How 'bout the gun looks the way John Jardine designed it, exactly to his taste and the marketplace. It's not a copy of anything but all the 1911's that have come before. I'm sure you didn't mean to cast aspersions. After all, the Valtro will never be a BCP Custom.
I've talked to John and I know how the gun came to be. It's an interesting story if you have a chance to hear it from him sometime. Basically, he was introduced to the Italian firm by a wealthy world traveller and shooting enthusiast.
The Italians were going in a completely different direction until John visited their facility for a few days and suggested that a production 1911 with custom features, forged 4130 frame and slide, accurate with great fit and finish would sell in the U.S. and elsewhere. Especially at $1200.
According to John, each shipment requires less and less attention from him before shipping to his customers. As someone has said, John is a perfectionist and he won't send out something that's not right.
The Valtro is well on its way to fulfulling its promise of a high quality production gun.