Increasing Traction on 1911 Front and Back Strap

[patriot_man]

I was wondering if anyone has experience Checkering or Serrating or Stippling their 1911 front straps and back straps at home. Just need some help figuring out whether or not I should do it myself and how to do it.

Is it possible to do at home or is it better to send it off to get it checkered or serrated? What materials are needed and how do you do it? How would one stipple a 1911 front strap?


If other methods of increasing traction on the front and back strap are easier please chime in.

[esskay]

Non-invasive options:
* grip/skateboard tape
* Pachmayr rubber wrap around grip

See examples here

http://www.ericwesselman.com/store/store.html

[Mr. Beretta]

Unless you're an accomplished gunsmith I suggest leaving a job like that to a pro.

Having said that, save yourself allot of money & put a strip of skater tape on the front strap. That's what I've done for many years. It works great!

Good Luck!

[drunktank]

Also, the nice thing with grip tape is that you can switch around until you are comfortable with one.

[ojisan]

The classic fast-and-easy way to get more front strap traction is with a strip of skateboard tape.
For the 1911, there are a variety of pre-checkered mainspring housings out there that should be a drop in.
Stippling is done with a punch or file and hammer...this you need to practice first on scrap metal until you can do it consistently in the style you want.
Checkering...now there is the real thing!
Again, it is best to practice this on scrap metal first.
I did my own guns...a steel Para gunsmith frame and an aluminum frame Browning Buckmark.
The checkering files can be purchased from Brownell's.
The most important thing when checkering is making sure the very first lines you start are straight up and down, then perfectly 90 degrees side to side.
Brownell's also sells a checkering alignment jig for single stack 1911s.
For the two guns above, I made my own alignment jigs.
From there it is just lots of wrist work.
Aluminum frame was done in about 6 hours then cold-blacked, steel frame about three days 4-6 hours per day....but I did the front of the trigger guard too. This frame was then matt hard chrome plated by Tech Plate.
The classic fast-and-easy way to get more front strap traction is with a strip of skateboard tape.
For the 1911, there are a variety of pre-checkered mainspring housings out there that should be a drop in.
Stippling is done with a punch or file and hammer...this you need to practice first on scrap metal until you can do it consistently in the style you want.
Checkering...now there is the real thing!
Again, it is best to practice this on scrap metal first.
I did my own guns...a steel Para gunsmith frame and an aluminum frame Browning Buckmark.
The checkering files can be purchased from Brownell's.
The most important thing when checkering is making sure the very first lines you start are straight up and down, then perfectly 90 degrees side to side.
Brownell's also sells a checkering alignment jig for single stack 1911s.
For the two guns above, I made my own alignment jigs.
From there it is just lots of wrist work.
Aluminum frame was done in about 6 hours then cold-blacked, steel frame about three days 4-6 hours per day....but I did the front of the trigger guard too. This frame was then matt hard chrome plated by Tech Plate.

[Black Majik]

You could always do it yourself like this guy did.

[patriot_man]

Thanks for the response! I think I will put a strip of grip tape and in the meanwhile practice checkering and serrating.

Would you guys say serrating is easier then checkering? I don't mind either and I do think I am partial towards serrations.

You could always do it yourself like this guy did.

LOL. Anymore info how he did this?

[billgato]

I put skateboard tape on my 1911 about fifteen years ago and it's still in great shape (no sign of wear). The best part of it all is that I got that tape for free from a Van's store in the local mall from their discard pile. They just handed me large pieces of scrap grip tape and said that I could have it.

[Black Majik]

Skateboard tape is definitely the way to go.

LOL. Anymore info how he did this?

Knock yourself out, read all about his story of fail right here:

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=253660

[patriot_man]

Free hand checkering and on Valium

I definitely would have covered that up with some wrap around grips or grip tape...

[SVRider]

Definitely not the preferred way to do things, but if you want an inexpensive way to try out what front strap checkering would be like, these are only $10:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=531042

As others have mentioned, it is relatively inexpensive and simple to replace the mainspring housing with a unit that is already checkered....

HTH!

[ojisan]

You could always do it yourself like this guy did.

Step away from the tools NOW!