Kinda newbie 1911 question

[Jart]

After getting "hooked" on 1911's recently, I tried to satisfy some curiosty on the history of the beast.

The changes from the 1911 to 1911A1 were easy to find - seems most modern versions incorporate all the "A1" mods. Except one.

Why did the arched mainspring housing fall out of favor? I haven't seen it much on "modern" 1911's. Not that I've seen that many, but Wilson and Kimber seem to all be "flat" MSH's.

Sorry for the newbie question.

 

[Rival]

I have a Springfield that also happen to have a flat MSH... I know one thing - you can always change it to arched one with no problems.

As far as falling out of favor, I am not sure... Maybe it was done for looks - I like the way my gun looks with a flat MSH. It gives the gun this distinctive square look... Flat MSH just looks plain better with those classic 1911 grips and everything else.

 

[dsk]

The arched housing was introduced in 1924 because shooters of the day were habituated to the barrel-to-grip angle of revolvers, and to many the 1911 pointed too low. Of course nowadays most folks are used to the grip angle of a 1911, and the concensus seems to be that the flat housing feels better in the hand. I seem to be the only guy on the planet who can live with any combination of long or short trigger, arched or flat housing on a 1911.