry in Brazil and their guns run well. It use to be with the design of the gun that it took a skilled craftsman a lot of time to press fit the slide to frame and blend the locking lugs to the slide, but a lot of that has already been done through technology. Even the Les Baers and Ed Browns use CNC and other fine technologies in their productions to cut down on the hand work!!!
After all, the OP asked what 1911 would you get if you only had around $1k to spend. Everyone here is saying spend more and more. You will have to be careful because when the word starts getting out how good these ‘low cost’ 1911s are, the price is going to go up…Just look at the Taurus of a couple years ago. The entry price was $595 and you could find them around $500 or less, now they have gone up a couple hundred and are getting that price!!!
Like I originally stated, I am looking at getting an entry STI. They use the slide/frame and barrel from the Philippines and build/install all their own parts at their factory in Texas. They even tune them up before sending them out the door!!!:D:D:D
I wouldn’t take Taurus or CD as examples to hold up as the modern holy grails of precision CNC machined 1911s. WAY too many reports of various parts failures with out of the box examples that can’t even make it through 3-day, 600-round, handgun classes.
I agree with you that it SHOULD be possible for someone to make a very good quality, no frills (dovetail sights, high cut front strap, extended thumb safety, beavertail, no front cocking serrations) 1911, I just disagree with your assessment that anyone is currently doing it.
a question to start:
are you familiar with the 1911? suggestions for a base pistol might change if you think that you might NOT keep it.
so, without making assumptions: for a starter pistol, i would have to go with a Loaded Springer. you can get them for around $600 used. you have a great chance that it will be very reliable out of the box (and if it isn’t, then Springfield has pretty good CS). if you like it and decide to keep it, reliability and upgrade packages can be found from many shops (EGW, Novak, etc). a reliability package is normally not more than $300. so for $900, you will have a well built and professionally tweaked 1911. upgrade packages have a seemingly infinite limit with regards to price.
there are a couple more advantages of getting the loaded springer for a first 1911. if you’re not ready for some hammer bite and some other quirks of a mil-spec or GI model, you might get really turned off from a really good platform and that would be a shame. if you like the platform, this won’t be the only 1911 you own anyhow so save the custom stuff for later.
but, the loaded package from springfield comes with some important things done, machining wise. everything is properly machined to allow for upgrades with minimal cost. the sights, for example, can be changed out easily to tritiums, or fiber optics, or whatever you desire. but if you had bought a mil-spec or GI, you’d have to get it machined and refinished. the beavertail radius is ready to accept a different beavertail, if you desire, etc.
for reference, i currently own full custom Colts, a semi custom from Les Baer, and manufacturer customs from Colt and Kimber (early production, thank god), and a Springer loaded. the kimber is currently at drake’s gunworks having some work done. 
Good Luck with your search and let us know what you decide on.
Between the two you listed above my preference would be for the Colt.
However, based on this…
… you may want something a bit more suited to that task than a bone stock base gun, as others have already mentioned. For building a custom gun either the Colt or Springfield will make a great base gun if your willing to spend the time figuring out what you need and want in a carry gun, but neither would be what I consider an optimal using/carry gun right out of the box. It may work for some but eventually most guys shooting those pistols change something to improve functional or ergonomic aspects of the gun.
As mentioned previously you would probably be doing yourself a favor by allotting more money and finding a good used semi-custom. By going with a semi-custom you’ll be getting a gun that is most likely put together well and with good parts, one that will allow you to explore the 1911 as a using gun without the downsides many find in a plain-Jane 1911. I would take a good hard look at a TR Special, it would be my overwhelming first choice for a semi-custom 1911. Another option may be something from Wilson Combat such as their CQB… both have been around for a while so if you keep your eyes open and shop carefully you can likely find a more than serviceable example at a fair price.
i have to say, as an aside, that the fact that I gave similar advice to Jason Burton pretty just made my evening…
maybe even my week…
although the Redskins did just beat the Cowboys and Eagles, and my beloved Dodgers won their first playoff series since 1988…
So I’m having a damn good week…
still…this may top it
This type of question seems to keep regurgitating itself every few weeks…
Both the new Series 70 Colt or a SA milspec are fine base guns for further customization–the Colt might be a bit better. Be sure to read Hilton Yam’s material at 10-8 regarding base guns and modifications: http://www.10-8performance.com/id2.html.
On the other hand, if you are not ready to drop $3500 or so and wait a year or two for a properly customized 1911, then you might want to look at something else. Right now, about the only relatively easily obtainable “stock” 1911 that I would feel comfortable purchasing for duty/carry use would be the SA Professional 5" barrel, single stack, steel frame (either PC9111 or PC9111LR if you want a light rail) and even those are sometimes in need of a little tweaking and aren’t to be trusted until after shooting at least 1000 trouble free rounds. None of the other standard and semi-custom 1911’s I have observed have proven to consistently offer acceptable hard-use reliability and durability out of the box. FWIW, both SA Loaded’s I purchased exhibited significant functional and QA problems.
Any person in the market for a new .45 ACP handgun intended for duty/self-defense use, who was not already wedded to the 1911 platform, would be very well served by the .45 ACP M&P (especially with the Performance Center sear); the HK45 is probably the next most viable option, although I personally don’t shoot them quite as well as 1911’s or M&P’s…
I’ll just throw my three dimes in here too and agree with the smart guy- theJanitor is pretty much hittin’ that nail on the head- if you want a great entry 1911, go with the SA and get a good “reliability package.” Don’t even shoot it- just hand carry it from the FFL straight to the friendly neighborhood gunsmith that specializes in 1911s, and hand him the box. If he’s tits, you’ll have a sweet easily moddable, reliable 1911… you can upgrade sights, grips, backstrap, trig, etc, after you’ve blown a few boxes of ammo and keep reading up and know what you’d like to see on it.
There is no stock, out-of-the-box, ready-to-go 1911.
HK USP45 is a freaken great duty sidearm, if your department policy permits.
i dunno if i’d walk it down to my local 'smith unless he was really well known. the 1911 that i really trust came from a custom gunsmith, the rest have all needed tweaking as well.
Doc, every “professional” that i’ve seen has been well over $2000. does that mean that the OP’s request (around $1000) is unreasonable? What can we suggest to help him out in that respect?
There are no acceptable 1911’s ready for hard use at under $1000. At that price point get an M&P, HK45, or if you are not set on .45 ACP, consider a G17/19.