If you had one 1911.........

Original spec (5").

Don't see a reason to get a shortened barrel.

Depends.
Range and home defense = 5"
Carry = 4 1/4"
I like the balance of commander better but prefer the longer sight radius of the government.

I do have just one and its a 5", I'm big enough to conceal a full size auto and the longer sight radius improves accuracy.

original spec, why not?

ive only owned commanders,

so yeah 4 1/4

Not 4" though, that is for posers (kimber, springfield, and too many others)

A 1911 is 5", if its not it's a Commander...

I do like the longer sight radius and how it handles.

But I do own a Commander as well, no one can have just one.

It would be a Glock/SIG/HK/etc since 1911's suck.

Actually, I should say "most current implementations of the 1911" suck. A gun that has received close attention from a proficient 1911 gunsmith will probably be OK. Then there's the silly grip and thumb safeties to deal with under pressure....

I have 1 1911 and it's a 5". I don't carry a 1911, and I wanted a simple, classic, original looking 1911. If I wanted a 1911 to carry, I'd consider a Commander LW.

Five inch (I have two in 5" right now), and I have owned man over the years. Every one has been fullsize.

Logic says a 5", but my heart says Colt Combat Commander.

I have 1911s in 5", 4", and 3. The 4" just balances better for me than the others. I shoot it as well as all my 5" models, and it carries about as well as the 3".
None of my current 1911s or those I have owned/carried in the past, have required the services of a "Proficient" smith to make them run. Having carried 1911s as a duty weapon for a number of years, I never found the manual of arms for the platform to be challenging.
str1

i would go with the commander model. for me the difference in barrel length means nothing, and it is still a .45 round that will have decent knock down power, and the shorter barrel is easier to conceal.

it would be a 5" built from a Fusion Firearms Scout Kit, like the one i just completed. i blued the gun, assembled it and tuned the trigger, extractor, etc. what a HOOT and it shoots like a dream. sorry for the commercial, but this has been a great experience and you can get a 4 1/4 kit too.--robby

If I had one 1911....

I could cross "1911" off my wish list

5 Inch although I do like my Wilson Compact. I can conceal a 5 inch as easily as the 4 inch. Just not quite as comfortable. And a carry handgun doesn't need to be comfortable any way they provide comfort knowing you have something to defend yourself with.

5 inch, longer sight radius.

A 1911 has a 5-inch barrel. Anything else is something else.

Classic 5" 1911, like Mr Browning designed and built it.

For carry, the Commander. For hunting, the Government.

If I could only have 1 1911, God forbid, it would be the 5" Gov Mod.

Some people feel the commander balances better, but with a full mag, the Gov Mod balances just at the right place...where the trigger guard meets the front strap.

5" but I sure would miss my 3 5/8 colt officer model.

"It would be a Glock/SIG/HK/etc since 1911's suck."

Are you a mall ninja or what???

The 1911 has worked for 98 years and is copied by more companies than anything you named. If they are so bad why does everybody want to copy it????

To each his own dude but dont dog the 1911 when the man didnt ask you about the others.

I have Sigs in 9mm and .40 cal. and they are nice, you cant give me a Gluck. HK's are good pistols But I like my Colt and Springfield 1911's over ANY of the plastic recyclable whiz bang flavor of the month in the magazines gun. I own revolvers also but 1911's are in both nightstands by my bed.

To respond to your question Viking I would go with the 5 inch also, easier to find parts for at any gunshop or show if you want to customize it to suit you and my fullsize Springfield is a little bit better grouping than my Colt 4 1/4.

5" for most occassions; but I do own a 3" Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry