Checker front strap

Who would you use to checker the front strap on a 1911?
Thanks 
Phil

On a nice gun, I would check out Greg Derr of Derr Precision. Quite a few excellent gunsmiths over on 1911Addicts & 1911Pro.

Jon and K.C. also checker frames

Ive been happy with Clark

Does anyone Radius the front strap before checkering ?

most all do if done via a mill

depends upon the frame too

Jon, KC, Dave Sams, Dave Salyer, Sandy Garrett, etc.
Any of the Bullseye Gunsmiths will do a great job.  A few do hand checkering most use a machine.


Dave did some front strap and took some edges off the trigger guard for me Chris.  Any of them could do the same.

Oh-oh, now I'm starting to feel bad for not knowing and/or mentioning that there are that many gunsmiths on here that checker. My bad.

I guess I didn't realize the gunsmiths did metal checkering.  I know several of them and have had them work on my guns.  I'll have to check to see what it costs and then decide whether to spend the money for checkering or just stipple it myself.  I have that equipment.  I've stippled the pistols I use, just thought maybe I'd do something different this time.
Thanks for the replies
Phil

I think most smiths use machine checkering because time is money. You can do it yourself, I did. Yes it took some time since your doing it by hand but the feeling of accomplishment is great! No it's not "professional but how many people can tell? Get yourself a file and try it!

I hand checkered a few of mine years ago.. I'll gladly pay someone to do it these days.. wouldn't be able to hold a gun for days.....

I had Clark do one.  I was happy with it.

Here's their video of doing them.

I'm sure other smiths have their ways too.

I was looking at a 1911 the other day with what seemed like a piece of scotch tape covering the front strap, and the outside of most of the tape was covered with "grit".  It sure did make it easy to grip the gun that way.  If it wasn't for where at the top and bottom the grit had worn off, I never would have guessed it was "tape".  It had the same "feel" as sharkskin  grips.

Anyone know what the name for this is, and where it can be bought?

mikemyers wrote:I was looking at a 1911 the other day with what seemed like a piece of scotch tape covering the front strap, and the outside of most of the tape was covered with "grit".  It sure did make it easy to grip the gun that way.  If it wasn't for where at the top and bottom the grit had worn off, I never would have guessed it was "tape".  It had the same "feel" as sharkskin  grips.

Anyone know what the name for this is, and where it can be bought?

https://www.amazon.com/GT-5000-strips-phones-cameras-knives/dp/B00ATH0KEA

Just an example of many products like it - skate board grip tape etc

james r chapman wrote:I had Clark do one.  I was happy with it.

Here's their video of doing them.

I'm sure other smiths have their ways too.

I like it but, it looks like they took a caspian frame and just started checkering it not cleaning up the radius of high and low spots. Maybe caspians front strap is that good?

20 lPI
I have skateboard tape on everything else. this is more aggressive!

there is some stair tread tape you can get at hardware store that is just the right width all you have to due is cut length and round corners you get enough to due about 20 1911's for about 5 bucks works great.

Skateboard grip tape is the bargain, if you don't want to have the machine work done on the frame. For less than $9 you get 9" x 33"

Probably enough to all your pistols for the rest of your life.

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Sheet-Grip-Tape/dp/B004UOKJN0/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1519008331&sr=1-5&keywords=skateboard+grip+tape

Along the same path as the skateboard tape, the Wilson Combat checkered frontstrap - $10 and looks OK on my parkerized RO:

If you’re going with grip tape, look at Brownells

I like their “insta-grip” much better than skateboard tape.  Be sure to order in “heavy”

https://www.brownells.com/shooting-accessories/gloves-grip-accessories/grip-enhancers/insta-grip--prod1230.aspx

I call BS on Clark III saying hand cut checkering isn't as good as machine cut. If you have a sharp checkering file you should get good checkering. One thing is I'm done with 30lpi, I've been using Caspian 20lpi and it puts the 30lpi to shame.

zanemoseley wrote:I call BS on Clark III saying hand cut checkering isn't as good as machine cut. If you have a sharp checkering file you should get good checkering. One thing is I'm done with 30lpi, I've been using Caspian 20lpi and it puts the 30lpi to shame.

I imagine he's just seen more crappy ones than you have.
There are artisans and then there are bubba's...