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1911 Grip angle

22K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  partsproduction 
#1 ·
I know this was posted somewhere but I can't find it. What is the grip angle of the 1911? I know that the S&W M&P adopted this angle and if my memory serves me correctly, H&K USPs also copied the same angle. The numbers 11, 13 and 18 come to mind. Am I close?
 
#4 ·
Before ergonomics was a word, John M. Browning understood it. The 11* angle of barrel to grip on his Model of 1911 is well nigh perfect for the human wrist and hand.

from the Fall 2007, Combat Tactics, page 78. The issue has 24 pages on the history of the 1911
 
#7 ·
Well, since the 1911 is obviously the standard, I submit that we might ought to refer to its grip angle simply as "Zero Angle," and express the grip angles of lesser, I mean other, pistols in relative terms, e.g. ZA +5 degrees.:dope:
 
#10 · (Edited)
Just for a little clarification since some guys mention a variance of 100+ degrees. I suck at geometry, but I do know how to use a degree wheel for cam timing.

I will try and explain it using a clock method

0* = 6 o'clock
90* = 9 o'clock
180* = 12 o'clock
270* = 3 o'clock
360* = 6 o'clock

If your barrel is horizontal to 3 o'clock or at 270* Your grip angle will be 11* off zero*

if you rotate the degree wheel and your barrel is at 0* horizontal, Vertical would be 90* plus 11* Total angle would give you 101*

Hope that makes sense.
 
#14 ·
My knowledge being limited to what I find in reference materials, here is what I found. Kuhnhausen book II page 71, from the axis of the barrel, past 90 degrees, 14 degrees 45 minutes for the front strap, 23 degrees past 90 for the back strap. 90 + 14:45 is 104:45 degrees. 90 + 23 is 113 degrees. But maybe I'm looking at the drawing wrong somehow.
But the drawing in PDF form in 1911.org shows 17 degrees 30 minutes for the FS, that's 107 degrees 30 minutes, and the backstrap at 22 degrees 30 minutes which is 112 degrees 30 minutes of course. Why the discrepancy?
 
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