After picking up a MTAC for my P-01 (75D Compact) for CC I noticed, while they are SUPER comfortable, the stock rubber grips were a little too "grippy" in that my shirts tended to get hung up on them.
I had been making homemade micarta grips for my 1911's after seeing a 'how to' thread on another website. 1911 grips are probably the easiest grips to make because they are essentially flat, with no inletting on the back side unlike the CZ design that requires some inletting on the back because of the single grip screw but after making a half dozen sets for my 1911's I decided to give it a try.
First let me say I'm no photographer and for a couple of steps I forgot to take a photo but I think you'll get the idea.
For my micarta I went to Home Depot and bought a can of fiberglass resin (it comes with hardener) and I already had everything else I needed: cloth ( I used duck canvas for these ones but I have used T-shirts, sweatpants, old denim etc) a 12 oz plastic cup, paint stiring stick, C-clamps, wax paper, hand saw, belt sander, drill bits.
This is where I forgot to take a pic. I cut my cloth into strips 14" long by about 2" wide. I think I used 12-14 strips for these grips. Next I took two flat pieces of wood 16" long by 8" wide and 3/4" thick and put a piece of wax paper on one of them. Mix the resin and hardener per the instructions in the cup. I found about 1-1 1/2 cups of resin is plenty and spread a thin layer of resin on the wax paper coverd board followed by a strip of fabric, more resin, more fabric etc. Make sure you get all the fabric covered well.
Work quick! you only get 10-15 minutes before the resin starts to set up! When you've used all the fabric and put a final coat of resin on the stack, put another sheet of wax paper and the other board and C-clamp it all together. You don't want to SMASH it just make it flat and all the same thickness. For 1911 grips you need about 1/4" thick, for these a little thicker.
Here's what it looks like ( I already cut one grip pannel out before I remembered to take a pic)
I used the OEM rubber grips to scribe the outline then cut em out, leaving enough to sand to fit later.
Here's a pic of a "jig" I made to hold my belt sander while I shaped my grips.
All shaped and ready to contour:
I used the original grips and started inletting the back. After taking some rudimentary measurements, I used a (dreaded) Dremel tool and various bits, sanding discs and stones and this is what I came up with. Lot of trial and error taking off very little at a time.
Used the "top" of the belt sander, where the roller is and contoured the other side:
Lightly hand sanded the grip, I wanted it to still have some of the rough canvas feel/grip to it so I didn't sand them smooth then put a coat polyurethane on em:
After drying here they are installed:
Here's a couple of 1911 grips I did:
Give it a try, It's a lot of fun. Very little cost.
Hope you enjoy!!
