1911 Front Strap Treatments [Archive]

Lew-G17

01-22-2011, 06:21

I am working on a plan for a custom built and a modified 1911 and cannot make up my mind about the front strap treatment I want. I like Kimber's 30 LPI checkering, and the golfball type look pretty cool as well. I have seen but never shot stippling, and the vertical grooves on Sig pistols seem to work well. Other than grip tapes, what do you have on the front strap of your 1911? What do you like about it what do you not like about it?

Pictures are welcome.

Nubbins

01-22-2011, 06:36

A shop close to me does this...I don't like them but haven't seen them elsewhere.
http://www.hatfieldsgunsmithing.com/images/webhatfieldscuts_1r5y.jpg

samuse

01-22-2011, 06:40

20 or 25 LPI checkering is good for grip, everything else is just cosmetic.

I've personally owned 1911s with 30, 25 and 20 LPI checkering, I also have one with serrations.

I think the serrations look nice but don't do anything.

30 LPI checkering is too slick to spend the money on.

25 & 20 are nice.

Golfballing looks ridiculous.

Sandpaper tape and Pachmayr grips are ugly but both offer better grip than checkering at 1/10th the cost.

A good parkerized finish offers decent traction too.

lawdog734

01-22-2011, 07:12

The 15 lpi on my no name is really good

faawrenchbndr

01-22-2011, 07:30

Miller Customs,.......

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/faawrenchbndr/Miller%20Custom%20Springfield/DSC00167.jpg

okie

01-22-2011, 07:49

I went the poor boy route and got skateboard tape:supergrin:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p64/okie1911/8b3ab3a7.jpg

cdunn

01-22-2011, 08:48

skateboard tape for old guns, 20-30 lpi checkering for a custom order.

youngAR

01-22-2011, 09:07

25LPI is best IMO. The checkering on the TRP's (20LPI) are a little too rough. I couldn't even notice the vertical serrations that was on my YoBo 1* pistol. Stan Chens new design is something you might want to look at.

sns3guppy

01-22-2011, 09:23

Nobody mentioned stippling. It's not seen much any more.

I like 25 lpi.

A lot of folks prefer a plain front strap.

There are always pachmyer wrap-arounds, too. I have that on a Springfield Compact, and it works fine.

G27RR

01-22-2011, 09:33

I like STI's stippling, both the look and the added grip, but I would go with checkered on a custom order because I like the look of well done checkering.

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/G27RR/Holsters/TuckerCoverUpSTIShadow2.jpg

38 Super Fan

01-22-2011, 10:01

Another vote for 25 LPI checkering here, great feel. As far as my favorite aesthetically, that would be vertical serrations like on my old Gold Cup.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n602/hackman1911/NMModel005.jpg

Agent6-3/8

01-22-2011, 10:07

20 or 25 LPI checkering is good for grip, everything else is just cosmetic.

I've personally owned 1911s with 30, 25 and 20 LPI checkering, I also have one with serrations.

I think the serrations look nice but don't do anything.

30 LPI checkering is too slick to spend the money on.

25 & 20 are nice.

Golfballing looks ridiculous.

Sandpaper tape and Pachmayr grips are ugly but both offer better grip than checkering at 1/10th the cost.

A good parkerized finish offers decent traction too.

Agreed, on all counts!

glock2740

01-22-2011, 10:36

Big fan of the Rogers' Golfball

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/PCII4.jpg

Also like SA's 20 LPI

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/TRPwithShredders002.jpg

Guncrafter's 15 LPI feels really good

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/HCCommander_010.jpg

I've really come to like stippling too. My next gun might get a stippled front strap and MSH, as this one feels really good in the hand.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/TrickedoutKimbers011.jpg

25 LPI also has a great feel

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/DSC01824.jpg

30 LPI feels grippy enough and looks good IMO

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac341/OU1911/STI_001.jpg

smith10

01-22-2011, 11:37

Really like the Commander there, especially the top of the front strap. Nicely done.

glock2740

01-22-2011, 12:05

Thanks. :) That's one of my favorite CC 1911's that I own.

AZ Husker

01-22-2011, 12:30

I think Chuck Rogers' Golfballing looks great and certainly provides a grip!

glock2740

01-22-2011, 12:38

I think Chuck Rogers' Golfballing looks great and certainly provides a grip!
I agree. It's my favorite front strap treatment out of them all, by a pretty good margin.

Lew-G17

01-22-2011, 14:37

Wow, some good looking pistols. I just got back from the range with my almost new Colt Lwt Commander 38 Super. All I can say is Awesome! I love this caliber, and the Colt is super (pun intended) as well.

Chocobo

01-22-2011, 15:21

I would go with chuck's golfball.

ajstrider

01-23-2011, 16:31

I see lots of conversations in here about what front strap checkering to get and such, but I am considering getting a 1911 that has a smooth front strap, is this a bad idea? I would think with a nice set of rough textured grip panels, which you can hot swap around to find the ones you like, rather than a permanent one shot deal on front strap checkering, would do the trick for a nice grip on the gun.

glock2740

01-23-2011, 16:35

I see lots of conversations in here about what front strap checkering to get and such, but I am considering getting a 1911 that has a smooth front strap, is this a bad idea? I would think with a nice set of rough textured grip panels, which you can hot swap around to find the ones you like, rather than a permanent one shot deal on front strap checkering, would do the trick for a nice grip on the gun.
I personally don't like the feel of a smooth front strap. Especially with smooth grips.

Jim Watson

01-23-2011, 16:54

I have a couple of checkered frontstraps, a 20 and a 30. Both felt sharp to my desk engineer's hand so I had the diamonds flattened. Just a little on the 30, about 1/3 on the 20. Plenty of traction still and with good comfort.

Lew-G17

01-23-2011, 16:59

I see lots of conversations in here about what front strap checkering to get and such, but I am considering getting a 1911 that has a smooth front strap, is this a bad idea? I would think with a nice set of rough textured grip panels, which you can hot swap around to find the ones you like, rather than a permanent one shot deal on front strap checkering, would do the trick for a nice grip on the gun.

It really is a personal preference thing I guess. So far I have experience with 30 LPI by Kimber which I like, but 30 seems to be more expensive than some of the others options. I don't care for a smooth front strap, and I don't want grip tape on a customized pistol.

AZ Husker

01-23-2011, 18:06

I get the majority of my grip from the front strap and MSH, not the stock panels.

38 Super Fan

01-23-2011, 18:33

I see lots of conversations in here about what front strap checkering to get and such, but I am considering getting a 1911 that has a smooth front strap, is this a bad idea? I would think with a nice set of rough textured grip panels, which you can hot swap around to find the ones you like, rather than a permanent one shot deal on front strap checkering, would do the trick for a nice grip on the gun.
Smooth front straps are fine, I've never really had problems with the grip on a smooth gun, I kind of like them smooth to be honest.

bac1023

01-23-2011, 19:10

My favorite is probably 25lpi checkering.

Hokie1911

01-23-2011, 19:35

http://lundestudio.com/photos/ebkc-g3-left.jpg

AZ Husker

01-23-2011, 21:36

I'm a big fan of Brown's snakeskin also.

Nakanokalronin

01-25-2011, 00:13

I like 25lpi as the middle ground checkering on my front strap or MSH. 30lpi does work though and is very grippy on my Kimber Eclipse. I actually prefer no front strap treatment since none of my 1911s without it has every tried to slip out of my hands, nor have I ever needed to adjust my grip between shots.