I Blended The Grip Safety...

Joshua M. Smith · 07-02-2008, 09:25 PM

Hello,

This afternoon I received a new grip safety, the last one to go on my pistol. It has the stop where it's supposed to be, no friggin' "memory bump," and it's an Ed Brown. It's very comfortable.

I do have to admit that while I can shape metal well, I still have trouble with refinishing a larger area than just a "touch up" job.

What I really should do is pull everything back off, strip it white, and go over it with some very fine sandpaper or polish, then refinish the safety. As is, I used 800 grit to finish, and scratches still show up under the flash and under high magnification.

Here are some pics:

The pistol as it looks now.

The bottom of the safety as it's held in.

A top view...

... bit from the side...

... and under high magnification.

Though I say I probably should polish and refinish, I likely won't. The finish is protecting it, there are no marks visible to the naked eye, and it feels great. I probably couldn't do a better job the next time around anyway - it's just not my area yet.

It feels like a completely different gun, and extremely comfortable, by far the most comfortable I've ever shot.

Comments are welcome, but not necessary. I'm happy with what I've done. My refinishing skills will improve with time.

Josh <><

Chris · 07-05-2008, 04:45 AM

Looks nice! I would be sure to keep it wiped down a little more since you won't be polishing it.

Joshua M. Smith · 07-05-2008, 12:23 PM

I'm actually thinking about polishing it now... It was polished with 800 grit, but the scratches still show up in pictures.

I was told that a Dremel (gasp) and jeweler's past would do the job nicely.

Guess we'll see if I even feel like doing it...

Thanks!

Josh <><

SwedeSteve · 07-07-2008, 03:24 PM

While polishing isn't my forte either, I can get a semi decent job done with a dremel and jeweler's rouge.

granger · 07-09-2008, 09:39 PM

ive got a old heater blower motor with 3 polishing wheels bolted on the shaft in my basement. i use it when im working on my hot rods. use a white compound followed by a rouge ment for gold and then breaklean and reblue the section with plain old cold blue but apply it using FINE steel wool. it will take a bit of time applying the blue, take your time and buff with the wool between coats and it will turn out as dark and nearly as durable as hot blueing. if the wool starts to rust dont sweat it rust is good in this case.

you can set up the whole thing for about 10 bucks if you can find a cheap yard sale or flee market motor and its got enough torque to twist a shifter out of your hand and break a rib of your not carefull

btw, you can even swap out the buffers for grinding stones or wire wheels if need be.

Iron_Colonel · 07-09-2008, 11:16 PM

Hey it looks good from here. I prefer the memory bump on my grip safeties because I have a high grip on the gun, and sometimes it didn't fully disengage on my stock Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec. I have since adjusted my grip a little and don't have much of a problem. But on my Kimber, its got a memory bump and its quite nice. I would have already got an aftermarket beavertail grip safety with a bump on it, but they don't fit very well in the SA frames without modifications. I didn't want to shave off the sharp corners so owell. Its still there, and I'll probably leave it like that. I do wish I would have had an extended thumb safety installed on it though. I don't use it as a carry gun, so I'm not too worried about it.

07-02-2008, 09:25 PM	#1
Joshua M. Smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wabash IN Posts: 351 Trader Rating: (0)	I Blended The Grip Safety... Hello, This afternoon I received a new grip safety, the last one to go on my pistol. It has the stop where it's supposed to be, no friggin' "memory bump," and it's an Ed Brown. It's very comfortable. I do have to admit that while I can shape metal well, I still have trouble with refinishing a larger area than just a "touch up" job. What I really should do is pull everything back off, strip it white, and go over it with some very fine sandpaper or polish, then refinish the safety. As is, I used 800 grit to finish, and scratches still show up under the flash and under high magnification. Here are some pics: The pistol as it looks now. The bottom of the safety as it's held in. A top view... ... bit from the side... ... and under high magnification. Though I say I probably should polish and refinish, I likely won't. The finish is protecting it, there are no marks visible to the naked eye, and it feels great. I probably couldn't do a better job the next time around anyway - it's just not my area yet. It feels like a completely different gun, and extremely comfortable, by far the most comfortable I've ever shot. Comments are welcome, but not necessary. I'm happy with what I've done. My refinishing skills will improve with time. Josh <>< __________________ Is it better to live by a corrupt society's standards rather than face persecution for not doing the same? This is the dilemma we now face. We must hold fast to our convictions as we confront this dilemma. Knowing one's self goes a long way in the crisis. - Me, Standup Philosopher

07-05-2008, 04:45 AM	#2
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,133 Trader Rating: (0)	Looks nice! I would be sure to keep it wiped down a little more since you won't be polishing it. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. --Thomas Jefferson No one has the right to deny my personal safety Need a reminder, why this site is so great?

07-05-2008, 12:23 PM	#3
Joshua M. Smith Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wabash IN Posts: 351 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm actually thinking about polishing it now... It was polished with 800 grit, but the scratches still show up in pictures. I was told that a Dremel (gasp) and jeweler's past would do the job nicely. Guess we'll see if I even feel like doing it... Thanks! Josh <>< __________________ Is it better to live by a corrupt society's standards rather than face persecution for not doing the same? This is the dilemma we now face. We must hold fast to our convictions as we confront this dilemma. Knowing one's self goes a long way in the crisis. - Me, Standup Philosopher

07-07-2008, 03:24 PM	#4
SwedeSteve Grumpy Old Fart Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 9,169 Trader Rating: (0)	While polishing isn't my forte either, I can get a semi decent job done with a dremel and jeweler's rouge. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-09-2008, 09:39 PM	#5
granger Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0)	ive got a old heater blower motor with 3 polishing wheels bolted on the shaft in my basement. i use it when im working on my hot rods. use a white compound followed by a rouge ment for gold and then breaklean and reblue the section with plain old cold blue but apply it using FINE steel wool. it will take a bit of time applying the blue, take your time and buff with the wool between coats and it will turn out as dark and nearly as durable as hot blueing. if the wool starts to rust dont sweat it rust is good in this case. you can set up the whole thing for about 10 bucks if you can find a cheap yard sale or flee market motor and its got enough torque to twist a shifter out of your hand and break a rib of your not carefullbtw, you can even swap out the buffers for grinding stones or wire wheels if need be.

07-09-2008, 11:16 PM	#6
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 301 Trader Rating: (0)	Hey it looks good from here. I prefer the memory bump on my grip safeties because I have a high grip on the gun, and sometimes it didn't fully disengage on my stock Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec. I have since adjusted my grip a little and don't have much of a problem. But on my Kimber, its got a memory bump and its quite nice. I would have already got an aftermarket beavertail grip safety with a bump on it, but they don't fit very well in the SA frames without modifications. I didn't want to shave off the sharp corners so owell. Its still there, and I'll probably leave it like that. I do wish I would have had an extended thumb safety installed on it though. I don't use it as a carry gun, so I'm not too worried about it. __________________ Go Seahawks.