Winchester67
Custom
Pieter, Wilson Combat made the checkering strip held on by the grips. Not as aggressive as "proper" checkering, but better than nothing. Once you have a 1911 with checkering or stippling, it is hard to go back.
Another vote for the arched mainspring housing, even though I started with a Gold Cup as my first 1911. I think that is how many gunsmiths in the early days made their guns look distinctive at a glance without a ton of shop time. Long triggers and flat mainspring housings. I always went with a long trigger, until I shot a short trigger that had been tuned. Unless you have really long fingers, a long trigger is simply not needed. We thought we liked them better because they had been tuned up. Tune up a short trigger and you will return to the short trigger!
Another vote for the arched mainspring housing, even though I started with a Gold Cup as my first 1911. I think that is how many gunsmiths in the early days made their guns look distinctive at a glance without a ton of shop time. Long triggers and flat mainspring housings. I always went with a long trigger, until I shot a short trigger that had been tuned. Unless you have really long fingers, a long trigger is simply not needed. We thought we liked them better because they had been tuned up. Tune up a short trigger and you will return to the short trigger!