Replacing beavertail

[Civilian]

I just acquired a Kimber TLE II, my first 1911. About the only thing so far I'd like to improve is to swap the current beavertail -- which depending on my initial grip on the pistol, doesn't release the safety 100% of the time -- with a higher profile beavertail (like the Ed Brown beavertail with the "memory grooves" on it). Is this just a simple matter of swapping out one part for another, or is there smithing involved? An Internet search did not reveal any Kimber-specific "drop-in" beavertails.

[spober]

theres some fitting and tinkering involved.my BT on my kimber works as advertized its just too long.i prefer a GI stock piece thank you very much1

[NoGo]

Not a drop in part. The problem with aftermarket grip safeties is that to make them fit, you'll probably have to delicately contour the frame and safety to match. This requires refinishing, unless it's a Stainless gun.

Try a piece of coarse grip tape cut and glued over the grip safety pad.

Or, an old GI trick-
Mark the area of the pad that you'd like built up with a pencil, pull the pistol apart, scuff the surface with sandpaper or emory cloth and blob epoxy on it (JB Weld works fine). Put enough extra on, so that when dry, you can sand/ contour the shape as needed. If you want, you can add the grip tape on top. We used to glue emory cloth on, but modern grip tape works pretty good.

Low tech yes, but a proven means to depress the grip safety.

[RazorbackME]

Check out the gunsmithing section of http://www.blindhogg.com/