Saw some interesting comments here.
1st I wouldn't trust my life to any new out of the box 1911 that I hadn't put some rounds through. 1911s need to kinda be just right to be one of the best fighting handguns ever made. That is true for any makers 1911. Having a gunsmith for a best friend until he passed I've seen every brand of 1911 that had problems including a few high end guns.
2nd I've owned my share of 1911s. Once the internals are right, the rest is fit, finish and YOUR EGO. Actually the worst 1911s I've ever owned other than 1 FED ORD were Colts. It isn't unusual for a 1911 to need a trigger job to make me happy. Other than that Fed Ord the only 1911s that I've owned that weren't at least OK out of the box were Colts. I've seen Colts that wouldn't feed FMJ ball out of the box.. Other than in 9mm I don't even bother trying a factory Colt magazine. I'm not talking $5 gunshow mags w a pony stamped on them, I'm talking about the mag that came new in the box w a new handgun.
Third the current crop of bargain 1911s such as Rocks and ATIs are pretty good and darn good for the money. I have no concerns about using one after some rounds to verify function just like I do on any 1911. I wouldn't buy one of their upgraded pistols because that is kinda like lipstick on a pig. If you want nicer than basic pay extra and step up to a name manufacturer. For a 1st 1911 especially for a guy on a budget, they are a great buy for a guy who doesn't wear his ego on his sleeve.
4th. For a custom build I'd strongly consider one. In fact i have an ATI I bought to try my hand at light custom work. If I BUBBA it I'm not out much.There are 2 reasons to build a custom 1911. 1st you make the pistol more reliable, possibly more accurate and most importantly to work better in YOUR hands. That is a great reason for a custom. 2nd is that EGO thing. My old gunsmith who could make 1911s stand up and dance used to complain to me over scotch and cigars about customers who would pay a lot of money for a top notch full blown custom 1911 and never shoot it.. I know some of those guys and their egos bleed their wallets. If your ego is driving the build forget about using anything but a Colt as a base gun. BTW don't kid yourself thinking you're going to make money on a custom as a reason for not shooting it.. Unless you keep it in the safe for years or you find a sucker, it isn't profitable. If I'm going to pay retail for a custom I want it to be my custom.
While Rocks and ATIs are good basic 1911s, I prefer a few bucks more for a Spingfield. I don't care where they are made, they work.. I've owned probably 10 of them, maybe more. I've got I think I still have 5 or 6 of their various models now. They have all worked. Other than replacing springs and mags when worn out, I have had 1 part break. That was a slide stop on a heavily used LW Compact model. They have all fed ball and every flavor of HP I've tried without any work. While they have all had trigger jobs the triggers werent bad out of the box.
Kimber makes pretty 1911s. Early ones were great.. I bought a used semi-custom and it is great. 1st generation though. About 2 years ago, i got a new one unfired from a client that owed me money. It was so out of spec that it wouldn't work. In fact my gunsmith said it was so out of spec it couldn't be fixed. Before I could send it back a gun dealer that I don't like took it off my hands. Since I was in it for money owed on a fee I let him have it. I've heard about quality control problems.
Ruger and Remington - no personal experience.. wouldn't hesitate to buy a Ruger.. I wouldn't buy a Remington because they basically cost as much as a Springfield without having any benefit over a Springfield.
Norinco if you can find one at a good price buy it. They are solid.
Taurus - not on a bet with your money. I know multiple gunsmiths who won't touch them. I know gun dealers who sell their revolvers who won't sell their 1911s.
High end 45s and custom packages from name gunsmiths - all I can say is that while I know a few guys that own one or more of them, I've never seen anyone actually carry one. As a trial lawyer I admit to owning an ego. You have to have an ego to walk in front of a jury when there is a lot of money or a guys life or freedom is on the line. That said I'm not impressed by an ego that a $3000 pistol drives. Other than that when I see a well worn but cared for high dollar 1911 tucked IWB on a guys hip I'll reserve judgement.. I will say that if you can afford one that's cool by me but I can't see buying a 1911 that you won't carry. I don't see that they are any better as a handgun to bet your life on compared to any other quality 1911 that has been properly function checked and maintained. Col. Jeff Cooper, love him or hate him was the guru of the 1911. From photos I've seen his personal 1911s were pretty plain. I bet they worked though.
Finally if you ever get to handle or even better shoot a Swenson worked over Colt or a Pachmeyer Combat Special or an old Kings 1911 you'll be holding history in your hands. Savor the experience. Those guns aren't necessarily better than what you can buy today but all those parts were custom hand made. The workmanship was excellent especially when you consider that they had to invent those parts as well as modifying basic parts or making them from stock.
