Thanks all. I am looking forward to sending some lead downrange with it. I have a Wilson Combat Professional bobtail that I never carry as it has sentimental value. Call me silly, but I wore that to my wedding and as a result it's sort of sacred to me now. I do take it to the range periodically and run some rounds through it, though. :)
I was able to pick the Specialist up as a slightly used firearm from an individual seller out of state for about $300 off of retail, which seemed like too good of a deal to pass up. That said, Daniel at Guns & Leather said that Dan Wesson 1911s are probably the best non-custom 1911s you can buy right now. Without spending Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, Republic Forge money, this was the best 1911 I felt that I could buy at the moment.
More to come!