1911 Government Model

100th Anniversary Limited Edition  

Parts Comparison - Early 1911 & 1911A1

Click photos for more detail.
 

	The top slide is a 1911A1 and the bottom is the 1911. Note the differences in the front sights.
	The left hammer is a 1911A1 and the right is the 1911. Note the wide spur and finer checkering on the 1911 hammer.
	The left grip safety is a 1911 and the right is the 1911A1. Note the very short spur on the 1911.
	The top barrel is a 1911 and the bottom barrel is a 1911A1. Note the much steeper relief under the locking lugs on the 1911 barrel.
	The slide on the top is the 1911A1 and the slide on the bottom is the 1911. Note that the rear sight blade on the 1911 is narrower and rounded on the top.
	The front slide relief cut on the top slide is a 1911 and the bottom is a 1911A1. Note the much sharper rear radius on the relief cut on the 1911 slide.
	The ejection port shown on the top is the 1911 and the bottom is the later 1911A1.  Note the very small opening on the 1911 ejection port.
	The thumb safety on the left is the later 1911A1 with the wider thumb piece and the thumb safety on the right is the early 1911 with the narrow thumb piece.
	The slide stop on the left is the early 1911 one with the checkered thumb piece. The slide stop on the right is the 1911A1 with the serrated thumb piece.
	The trigger on the left is the early 1911 one piece with the long finger piece. The trigger on the right is the 1911A1 two piece with the short finger piece.
	The slide on the top is the 1911A1 and the bottom is the 1911. Note the much larger radius and the thinner blade on the 1911.
	The recoil spring guide on the left is the 1911 and the recoil spring guide on the right is the 1911A1. Note that the ears on the recoil plate on the 1911 are much taller.
	The thumb safety on the left is the 1911A1 and the right is the very early 1911. Note that the thumb piece on the 1911 sets on a raised pad and that is it narrower front to back as well as being sharp on the corners of the thumb piece.
	The slide stop on the left is the early 1911 and the slide stop on the right is the later 1911. Note that the early 1911 slide stop had the thumb piece and checkering angled to match the top of the slide stop edge leaving a triangular flat under the thumb piece. The later slide stops had the thumb piece angled to match the bottom edge of the slide stop. It was much easier and faster to manufacture the later one.
	The magazine catch on the left is a 1911A1 and the magazine catch on the right is the 1911. Note that the 1911 magazine catch lock slot is much longer on the 1911 and there is no tab lock slot on it
	The trigger on the left is the early 1911 long one piece trigger with the smooth face and the right trigger is the 1911A1 short two piece trigger with the knurled face. The early 1911 trigger was milled from one piece of steel. The 1911A1 trigger finger piece was stamped and folded around a separate trigger bow stamping.
	The left firing pin stop is a 1911 and the right is a 1911A1. Note the difference in the radiuses on the bottom of them. The bottom of the stops is facing each other.
	The magazine catch lock on the left is the later 1911 catch lock and the right one is the very early 1911 catch lock. Note that there is no screw driver slot in the very early 1911 catch lock. You had to push the magazine catch on the early 1911 completely to the right and then twist it clock wise to remove the magazine catch from the frame. The magazine catch lock popped out of the magazine catch when it released and was easily lost. It was also very difficult to reinstall the magazine catch assembly into the frame.
	The trigger on the left is a 1911A1 and the right isa 1911 one piece trig­ger. This photo is to show you the stamped end folded finger piece and the crimp that attaches it to the bow. Note the 1911 one piece trigger has lightening cuts in the finger piece.
	The slide on the left is a 1911 and the right is a 1911A1. You will see that the 1911 rear sight was much smaller, rounded on the top, and has a very small sighting notch.