I have carried the 1911A1 in one form or another since 1959. I have used it in comba and have great respect for its design. I have found these RIA guns, which sell for one quarter to one fifth the price of the high dollar prestige 1911s to be as reliable, accurate and strong as any made. It may not be pretty (It uses a very durable dark parkerized finish almost black) but it is as accurate and strong as any made. I have been carrying both the compact and the standard for over 5 years and have put thousands of rounds through them from 230 gr Ball to 200 Gr Federal EFMJ, SXT, Silvertip with naver a malfunction. A shooter gets way more bang for the buck with this fine pistol with no compromise as to materials, function, fit and reliability. You will have no regrets when you get one and shoot it.