A circuit interrupter having a housing within which components of the circuit interrupter are contained, the circuit interrupter comprising: a line terminal connectable to a source of electrical power; a load terminal connectable to a load; a stationary contact positioned on a first plate; a moveable contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact arm having a moveable contact positioned at the first end, said moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact by movement of said moveable contact arm, characterised in that it further comprises: a linkage coupled to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said linkage being rigidly affixed to each other such that they are immovable with respect to each other; a handle provided to rotate about a handle pivot point and including an elongated portion coupled to said linkage via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis (142, 142') defined between the handle axis and the linkage pivot point; a moveable contact pivot connected to the first end of said moveable contact arm and a channel within which the moveable contact pivot is positioned, wherein movement of said moveable contact arm between open and closed positions causes said moveable contact pivot to slide from one end of said channel to an opposite end of said channel, and wherein the moveable contact arm and the linkage have a longitudinal axis defined between the linkage pivot point and the moveable contact pivot; wherein when the contacts are in the open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and wherein when the contacts are in the closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion. a line terminal connectable to a source of electrical power; a load terminal connectable to a load; a stationary contact positioned on a first plate; a moveable contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact arm having a moveable contact positioned at the first end, said moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact by movement of said moveable contact arm, characterised in that it further comprises: a linkage coupled to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said linkage being rigidly affixed to each other such that they are immovable with respect to each other; a handle provided to rotate about a handle pivot point and including an elongated portion coupled to said linkage via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis (142, 142') defined between the handle axis and the linkage pivot point; a moveable contact pivot connected to the first end of said moveable contact arm and a channel within which the moveable contact pivot is positioned, wherein movement of said moveable contact arm between open and closed positions causes said moveable contact pivot to slide from one end of said channel to an opposite end of said channel, and wherein the moveable contact arm and the linkage have a longitudinal axis defined between the linkage pivot point and the moveable contact pivot; wherein when the contacts are in the open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and wherein when the contacts are in the closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion. a linkage coupled to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said linkage being rigidly affixed to each other such that they are immovable with respect to each other; a handle provided to rotate about a handle pivot point and including an elongated portion coupled to said linkage via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis (142, 142') defined between the handle axis and the linkage pivot point; a moveable contact pivot connected to the first end of said moveable contact arm and a channel within which the moveable contact pivot is positioned, wherein movement of said moveable contact arm between open and closed positions causes said moveable contact pivot to slide from one end of said channel to an opposite end of said channel, and wherein the moveable contact arm and the linkage have a longitudinal axis defined between the linkage pivot point and the moveable contact pivot; wherein when the contacts are in the open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and wherein when the contacts are in the closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and the linkage is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion.