The 1911 - at least in its original calibers, the .45 and .38 Super - is extremely well balanced. It was ergonomic long before anyone coined the word, with a fine blend of power, handling qualities, accuracy, and concealability. It its day, it was a mechanical masterpiece, head and shoulders better than anything else. In the trenches of WWI the army discovered it was frequently more reliable than revolvers, which tended to get mud jammed in their cylinders.
I too own other pistols, but it is still a fine tool for many tasks. And in certain cases, in may help you get off the fastest, most accurate first few shots in a dire situation.
