Don't own a RIA, but got an opportunity to examine one, and take it to the range. It was the compact model, all steel. The pistol looked good inside, well fitted and minimal tool marks. At the range, it fed both hardball and my 200gr LSWC bullets without a hitch. It shot to point of aim, and had a pretty decent trigger. Only two things I didn't like were the sights. It has the standard GI dovetail rear and the tiny staked in front. They are less than practical for a defensive pistol. The other was the finish and grips. The price out the door was about $400. If it were mine, I would want the Novak sights and a hard chrome finish applied. That would mean another $250 invested in the gun, for a ready to go price of about $650. For that money I could buy a compact in SS with decent sights. Guess if I could live with the finish, I could reduce that by $150. That would get you into a pretty decent compact 1911 with usable sights for around $475. If you look at it that way, it's a bargain!
Savage