It may not be fair on my part, but when I bought my last .45acp (springfield armory V10 ultracompact) about 1995 or 1996, it seemed to be a lot better quality than the colt 1991a1 I bought just the year before. And in defense of Colt, it IS/was a basic cheaper model "starter pistol" for me. I had a beavertail safety installed, a different thumb safety and hammer also a new trigger and "Trigger job". Had the barrel throat polished along with the feed ramp. All in all I think I had about $1100.00 in it when it was all done and said. Oh and I had meprolite night sights put on it as well. I carried that most of the time when I was working/loafing around and not actually on duty. It does pretty good.