You'll get no complaints from me about Ol' Slabsides. Tried and true design. I've carried, done chores and took naps with one cocked and locked in a proper holster. Call me an old fart if you want to, but if I need a big gun, this is the one for me.
If you're stupid (apologies to who this applies to) dont buy a 1911. As with all guns, KEEP YOUR FINGER OUT OF THE TRIGGER GUARD!!!!! And don't try to lower the hammer on a live round. Remove the magazine and rack the slide to eject the live round in the pipe. Repeat racking slide (I do it 3 times for any semi auto) and visually check the breach to be sure it's empty.
Safety? If you have a Colt series 80 or Kimber series II, did you know that there are 4 SAFETIES?
1. External Thumb Safety
2. Grip Safety
3. Firing pin Safety
4. Your index finger. Keep it off of the trigger.
How many safeties does a Glock have? Kahr? Our beloved R9? Not as many as the 1911. It amazes me how people seem to think that these modern weapons are somehow safer.
PLUS, how many of you can completely take apart a modern handgun down to the bare frame and put it back together? You can with a 1911. You're not even supposed to take a Glock apart or all those parts will go boing across the room. Says so in the Glock manual. You're supposed to take it to a Glock armorer or some such nonsense.
If you are gadget shy and dont like mechanical things, don't buy a 1911. It's the most simple yet sophisticated design for a handgun ever designed.