I’d not done any comparisons between my 1911s, so I decided to look at them (against each other) last week.
I found that my Metro Arms Commander lacks a magazine well. I also found that both of my Rock Island Armory 1911s have plastic mainspring housings.
Magazine wells and metal mainspring housings aren’t essential but they do heighten the ownership experience. Up until I read that tactical RIAs had plastic mainspring housings, I didn’t know and it didn’t bother me. Having a magazine well helps in inserting magazines and I hadn’t noticed the lack of the well, since I have less than 100 rounds through my American Classic…still, I did not notice that it lacked a mag well when I last shot it.
So, I’m probably going to buy a blued mag well for the American Classic and two mainspring housings for both of my tactical RIA 1911s…just for the hell of it.