Last week I bought a new all-steel Cimarron 1911. Not an A1. I bought it because it the finest bluing I've ever seen on any gun. My friend, a gun historian and collector, commented that it's a 1918 clone, even has the lanyard ring. I was just going to show it to friends. Then I decided to just go ahead and shoot it. Almost 300 rounds later it has yet to malfunction and is now my EDC. Accurate, dependable, and less than $500.
Then there was the CZ 452 trainer. Most accurate rifle I've ever owned.
Most fun rifle is my M92 Rossi lever-action .38/.357.
Biggest surprise, 8-9 years ago was a Taurus PT1911A1. All my fellow Rangers said, "Oh my God, you bought a TAURUS!" I endured the comments. Then we went to the range for quarterly quals. When they saw the targets and scores, they would sidle up to me and say, "Uh, would you mind letting me try it?"
Then we went all Glock and I sold it.