Kimber's and Beavertails.

[Mr. Joshua]

Is there such a thing as a true "drop-in" beavertail for a Kimber that fits and matches it well without any real modification? I.e. how Wilson Combat has drop-in's for Colt frames that don't require any gunsmithing. I'm not fond of the factory Kimber grip safety, and want something else.

TIA for any info.

[1911su16b870]

I am also interested in obtaining an answer to this. I purchased a Wilson "drop in" grip safety for a Colt Combat Commander, and it definitely will require some fitting.

[ar15barrels]

I seriously doubt that any drop-in beavertail would work nearly as well as a properly installed beavertail where the frame is cut.
There's just no way to not have big gaps when the beavertail moves if there is still some of the frame hanging back behind the grip safety pivot point.

[crob241]

beavertail

Most of the beavertail safeties require fitting with a jig to come out right We use several different ones on the 1911`s we build, Wilson, Brown and Swenson, plus I use the Wilson jig. Now don`t laugh but Sarco used to stock one made by Colt that was a drop in, it had the palm swell but no memory groves. thnx

[IdpaSteve]

I used a STI on My TLE RL2,
the beavertail fit fine, but I
did need to modify the rear
of the safety to match.

No frame mods though...

Steve

[Kruzr]

Only a Kimber grip safety will drop in and be blended with a Kimber frame. They do offer both the regular palm swell one and one with a memory bump now. Keep in mind that if you measure a memory bump GS and measure the palm swell Kimber one, you'll find that they both stick back from the frame by about the same amount.

Also bear in mind that many drop-ins, including the the Wilson's need to have the blocking arm of the GS fit to the trigger bow. They include a small directions card to show you where to file them to fit.

[saki302]

certain GSs require much more than cutting with a jig to fit- the Ed Brown comes to mind..

-Dave

[pklin1297]

I have an earlier Kimber when it looked like CMC was supplying them with parts, or at least the designs looked the same. Anyway, tried a Wilson drop in, didn't work and ugly gaps. Tried an Ed Brown and another Wilson and the factory frame needed to be cut to correct radius using the jig. About the only one that "dropped in" was one made by CMC. Didn't want to do the work on my own and ruin a $800+ gun, I sent my gun and a Wilson beavertail to a smith and had it done.

[Pulsar]

I've lost count of how many "drop in" beavertails I've had to fit. I actually think I've only installed two that didn't need fitting, and I've lost count of how many I've installed.