Fitting Wood Grips to the PT1911

[KFlood]

Ok - This goes out to everyone who has replaced the plastic grips with a nice pair of wood grips. I got a great set of walnut grips & I noticed that I cant get the ambi saftey to disengauge with the wood grips on. They are a little long and thick at the top. So, I need to know what did you guys with wood grpis do to get them to fit your PT1911 with the stock ambi saftey? Whats the best way to fit them, without me butchering them up. :butthead:

As always, everyones input is greatly apreciated!!!!! :)

[DuckRyder]

I don't have a PT1911, but from your description that isn't a make specific problem, it applies to most stocks with most extended ambi safeties...

We discussed it just a bit here...

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=29017

HTH...

[Mike1951]

Most grip makers are aware of ambi safeties and it is just a matter of specifying that you have an ambi safety when you place the order.

I would try to get my hands on a properly relieved grip panel to use as a guide when working on yours.

[CreapyCrawler]

I got a set from Cheaper than Dirt for ambidextrous safety and they fit with no problem. The ambidextrous safety grips have a relief cutout for the safety on the right grip.

[DuckRyder]

It sounds from his original post as if the problem is the top, not the lack of an ambi notch on the right stock panel.

Looking at pictures of original PT1911 stocks they appear to be relieved on the top of the right grip panel and a bit further forward on the left than is typical.

FWIW

[KFlood]

It sounds from his original post as if the problem is the top, not the lack of an ambi notch on the right stock panel.

FWIW
DuckRyder is correct. I purchased the grips because they came with the ambi notch pre-cut into the grips. The issue is with the lack of relief at the top part of the grips to get the saftey to disengauage. And from looking at the Taurus girps, they have a relief cut at the top of both the left & right grip panel. I know what needs to be done to get the grips to work on the pistol. I just need you guys to tell me how with out destroying the grips. Oh the life of an 1911 owner. I guess it could be worst. I could own a Jennings :D

[jpwilly]

I've releived grip pannels with a dremel tool a bench grinder and sand paper...just depends on the amount of material that needs removed. You would be surprised at how well a bench grinder will cut the notch and then some hand sanding will clean it up...just go really slow.

[DuckRyder]

KFlood,

I picked up a small set of "hobby" files at Lowes. Following Joni Lynn's instructions I was able to do a decent job on a set of Ahrends using the files and a wood dowel wrapped with sandpaper.

Definitely follow her advice and file from the outside in (or always away from the finished side) and it is probably helpful to use tape to cover the area you do not wish to modify.

I am sure that there are faster ways, but it worked for me with good results and reasonable expenditures.

[KFlood]

KFlood,

I picked up a small set of "hobby" files at Lowes. Following Joni Lynn's instructions I was able to do a decent job on a set of Ahrends using the files and a wood dowel wrapped with sandpaper.

Definitely follow her advice and file from the outside in (or always away from the finished side) and it is probably helpful to use tape to cover the area you do not wish to modify.

I am sure that there are faster ways, but it worked for me with good results and reasonable expenditures.

Hey DR,

I took the plunge & went to Home Depot and got a set of wood files & slowly relived the top parts of the grips. They turned out pretty good with a coat of TRU OIL after I was done. Took all of 30 minutes to do. Thanks to everyone for their advice. Ill post picks of my Taurus on the this forums Gun Porn Thread. :D

[gthalgott]

I got some cheap walnut grips from the gun show that weren't pre-cut for ambi-safeties. I was able to make them work using just the file that is on my Leatherman tool. A Dremel or bench grinder would have been much faster, but my little file worked alright. If you look at it close you can see that I wasn't able to put a lot of "polish" into my filing job, but the walnut looks fantastic on the gun and like I said, you can't see my poor workmanship unless you are looking for it.

[sprice1973]

I am with jpwilly,dremel ,and a bit of patients,and they will turn out nice!!

[Hoffy]

I used my wife's nail file. I took a little more off than I needed to, but I don't see it as a problem (a blind man riding on a dark horse around midnight would never know they didn't come out of the factory that way!).