In your experience and opinion, how reliable is the average (non-several thousand Dollar) 1911?
I've never paid over $1000 for a 1911. Over the years I've owned several (sold or traded them). I've found those 1911s to be very reliable. I've gone through numerous training courses and matches with them. I do agree, however, that they need to be cleaned and lubricated properly.
A pretty broad generalization. A stock 1911 has a few deficiencies for competition shooting. The design of the chamber and ramp of the original design were excellent for handling military hardball ammunition. I have a very cheap stock Norinco that has never malfunctioned, but it has a lousy trigger, sights, grip, and other shortcomings that my match guns don't suffer from. I would bet my life that I could throw it in a glove box or console and not touch it and it would perform perfectly without worrying about babying it.
A fully tuned custom 1911 is very expensive if you can't do the work yourself, and the tighter everything fits together the more you have to clean and lube things to keep them going.
The Springfield made this just like the WW 1 ...this is reliable...I shoot mine - have others shoot it to test it...if you ever run out of rds - you can punch people in the face with it...the price on mine was $650...it came with 2 mag’s, cleaning tool, and case - plus twin magazine & thin holster for easy concealment...I purchased a paddle holster for the actual weapon (Blackhawk)...$750 - I ended up with a concealable pistol holster, magazine holster, 3 magazine (I purchased a Colt 8 rd), and the satisfaction of extreme firepower if I need it...
You could skip the paddle holster and use the one that comes with it (belt) - basically everything is in the case for $650 minus an extra 3rd magazine and you are set!
I wish I had this in Iraq instead of the Beretta M9 (9mm) and the Glock 17 (9mm) I had to carry...