Springfield 1911 question

[Desert Scorpion]

Hi, Looking to maybe get a 1911 pistol, I noticed on the new Springfield Armory GI model 1911 {Picture to left} an "Extension" of the grip exist on the back of the grip, however when looking at the original colt 1911 {Picture to right} I do not see this extension. Is this extension's historical or springfield changing things on the 1911 grip. Picture of extension shown below compared to a normal 1911. If historical which one is more modern A1-A2?

 

[Quack]

it's an arched mainspring housing.

 

[ugaarguy]

The Colt pictured is a WWI repro, which is a copy of the original M1911 (pre-A1). The SA GI pictured is styled like 1911A1. The extension you noticed is the arched mainspring housing, which was part of the A1 upgrades. The MSH was also smooth on the 1911, and grooved on the A1. If you look closely you'll see that there are two scallop cuts behind the trigger, and a shorter trigger on the SA 1911A1 clone. Both MSH types are historically correct. Almost all modern 1911s have the trigger relief cuts on the frame (originally added, along with short trigger, to reduce trigger reach for shooters with shorter fingers / smaller hands).

 

[mljdeckard]

It's the arched mainspring housing.

Original 1911s did not have it. In 1927, they made some recommendations to the design that were intended to improve performance by the average soldier. These included, a divot cut into the frame behind the trigger, a shorter trigger, and the bump on the mainspring housing. (I believe that the divot cut is the only way to tell a 1911A1 frame from a regular frame.) The intent was to raise the point of impact. They determined that most people who missed with the 1911 were missing low. They figured if they put that bump in there, it would force the aim higher. It's a part you can replace. If you order the (free) Brownell's 1911 catalog, you will see options for arched, flat, plastic, metal, checkered, with lanyard loop, or without. If you don't like the one you have, you can switch it out.

Notice the gun you show on the left has the arched MSH, and divot behind the trigger, it's made to represent a WWII era 1911Ai. This is how the military kept them until they were retired in 1985. (ish. My arms room still had them in 1993.)

I actually prefer the bump, but most guns made today don't have them. I haven't gotten around to switching it out yet.

 

[HAMMERDROP]

An answer could be ...

Scorp
A flat mainspring housing on the Colt versus an arched mainspring housing on the Springfield. I think, but could be wrong the original 1911-A1 as JMB designed it had an arched mainspring housing.
I like a flat MSH it handles for me better, but if your hands are large it would be undiscernable. I am not aware of historical implications of the arched or flat mainspring housing but I am not a historian, my guess would be by adding an arched MSH it would fill the paw more sufficiently providing more traction ?

Michael

 

[xXxplosive]

Have an original 1911 Circa 1918 with the traditional flat mainspring housing.....my Combat Commander Series 70 also has a flat mainspring housing which is checkered too. IMO, the FMH is much more comfortable when shooting the pistol.

 

[Desert Scorpion]

So both are are historical Which one is WWII style and which is WWI style. By reading the post here I see that the Springfield with the main spring arch is WWII and beyond and the one without it is pre WWII. Is that correct;
I want to know which one was more dominant in WWII?

 

[mljdeckard]

The flat one was pre-1927.