ltwguns.com

So what do you guys think? It seems like almost every custom 1911 I see has some sort of treatment, be it checkering, serrations, stippling, etc. The two 1911's I own right now are have smooth frontstraps and they seem to work for me fine. Am I missing out on something? Do you think frontstrap treatments are a necessity, a convenience, or do you not like them? Would it be odd for me to have a custom 1911 built with a smooth frontstrap?

While I could go without, I really do like some sort of texture on the frontstrap. I grip front to back, not around--my hands barely touch the grips. So naturally I want the texture to be on the parts of the gun I have the most contact with. Therefore I use checkering and smooth grips.

While shooting on a static range in normal weather you would probably never need the treatment save cosmetic reasons.
For a working gun, its a different animal altogether imho. Some shooting styles/systems require a "crush grip" on the gun and you could get by without any treatment. I shoot FistFire where there is a more relaxed grip and a "treatment" is necessary.
Try a weeklong class in 90+ weather with sweat pouring down your hands and firing 300+rounds per day and you'll see why you need something on that frontstrap.
Then there's inclement weather and such. if its a duty/carry gun my all but worthless opinion is by all means have it done. Its that "better to have it than not" deals. Plus it just looks cool.

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"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

I like something up front, preferably checkering for me, mainly because it's usually pretty hot
in Arizona, and I get the sweaty hand thing going.....

The whole point of having a custom pistol built is that it is, well.......Custom! Have it made the way you want and don't worry about what everyone else does.

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Dave Berryhill
Berryhill Custom, LLC

I have some of the stick on textured tape on one of my .45's. While not as attractive as 20 lpi checkering it is just as effective. Try it and see what you think and then go from there.

I disagree on the frontstrap treatments and it wasn't until I took a 4 day pistol course that I came to this conclusion. If its sharp enough to really make a difference in holding on to the gun, its sharp enough to hurt after a couple hundred rounds. If it hurts to grip it, you'll shift your grip to make it less painful.

Jeff Cooper made some observations about this in his books. The second day of his schools always had guys removing checkering in the case of the Wilson panels and taping over them in the case of checkered front straps.

If you're unsure, get one of the panels from Wilson and give it a try. They are remarkably stable and will give you a better idea if it will work for you. Make sure to really give it a good trial by fire.

I've had 20lpi through 30lpi checkering both front strap and mainspring housing on all my
1911's, and have run Gunsite back-to-back with LFI without any problems....I'd guess it
comes down to calouses. My hands are fairly leathery, so maybe that's what saved me.
I suppose you could always have hand-matting/texturing like my Sig P220 has if checkering
is too abrasive. I don't find the texturing as secure for myself though.

I love checkering, dimples, golfballs, conamyds, serrations, or bald. I have them in all varieties. When all is said and done though, my favorite for carry is stippling. Stippling, especially the aggressive variety gives you a good grasp on the pistol, doesn't snag, and you don't have to worry about bumping into things with it. With checkering, I am always a little concerned about bumping into something and denting one of the diamonds a custom smith so laboriously cut into the frontstrap.... plus I would always know the dent was there (it would irritate to no end, I would probably have to have it recut). They are all great for carry provided you aren't concerned about actually using and abusing them, as was previously pointed out, it is a custom pistol use what works for you and enjoy it!!

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John Del Pinto

After trying 20 & 30 line checkering, grip tape, and stippling, my preference is for stippling. If done right it roughens up the grip just enough to keep it from feeling slick with wet hands or whatever. It's also the most comfortable grip treatment for long shooting sessions (for me at least.)

I really like it done on a flat MSH and on the surrounding backstrap as well, when I can get it.

Here's a photo of one of my 1911s with frontstrap stippling:

This thread caused me to go back and read my own website again for the first time in a while. I am relieved to find that I still agree with the prior me on this --

"To checker or not to checker? Different gurus have different answers. While some want it aggressive and sharp ("I want it to make me bleed," I often hear), others say it is detrimental to a working gun. Some go a little further and almost imply that it's nothing but decoration and makes a gun... unmanly. I've heard it said that smooth is better because you don't get locked-in to a poor grasp if your draw is imperfect. I personally have not experienced that, but I will say that carry guns I checker at 20 LPI are almost always done with 90°, not 60°, checkering; it is less sticky until a full grasp is exerted, and it tears up your clothing less. On this question my answer can only be: it's up to you. If you shoot 50-100 rounds a week and then go to a school or something where you shoot 1,000 in two days you may feel it, but that's not your daily reality. If 500 rounds is your daily reality, your hands are tough enough for just about anything and you don't need my advice on checkering!"

After all this I would categorize myself as an "advocate, more or less, of grip tape in the place of checkering" person. No debating that skateboard tape at maybe $5.00 gives you a lot of gripshun for the money, compared to a $200+ frontstrap job. If utility is everything, economy matters (nuthin' wrong with that), and ergos are not super-critical, skateboard tape is it for you, and if anybody makes fun of you, you just shoot circles around them and tell them, it's not about how much you spend, it's about how well you shoot!

My Colt isn't customized, still box stock. After feeling and shooting different guns with checkering and stippling, I actually prefer the feel and hold of good old 3M grip tape.

While I do agree its a personal preference and I 've stated my one preference for treatment during use there is another reason.
A proper grip is a front to back one. Any treatment on the frontstrap and msh will in some degree help in retention also. Be it torquing or physical weapon retention.

_________________
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
Calvin Coolidge

That's some fine looking stippling, and it's a little coarser than the matting on my Sig, so would
probably grip just about as good as checkering, and probably would indeed be easier on the
mitts for those that require it.

Everyone has pretty much covered all sides of these treatments from a user point of view. Let me address the last question: I think it would look odd to leave the front strap untouched on a heavily customized piece - one with a lot of serrated surfaces, french borders, etc. On a cutom piece that left off most of the other embellishments, I think it would look fine.

To throw my two cents worth into the usage issue, I want at a minimum, either serrations or stippling on my front straps, with my preference going to serrations cut at 20 lpi and stopping short of the front strap's bottom-most edge. I think stippling is a touch more likely to have snaggy points that will grab a jacket lining.

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shop.HarrisonCustom.com
www.HarrisonCustom.com

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

A jacket, what's a jacket, us CA guys have no idea what you're talking about.

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John Del Pinto

It's that thing that you wear when you go to a movie premier or the Oscars.

_________________
"Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came?
Why then, the war would come to you!"
(Bertolt Brecht)

Given the popularity of stippling with the bullseye shooters I have to believe it helps for bullseye. When I was shooting bullseye I had a rosin bag in my box too - doesn't mean I can't live without one today. For sure there is no treatment that for my money will buy points in any match -bullseye or practical - as against skateboard tape.

Herrett and others who made bulls eye grips used to and may still take an interest in how callused the shooter's hand might be and mine used to be a lot more callused than they are today.

Today my carry guns are checkered and that suits me as a default. It's just possible that abrasion on a suit coat varies a little bit with the holster and pistol too? I seem to recall more lining wear with a model 39 but that was aeons ago.

I must admit that I don't have a lot of experience with stippling, but do have a few pieces with it. That being said, the 1911 that Don Williams (ActionWorks) built for me with the stippling is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I was kind of hesitant when he mentioned stippling, because my Hi-Power with stippling is a bit too abrasive for me, but he told me if I don't like his, to send it back and he will do whatever alternative I choose! I received the 1911 back from him with all the work performed (he built me an early 1911 with two uppers.......... one in .45 ACP and one in .38 Super).
He has this stippling art down to a science......... perfect gripping and no "sharp" protrusions. As always, my hat goes off to Don Williams.
Best to all,
Jeffro

I will be the first to admit a nice stippling job is ALMOST as good as it gets.

The very best is a Ted Yost's 40lpi. checkering It holds like a magnet but it is not at all hard on the hand. It hasn't hung up on any of my clothes and it's just plain nice to look at.

I did try shooting it with cotton gloves one day though and that was one big mistake. It took awhile to get all the fuzz out of the checkering..

Gary

Gary, if you rub Limbergher cheese into the checkering prior to a cotton-glove shooting session, it will keep the fuzz out