1911 grips: universal?

[bensdad]

Hi guys!
I grabbed a chunk of something (Purple heart? Bubinga? Wenge?) the other day at Rockler cuz it looked cool. The plan is to wafer out a bunch of 1911 grips.

Are they all the same (Colt, Springfield, STI, Kimber, etc.) in terms of size, dimentions, placement of screw holes, etc.? I"ve only got two examples to work from (an STI and an old Ranger Lite that says Federal Ordinance somewhere on the frame).

Thanks in advance for any and all info.

 

[JRH6856]

If you search on line, you won't find different grips listed for different brand 1911s. That should be a clue. Except "for compact" models with shortened grip frames, the dimensions are standardized.

 

[rcmodel]

That.

1911 grips fit all 'standard' 1911's.
(Unless the brand of 1911 isn't in spec to a true Colt or mil-spec 1911.)

Officers models, round butt grips, Bobtail grips, etc, does not apply.

Just so you know:
A proper left grip should be inletted to cover the safety slide stop spring housing on the left side.
(to hold it down if the staking comes un-staked.)

And notched to just clear the mag catch notch on the right side.

The screw counter-sinks should be drilled so the screws bottom out in the grips, and not on the tops of the grip screw bushings.
(To keep the screws from galling to the bushings and taking them out of the frame the first time the grip screws are removed,)

And that will be your biggest challenge.
Today's non mil-spec grip-screw bushings come in more varieties & heights then Ben & Jerry's ice cream!

rc

 

[bensdad]

(To keep the screws from galling to the bushings and taking them out of the frame the first time the grip screws are removed,)

Yeah. When I pulled the grips off the Fed. Ord. gun, the bushings popped out. I'll be careful. I wonder if a guy could put a little tiny washer in there?

Thanks for the wisdom folks! rcmodel, you should write a book. Seriously.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

I suggest you visit some 1911 specific Forums to get your database built about making grips for the guns. There are Subforums specifically about parts and grips with plenty of advice about home grown grip making.
There are lots of details that can trip a noob gripmaker up. Just knowing the proper terminology for the guns parts can help. Like knowing that the part on the left side the grip needs to overlap is called the plunger tube.
Joe

 

[herrwalther]

Aside some unusual examples such as 1911s that use Polymer frames or their own type of grip, 1911 grips are fairly universal. Even double stack 1911s use the same grip panels as their single action counterparts.

 

[bigfatdave]

Even double stack 1911s use the same grip panels as their single action counterparts.

No. Doublestack does not take the same grips as singlestack in many (most?) cases.

===

Safe to treat as "standard":
Full Size frame, singlestack, not bobtailed
Officer size frame, singlestack, not bobtailed (bobbing a compact isn't common, as far as I know)

That leaves you some options:
Normal width / slimline
(slim grips have a standard size and different screws/bushings to match, I like them, personally - and no, slimline grips don't cover the plunger tube, so you have to check it once a cleaning, NBD)

Beveled bottom / squared bottom
(square bottom goes with a magwell, some people just like it alone, I'm neutral on this one)

Normal shape / Mag catch ramp
(look at MagPul grips for an extreme example of the "ramp" that I'm probably calling the wrong name)

GI safety cut / Ambi safety cut / the other type of ambi safety cut
(There are a couple ways to keep the right side {left handed} safety lever from falling out - some types use a paddle/fin that slides in a cutout made in the right side grip, some use an extended sear pin with a notch, and the paddle/fin rides in that extended pin's notch)

GI top contour / extended controls top contour
(some people like to have huge levers for their thumb safety and slide latch, and some of those big silly paddles can hit the grips preventing travel unless the grips are cut out to accomodate)

 

[Chocolate Bayou]

1911 grips

just go to www.vzgrips.com. They have all the dimensions for full size commanders etc. You can get with notch for mag release beveled edges , rounded butts, everything you want and hundreds of choices of colors and designs. Check them out.

 

[bensdad]

Wow. $65 for some basic rosewood.

No, I have the purpleheart - and the skills. Just don't know anything about 1911 grips. rcmodel and others took care of that. Will post pics when done.

 

[Ron James]

If you have worked with exotic wood before then there is no need to warn you to be careful, ,you already know the wood dust can have long term health effects. Sorry if I'm preaching to the choir

 

[bensdad]

Yeah, it can be pretty bad. I mask up, but never cover skin (although I know i should). Buddy of mine has the "itchy-arms" from careless use of some exotics.

Funny thing is, I think purpleheart smells like heaven (as it's being cut), but I know if I can smell it, it's making me sick

 

[sauer1911]

What I learned from building a set of grips is, when you cut your blanks tape them together and drill the holes at the same time. I did them one at a time and one side was a tiny bit off.

I used some flamed mahogany and it came out pretty cool.

be safe

 

[Ed Ames]

The single stacks are the same.

Double stacks are NOT. E.g. Para and RIA double stacks are very similar, but the screw spacing is slightly different. Close enough you can put a rubber hogue P14 grip on a RIA, but far enough that the upper screw looks goofy.

 

[rcmodel]

What I learned from building a set of grips is, when you cut your blanks tape them together and drill the holes at the same time. I did them one at a time and one side was a tiny bit off.

If you plan on making more then one set?

Save yourself a lot of grief and take the time to make a steel pattern / template / hole jig first!

rc

 

[Greg528iT]

Save yourself a lot of grief and take the time to make a steel pattern / template / hole jig first!

For sure.

Getting the counter sinks located and drilled is the hardest part. Look online for 1911 blue prints. They will give the size and location. Note the inside countersink is a different size than the one on the outside. I've resorted to grinding on a brad point bit or 2.

[/URL][/IMG]
Drilling this I realized my drill press spindle was farther out of whack than I thought.

[/URL][/IMG]