Poor mans front strap checker...

[HIVO]

Just picked up this CMD yesterday. I love the stock grips but I had this old set of pachmayrs laying around and tried them on. Really gives a good purchase on the pistol. Think I'll leave them on for a while.
HIVO

 

[edlmann]

My favorite Pachmayr grip is the GM45C, which deletes the lip at the front of the mag well and is flat on both sides.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Skate-board tape . . . carefully applied . . . also does well.

 

[HIVO]

I actually considered the tape. The Pacs I've had for a long time. The CMD is the first stainless 1911 for me (besides a Springer High-cap Ultra Compact). Thought I would see how the black grips looked on it. Now if the front sight will stay on.....
HIVO

 

[Snake45]

Skate-board tape . . . carefully applied . . . also does well.

Yup. I've also done the same thing by using heavy-duty emery cloth, about 80 grit IIRC, wrapped under the grips.

I played with Pachmayrs for a while in the '80s but found several things I didn't like about them, so off they came. I do like their flat mainspring housings with the rubber insert, though--do they still even make those?

 

[Dienekes]

Last I knew Brownell's offered thin but sharply "checkered" metal wrap-around frontstrap covers for 1911s in blue and silver. The edges tucked under the stocks and locked into the frame cuts there.

I put a blued one on an early milled 1911 frame that looked (and works) fine. The cast frame on a Springfield Armory pistol is just a little bigger; the ends do not fold over into the cut as nicely but I mixed up a little JB weld, glopped it in, and it has held up ok. In both cases they look right, give a nice secure grip, and are removable with no alterations to the gun.

Have also used the skateboard tape on BHPs and similar.

NO idea why manufacturers don't do it on ALL pistols. It should have been done way back in 1911!

 

[Unk]

Early Colt Combat Commander Electro-less Nickel..wore Pachmayrs most of its life. Gave to my son a few years ago. Like VZ grips..often considered skate board tape.

Best.

 

[y2k-fxst]

I trie the skate board tape when I first got my SR. Carried it one day and took it off. Felt great shooting but, when worn IWB under a t-shirt it tore my skin up to the point I was raw.