Looking at getting my first 1911 and the Rock Island Armory standard seems high enough for me at this point. I actually like the flat mainspring housing, the military sights, and simple grips. But when I handled one at my (LGS) local gun store, I thought it seemed a bit bulkier than my neighbor's genuine "US Property" marked 1911 (ca. 1945). Could it be the RIA's clunky wooden grips versus the checkered plastic milspec on the original I handled? Or are the dimensions of the RIA pistol different? And isn't the original a seven-round in the magazine versus the RIA eight-round?

Thanks!

Zieg

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Zieg
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Mom always said, "Don't fix bayonets in the house!"

It was likely the wood grips. Frame should be identical dimensionally.
They can get eight rounds to fit in a standard mag with an altered (different) follower.

I have three of them, the milsurp, the tactical(my favorite), and the compact. All are made to 1911 specs. I have installed milspec fire control parts from Cylinder & Slide and ambi safeties from Kimber, all fit like a glove. It's hard to beat in that price range!!