ltwguns.com

Ok, I'm REALLY embarassed to post this on a site that has this many artisans, but I wanted to know if anyone else has done this before. I haven't seen it before, and I was wondering why. At a recent range session, I managed to FTE my FN HP multiple times when shooting left handed. Turns out my support thumb was blocking the ejection port, so I adjusted my grip. Before I figured it out, I got a TON of practice clearing the malfunction including stripping the magazine out as part of the process. I noticed that the "toe" on the floorplate of the magazine was woefully inadequate and difficult to engage, especially under stress. Taking a page from Glock (gasp!), I ended up with this when I got home:



Now, it's easy to strip the magazine out with a fingertip or a knuckle, even with gloves. I think it doesn't look that bad either, but there's no accounting for taste. Not a "how-to" (yes I read the forum rules), I just thought I'd share what I consider to be a functional and attractive modification. Is there any reason that this isn't done more often? Maybe no one else's HP ever malfunctions?

P.S. - I apologize ahead of time for the grip tape and cold blue. I'm dreaming of the day when all my guns can wear conamyds and EGW's coating.

Doesn't look bad to me.
With the BHP, I've had some gun/magazine combos that didn't cooperate all that well. The magazine might need a little help to drop out of the well. I could usually get it on the first swipe, but sometimes a second would be needed. I see where your scallop would be useful there.

Thanks for the kind words. All of my magazines drop free under normal operation. Only in the oddball circumstance that I get a double-feed (induced in training or accidental) does the magazine stick in the well.

I've done some other stuff to the pistol such as a "race cut" on the rear sight and a heavy safety melt since it was really beating up my thumb. Necessity is the mother of invention. Every time I get back from the range, I think of something else I'd like to try. I've cut a standard 11-degree crown on the barrel since it was already nicked, though some of the steeper crowns I've seen on this site look REALLY good. I'm working up the courage to try bevelling the slide to the frame.

Funny you should mention beveling the slide to the frame (I assume you mean on the HiPower).
I was giving some thought to that very thing. I always liked the look on 1911s, but didn't recall seeing it done on BHPs.
But, looking at the LH side of the gun, the slide stop fits up to the slide bottom for such a distance that there isn't much left to bevel....or may not look so hot if it were. I think I've abandoned the idea.

Very nice mod!

This was also a problem with Colt factory mags on the Officer's ACP. The "foot" on the factory mag was abbreviated because of the short grip frame.

I recall that some had their frame modified like you did. The Wilson mags for the Officer's ACP have a floor plate foot which extends farther out than the factory mag and allows for stripping the mag if needed.

John

pezzulli - While my primary inspiration was the Glock, there are some 1911 influences that can be credited to make the whole affair a little more tasteful. Here's a pic of a Heinie magwell that has the same cut:
http://www.heinie.com/images/1911magwellsm.jpg

Barry - curiosity killed the cat...





I accidentally caught some of the epoxy paint when I was polishing it, so it looks a little crooked in front. I really need to get this thing refinished soon. Beadblast, aluminum oxide and E-treat coming soon if everything goes as planned. Overall, I'm liking how it turned out though.

edit: my sh!t looked so bad compared to the pic from Heinie's site that I had to convert the image to a URL.