I so admire the "Ruger concept", good looks, excellent sights, good handling and more than decent accuracy coupled with affordable price and several generation ruggedness. Now THAT is a concept!
When it comes to handguns, my choice will always be a Ruger for all of the above reasons. It's the package. Colt's may be a bit prettier, they may feel a bit better, but the sights are not great (unless you have a New Frontier) and they regularly break unless you have an expensive makeover. Many, many Colts have such bad chamber throat sizes (too large and there is no cure for that other than a new cylinder).
I'll tell you what, you can have the romance, I'll take performance.
Heading for the bomb shelter...
Hey, fellers, to each his own. Buy and use what you prefer. I am a live and let live guy, after all (at least mostly :mrgreen
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Dale53