Les Baer 1911's

[ClayBreaker]

I'm thinking about picking up a quality 1911 in the future and have been looking at Les Baer. The only downside I see is maybe the grip frame being bigger than standard 1911's. Does anyone have experience with them? I like giving my guns a little character and grips are something I like to change. I'll be honest if standard grips are too small then I'm crossing it off the list and will look for a used Ed Brown Special forces. Let me know please! Other forums are all over the place with this.

[offrdmania]

I dont think you have anything to worry about. Frames are all over the place for many manufacturers, especially if the front strap is checkered. I cant tell you how many thin and thick front straps ive had on Colts.

[acaligunner]

https://youtu.be/Hsk3aNYlxiI?si=By-BSeEDVYXFnWLt

[D1911]

I think Baer changed the profile of their grip frames to more like the other manufacturers. In the past, they were a bit longer front to back and some companies even made specific grips for the Baer because of the difference. My recent production LB Custom Carry feels and looks like the other 1911s in my collection.

[SkyHawk]

You can still use standard grips on Baers, no big deal. You will hardly notice the difference. I would show you a pic but this forum has made searching individual threads impossible since the "upgrade".

[ClayBreaker]

Nice! Thank you all for the replies. I do feel better about it. Even if it's a small difference. I wasn't able to open Calguns all day since posting this thread due to timing out, so I'm barely getting to see the replies.

[Weezard]

I have a Les Baer I bought 10+ years ago. This is the first time I'm hearing about a grip size difference, but this makes sense. I put Hogue grips on it that wrap around the front and I had trouble getting them to fit. After some research I found out you can cut the plastic supports that go across the front of the grips to get them to stretch. I did this and got the grips to fit.

[Snoopy47]

I have Colt's, Springfields, Les Baers. I've swapped my grips interchangeably to suit my tastes for any given moment. The grip screw locations are all relatively the same. Panel grips will fit without any issue. If there is any size difference it will be hardly noticeable.

Wrap around grips? All of those will have a variation between the grip tolerance itself and the gun tolerance itself. I can understand the utility of rubber wrap arounds. However, on a top tier 1911?????? yuck :-)

What I'm a fan of now is going to VZ grips, and I changed out my screw bushings for THIN GRIPS.

I'll also mention, I have more than a few Les Baers. I have newer ones (Iowa), and older ones (Illinois). Like I said, everyone uses the same bushing patterns. CMP GI 1911 grips will even work.

[Weezard]

Wrap around grips? All of those will have a variation between the grip tolerance itself and the gun tolerance itself. I can understand the utility of rubber wrap arounds. However, on a top tier 1911?????? yuck :-)

I have sensitive hands ok?

[boltstop]

I have 1911s from Springfield, Kimber, Dan Wesson as well as Les Baer. If there are differences in grip dimensions, they are very slight indeed. And grip panels are definitely interchangeable.

[mlazarus5388]

The Les Baer are quality and if you can get one for retail, a pretty good buy in the semi-production category.

[SDDAVE56]

One thing I noticed with my Les Baer, is that it fits really tight in my Privateer Leather holster. My other 1911's all fit snugly in that same holster. So, there that.

[newbie1234]

I had 1911 RIA, Springfield, Kimber, Les Baer. I install and change grips on RIA, Springfield, Kimber, but I keep the Les Baer AS IS. Tell you the true I never pay attention that Les Baer grips is smaller/bigger. All the 1911 OEM grips looks the same to me.

[1911whore]

You have nothing to worry about. I’ve had them all and now days any aftermarket grips should work just fine.

[static2126]

I have a baer with 1.5 inch guarantee it is my only 1911

This was shot at 40 yards and the top 3 rounds are my mistake on hold. This could have been all in the black of a b8 at 40 yards offhand

100% worth the money