Closed 1911 frame?

[dwightlooi]

Does anyone know if there exist "closed" 1911 frames?

What I mean is that instead of the sides of the grip frame being open and needing grip panels, the frame is simply closed and perhaps stippled or checkered. This will allow the gun to be used without grip panels for a slimmer profile. There may still exist the grip screw stud holes if case you want to install grips, but grips become optional and these can be normally filled with flush screws. The only penalty really will be a little extra weight, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

[wamphyri13]

My Para SSP only has a hole about the size of a dime in the grip area. Other than that, it's solid.
Ryan

[Brian1979]

Do you have the worlds smallest man hands? If a 1911 is too fat to hold for you that would be a shocker. Why not try thin grip panels?

http://wilsoncombat.com/new/handgun-spec-ops-9.asp

http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/24/featured_handguns_wilsonkz45_032807/

[FXR]

You could remove the bushings and make custom screws that screwed into the bushing holes, and use them to attach very thin carbon fiber or aluminum panels.

[tileguy]

ATI makes a 1911 as you describe is. its called the fat boy, 12 rds and a 10rd model. grip diameter smaller than standard 1911.. ive seen them for under 650.00

[tileguy]

the reviews i have read are good.

[tileguy]

ATI is american tactical imports

[dwightlooi]

Do you have the worlds smallest man hands? If a 1911 is too fat to hold for you that would be a shocker. Why not try thin grip panels?

http://wilsoncombat.com/new/handgun-spec-ops-9.asp

http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/2...onkz45_032807/

No, I don't. But given that a 1911's slide is only 0.9" wide. It seems like a waste to have the grips fatten the gun so much especially when designs like the PPS bend over backwards to get down to 1" in width. It is not so much a grasp issue, but that I believe there exist a niche for very slender pistols (for concealment or shooter comfort or both). And, the 1911 seems so perfect in this regard until you slap two grip panels on there.

[RRichie09]

15 or 20 years ago, I had a Colt Lightweight Officers ACP lightly customized (beavertail, night sights, speed safety, Heinie recoil spring plug, et cetera) by Don Schaaf. I had the Don use the factory stocks as a pattern and cut some thin aluminum sheet metal into the shape of the stocks. He deburred the edges, bead blasted them, removed the pistol's stock screw bushings, and then we glued them to the frame. Their purpose was to just cover up the holes in the sides of the frame. This worked fine and, since they were cut to allow access to the mainspring housing retention pin, they didn't interfere with detail stripping the pistol.

THAT is as FLAT as one is going to get. The glued on panels were .040" each and, with them in place, the butt was only .830" thick. Contrast that with the approx 1.250" of a 1911 with GI-pattern stocks.

Rick Miller wrote up this little blaster for Harris' "Custom Combat Handguns" annual 1995.

Later, I popped them off and installed a set of the AFS Slim-Tech stocks. These are almost as flat as the glued-on panels and, if it matters, look a lot nicer.

Rosco

From 1911Forum

[Shuban]

ATI is american tactical imports

Agree.

[MA2]

Would be a cool project for you, just custom cut the thinnest aluminum/wood/plastic you can find.

Or run it grip less, countersunk when the magazine is inserted.
I have a long term (way too long) project gun I take out sometimes, you get some looks sometimes, but I don't care.