I would be delighted to post photographs of the new grips, but the project is still in process -- pictures would show some only some lumps of black plastic.
When/if my project is successful, the CZ Forum may expect a plentitude of photographs and accompanying boasting and bragging text.
I did manage to shave quite a bit off the stock factory plastic grips without damaging them. I plan to put metal tape on the undersides to reinforce them.
The factory plastic grips "build up" the grip size of the CZ-83 quite bit. This is great for a pistol designed for flap-holster carry by a field-grade or general officer, but against the purpose for a deep concealment holster.
Custom grips can be made to cover substantially less area than the factory grips and with substanially less width. For this purpose a strong hardwood or plastic or even aluminum is necessary.
As I have written, I will have the pistol refinished in black chrome or Birdsong black teflon, so exposing previously covered areas of the pistol does not worry me.
The CZ-83 has "flying" slide release and safety levers extending way out from the sides of the pistol. The factory grips flare up to mold to these levers. I have ground down the levers on my CZ-83 and I will checker the lower flat surfaces. The safety really does not concern me as it engages only in "cocked and loaded" and I never carry the CZ-83 this way.
Pehaps we can get Hakan to comment.
