RE my preferences stated; As an early adopter I paid Bud’s $799 as I recall for mine. At that time, I could have purchased a Colt XSE or SA Target SS for around even money or less.
A few parts I replaced.
Now by all previous accounts I had read the SW Series was a popular choice with its owners, not so large a group as some others but a reasonably sized group. The Enhanced, in my mind had to be that much better as a follow-up.
So I bought one, I shot it, I shot it some more, and by the first month had some 600 rounds through. Not being a 1911 expert, but a fanatic on cleanliness, I disassembled after each outing and began taking notice of a few things. The slide release was wearing with a deformation started (and a void on the shaft), the barrel lugs appeared to be peening slightly, and the ambi-TS never did exhibit a positive snick on or off. I found the FLGR unappealing and the barrel bushing was nothing like well fit-not horrible, but not so tight a fit as many bushing-less set ups on other pistols. Both bushing and barrel were swapped as well.
None of the above would likely have been a cause for major concern for perhaps years but what I wanted was not what I had purchased. Again, personal dictates rather than foundational issues.
Why would I prefer a Ruger? I suppose it comes down to how they entered the market, new space, new machinery, new CNCs, and of course the ever reliable Pine Tree Castings. They stuck to the original formula for the most part, made a nice albeit plain reproduction, and I believe MSRP is still a healthy hike south of S&Ws.
Ruger also enjoys an excellent reputation for CS which I have experienced when attempting to track down a compact stock for a rifle conversion (which they found among discontinued parts and sold to me at a discount).
Springfield Armory also enjoys a well earned reputation in the 1911 world as makers of “better than Colt” reproductions on up to their Professional Model which I have had the privilege of shooting. SA is continuously introducing fresh takes on the classic 1911 and reining in MSRP to realistic blue collar prices.
Living in “gun valley” where the likes of SA, RRA, and Les Baer to name a few 1911 makers reside has kept the fan base perhaps unusually large as compared to other areas with strong opinions. My own father’s having bore down on me for years certainly influenced my opinion of Colt as did the several local smiths who preferred them (and yes, for much of what was noted above in other posts).
None of this is to say that I don’t care for my Smith E-Series, I like it enough to still carry it often and shoot it constantly. My opinion finds only that it has a few too many compromises in what should be its class while carrying a price tag set far too close to that of better options. For what I ultimately spent, again simply a personal decision, I could easily have owned a Dan Wesson Valor.
