1911 /45 pistols

Question
I own about nine 1911/45s , most all of them Springfields, Kimbers & STI Escort & Gaurdian.
What is the very best 1911 out there bar none

Answer
William,

I suppose that depends on what your definition of "best" is.

Most of the modern guns are made on CNC machines with excellent metallurgy, and for my needs I see little difference between any of them.

For me, handguns are tools, not objects of art, and "the best" are those which work every time (or as much as 100 year old design can be expected to work) and cost the least. Not long ago for me that would have meant a Kimber. They've been edged out by RRA in my estimation.

Some people define "best" as those guns which lock up bank-vault tight and in which no gaps or flaws can be found even if you look under a microscope. I'd probably be inclined to a Les Baer for that, although I personally don't really care for his guns (too expensive).

For some people, there is an esoteric quality that they want and don't know why. Years ago I worked for a gunshop and a guy came in wanting to buy a 1911. He was torn between the $700 Kimber and the $2300 Les Baer. I asked him what he wanted it for, and he said for IDPA. I told him, "Get the Kimber. For hitting 8" -0 zones at speed, there's not a dime's worth of difference between these two guns."

He hemmed and hawed for a while, and then decided on the Baer because "it had a better trigger." I was about to point out to him that I or any number of other people could put a hell of trigger on his Kimber for $1600 (the difference in the cost of the guns), but the truth was he was just looking for an excuse to drop the bucks on the Baer. He liked it, thought it was "the best," and didn't mind spending more than 3x the price of the Kimber on it.

To each his own.