[Monadh]

I have to say, the more I look at the Valor, the more impressed I am with it. The quality of workmanship is exceptional, and I just had to break it down for a little cleaning and to look further at it. This was somewhat nerve racking, as I did not want to put an idiot scratch on it so soon after bringing it home. It was a bear to put back together, but no idiot scratch.

I don't know why, but I draw more comfort from carrying a 1911 that I do from carrying anything else, including a rifle. When we lived in Memphis I carried my Kimber Eclipse every day. I practiced with it a minimum of 200 rounds per week and sometimes as many as 500, for several months after I bought it. It racked up some serious mileage in short order and proved itself to be reliable and very, very, very accurate. I knew where it would hit at any given distance out to 50 yards and I felt confident that if the worst occurred, I was well armed. I loved that pistol from the moment I saw it in its plastic bag soaked in oil, but it has been co-opted by my son as an early graduation present. I have confidence that it will protect my son now. But giving it to him was how I justified the Valor.

I have to say that I had the same feeling about the Valor from the moment I saw it. I could not believe my incredible good fortune at seeing not one but two black Valors in the case. It was a rare occurrence that I was in the right place at the right time. I handled them both and then chose the tighter of the two. My Valor is everything that others have said a Valor should be, and unless something unexpected happens, this is the pistol I will carry from here on out.

I will let you know how it shoots as I break it in. I can't wait.