Need a new 1911

I agree about the inexpensive imports. My Filipino and Turkish 1911's have been good.

Instead of fancier guns, the OP could get a 9mm and a 45acp!

For under $1K try your damnedest to stick to Springfield or Ruger, to me Kimbers should be avoided. If you can find a Colt for under $1K that might be acceptable too.

Interesting about the opinions on Kimber. I own or have owned Colt, Springfield, Rock Island Armory, STI, Kimber, and Charles Daly. The Kimber, a lightweight stainless in .45 ACP, feeds everything from FMJ and 185 grain defensive ammo to my 200 grain SWC handloads without any issues from day one. Maybe I was lucky and got a good one. I acquired the Charles Daly basic military model in a trade with the intention of passing it on. Fit, finish, and function are such that I decided to keep it. I think the retail price was $459 or so. It's the recent version made by Brixia in Italy and imported by Chiappa. Other posters are correct that Colt and Springfield will hold value better than Rock Island or Charles Daly or other imports.

I've had a few Sig 1911's, but they are a bit more expensive, and not quite the average 1911 stye, but boy do they shoot!

Me too ("need a new 1911"). I'm thinking it is time to sell my smaller 1911s (a 1st gen S&W 1911Sc and an Officer sized RIA) since I don't carry 1911s anymore and using the money for a decent full sized steel gun. I would love a Kimber, they make some of the best looking guns in their price range IMO, though the reliability can be a little spotty (a buddy had a great one, but I can't discount all the negative feedback from owners online), but that isn't a deal breaker in a range gun. I'd love a SA Loaded or Garrison in stainless, or possibly an actual Colt. For a little less, I'm considering Ruger, while theirs aren't the best looking in the price range, they are going to be good guns. Conversely, I'm thinking of laying out some money above what I get for the two guns I have and getting something Wilson or Dan Wesson.

The used market can be a little hit or miss for availability and price. With new Kimbers in the $800-900 range, I'd probably go new if I couldn't find something under $700 (I haven't been shopping used Kimbers so I don't know how realistic this is).

I bought a Kimber Custom LW a couple weeks ago.The price on it at the LGS was 799.00 but since I bought another pistol at the same time,I got it for 750.00.Due to work and other obligations I haven't been able to shoot it,but I'll have it out this evening.Overall it seems to be well done except for one grip panel screw that was cross threaded,so I had to clean up the threads a little bit.I wanted to lighten up a 1911 for concealed carry but I wanted to stay with a 5 inch barrel.Other than the grip screw problem,the pistol seems to be tight and smooth.My mentor and shooting buddy has a steel frame Sig 1911 that is one of the best shooting 1911's that I've ever seen.I have a RIA FS Tactical in 10MM and it's been a great pistol so far,great enough that I put a Leupold red dot on it and am planning on using it to hunt deer with in November.It's got some tool marks and such that the new Kimber doesn't have,but it's smooth in the places it needs to be smooth in.

Personal experience with the TISAS Turk 1911 has been positive; the finish is a really smooth, and the workmanship excellent. Even the trigger is decent. I have the GI model, so the sights aren't anything special.
Do have a Colt Commander 9mm, and really feel the Commander/9mm size is Baby Bear's Porridge. In .45, Government is best, but the 9 is the deal in the Commander.
Good advice here; much as I like the Turk, if you're looking at $1K, go for a Colt.
Moon

Own a couple Rugers ( 45ACP & 10MM ). Both excellent. You might also want to look at Magnum Research ( also have one of those and excellent ) and BUL. No experience with the BUL, however they make the Magnum Research, so expect they will be on par.

ACW and call it good. I'm fixing to bite the bullet and put an order in for one. I have more than 1 Kimber and Ruger 1911. Kimber had it's issues years ago and it still follows them on the forums. The Eclipse Pro that I have is flawless and accurate. I have An SR1911 Night Watchman that I carry that is also flawless. I have the Officer size SR1911 in 9mm and it's a sweet shooting 1911. The only Kimber I had an issue with is the Officer Size 1911 in .45. Great little pistol to carry but finiky with certain hollow points. Anything less than commander size 1911s can be an issue with feeding. It's the nature of the beast. To each his own but I'm not going down the inexpensive 1911 road.

When I think of getting a new gun I am almost always thinking new old gun. Howzabout getting a USGI 1911 from the CMP? They are accepting orders again.

https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/1911-information/