Fitting the 19-20 grips to your frame. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 1
1. All guns are always loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. 4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. - Jeff Cooper Unload the pistol and verify the chamber is empty. During the grip installation process you will want to inspect the fit of the grips on the frame from many different angles. In order to do this safely, the slide should be removed from the frame. It is recommended that the grips be installed by a qualified gunsmith. This product is sold as is and without any warranty. No liability is expressed or implied for damage or injury which may result from improper installation or use of this product. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 2
Due to variations in 1911 frames, especially in the trigger guard area, it is impossible to have a one size fits all grip that would look good and fit properly on all frames. The picture on the left shows a grip that has been fit to a frame with a stock trigger guard, but installed on a gun with an undercut trigger guard. The picture on the right is the same undercut frame with a properly fitted grip. In contrast, a grip fit to a gun with an undercut trigger guard won t even go on a stock frame. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 3
You don t need any special tools for this job. The plastic is relatively soft, and it doesn t take much effort to remove the material. A dremel is not required, but it will speed up the process a little bit. I will only use the dremel for bulk material removal. Once I get close, I switch to the files. If you don t have files, you can use sandpaper or emery cloth. You will also need a grease pencil or permanent marker to mark the grips. If you decide to use a permanent marker, make sure you have some acetone to remove the ink once you are done. You only get one chance to do this right, but you will see this every time you pick up your gun. Go slowly, take your time, and check the fit often. If you get aggressive and remove too much material, you can t put it back! Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 4
To begin the fitting process, line up the grip screw bushings with the holes in the grip, and place the grip on the frame as far as it will go (do not use force.) Look at the bottom of the trigger guard and see where the grip is hitting the frame. Take your grease pencil and mark where you want to start removing material from the grip. Pay attention to the shape of the frame and trigger guard. For a seamless fit, when you are done with the material removal, the shape of the grip will match the shape of the frame. In the picture on the left, the undercut trigger guard is fairly flat. The trigger guard on the right hasn t been undercut, and the bottom of the trigger guard has a radius to it. Now that you have an idea of where to begin, let s start cutting on the grip. I ll say it again, go slowly and take your time. I will only use the dremel to take a rough cut, and I ll stay back from the line so there is no chance of going too far. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 5
As you are working on fitting your grips, keep in mind that only the outer surface of your grip is going to be visible when the work is done. If you cut away too much from the back side of the grip, it will not show. Take a look at this grip that has been fit and you will see that to clear the frame, more material must be removed from the inside of the grip than on the outer face. After removing some material, put the grip back on the frame and check your progress. Don t be afraid to re-mark as you proceed. Your pencil mark may need to change as the grip gets closer to its final fit on the frame. A needle file will come in handy to get a nice radius in the corner, if required by the shape of your frame. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 6
If you have a nice tight fit at the bottom, but there is a gap at the top, part of the grip is still hitting the frame. Keep looking for spots where there might be interference. If you go slowly and you are careful with your work, you will be rewarded with a nice fitting pair of grips. The picture below shows a grip that has been fit to a stock frame (left), a grip fit to a frame with an undercut trigger guard (middle), and an unmodified grip. This is for reference only. It is unlikely that your grip will look like either of these options, because every frame is different. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 7
A few more things need to be checked now that you re done with the fitting. Make sure that the grips don t interfere with the operation of your thumb safety. Depending on the size and shape of your magazine release button, you may need to clearance that area of the grip. You might also consider an extended magazine release, if it helps you reach the button. You will probably need to blend the inside of the Magwell to your frame. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 8
Below is a picture of a set that has been stippled and a set with grip tape installed. Fitting the 19-20 Grips www.dsperman.com Page 9