joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
Had wondered about this product for several years, had been thinking about trying it on one of my 1911's..finally bought one, it arrived today, so decided to put it on .
May not look as nice as a skilled gunsmith checkering job, but cost only 10%, (or less than that) of having it done.
here's a link to this Wilson Combat product : https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Checker...ductinfo/100S/
interesting to note, on the Wlison Combat website, all responders rated it 5 stars. (!)
My rating wouldn't be so high... here's why.. it didn't fit my 1911. Well it didn't fit the first one I tried to install it on.
Since having a 40 S&W barrel fitted to my Colt Delta Elite, I've been shooting it a lot more.
Decided to put the Wilson front strap on my Delta frame..& discovered.. it didn't fit.
Tried several times... the metal stamping isn't wide enough to go around the front strap & tuck under the handgrips, as they're supposed to be installed.
My Delta is currently wearing a pair of VZ Recons Magwell Full Size Gun Grips. This is a pair of very aggressive textured, G-10 grips.
I didn't look for my oem grips..as comparing this pistol's frame to another 1911 I have, ( a GI spec Springfield Armory 1911)
I noticed the Colt frame is "thicker" / wider, just beneath the trigger guard, the area just below where the mag release button/screw is located.
this "meatier" area of frame prevents the Wilson checkered frontstrap piece from fitting properly. There isn't enough metal to go around this area & fit beneath the hand grips, as that's the way the frontstrap is supposed to be held in place.
I compared this to a couple other Colt 1911's in my safe. The Combat Commander, though having a full size frame, has the area beneath the trigger guard, machined more concavely. Quite a difference in size & appearance. Not as much metal beneath the trigger guard as on the Delta. The other Colt, a 70 Series Govt model,
does not have the same thicker / wider area beneath the trigger guard. It's a much older pistol than the Delta & It's front strap had already been professionally checkered
My Springfield Armory 1911 is wearing a copy of VZ grips, bought off Amazon, called "E Gun Grips H1-J4-11 G10 Tactical Aggressive Texture Pistol Grips for Full Size 1911 Handguns, Dark Ops " The Wilson Combat 100S Checkered Front strap fit around the Springfield's frame just fine & the grips seem to be holding it firmly in place.
Looks & fits well on this 1911. I will give an update on how it works after it's had some rounds fired.
My "Caveat emptor " is.. this might be a great bargain for those who want to improve their front strap grip, without the high cost of a gunsmith checkering job..
IF it fits your pistol...
I was a bit surprised to learn it wouldn't fit on my Delta.. & wonder if the Delta has a bit "beefier" frame, than other 1911's made for less powerful calibers.
[h2][/h2]
May not look as nice as a skilled gunsmith checkering job, but cost only 10%, (or less than that) of having it done.
here's a link to this Wilson Combat product : https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Checker...ductinfo/100S/
interesting to note, on the Wlison Combat website, all responders rated it 5 stars. (!)
My rating wouldn't be so high... here's why.. it didn't fit my 1911. Well it didn't fit the first one I tried to install it on.
Since having a 40 S&W barrel fitted to my Colt Delta Elite, I've been shooting it a lot more.
Decided to put the Wilson front strap on my Delta frame..& discovered.. it didn't fit.
Tried several times... the metal stamping isn't wide enough to go around the front strap & tuck under the handgrips, as they're supposed to be installed.
My Delta is currently wearing a pair of VZ Recons Magwell Full Size Gun Grips. This is a pair of very aggressive textured, G-10 grips.
I didn't look for my oem grips..as comparing this pistol's frame to another 1911 I have, ( a GI spec Springfield Armory 1911)
I noticed the Colt frame is "thicker" / wider, just beneath the trigger guard, the area just below where the mag release button/screw is located.
this "meatier" area of frame prevents the Wilson checkered frontstrap piece from fitting properly. There isn't enough metal to go around this area & fit beneath the hand grips, as that's the way the frontstrap is supposed to be held in place.
I compared this to a couple other Colt 1911's in my safe. The Combat Commander, though having a full size frame, has the area beneath the trigger guard, machined more concavely. Quite a difference in size & appearance. Not as much metal beneath the trigger guard as on the Delta. The other Colt, a 70 Series Govt model,
does not have the same thicker / wider area beneath the trigger guard. It's a much older pistol than the Delta & It's front strap had already been professionally checkered
My Springfield Armory 1911 is wearing a copy of VZ grips, bought off Amazon, called "E Gun Grips H1-J4-11 G10 Tactical Aggressive Texture Pistol Grips for Full Size 1911 Handguns, Dark Ops " The Wilson Combat 100S Checkered Front strap fit around the Springfield's frame just fine & the grips seem to be holding it firmly in place.
Looks & fits well on this 1911. I will give an update on how it works after it's had some rounds fired.
My "Caveat emptor " is.. this might be a great bargain for those who want to improve their front strap grip, without the high cost of a gunsmith checkering job..
IF it fits your pistol...
I was a bit surprised to learn it wouldn't fit on my Delta.. & wonder if the Delta has a bit "beefier" frame, than other 1911's made for less powerful calibers.
[h2][/h2]