Norinco 1911 Slim Grips

QuietOne54

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I've been looking high and low for slim grips for the Norinco 1911A1 I've got small hands and need the reach that the slim grips offer.

There don't seem to be many/any in Canada. The US lots but many come with requirements of slim bushings and screws and so on.

So where and what slim grip will fit the Norc 1911A1 ? I don't give a hoot about fancy and just want nice slim grips checkered or not.

Brownells http://tinyurl.com/1911Slim
 
I can't help you on where to find such a kit but I'd suggest you try something first. Find a local gun store that has the Ruger 22/45 that comes with the one piece lower frame with integral grips. This model is much skinnier than a real 1911 and is a perfect example of what you're trying to do.

I found that being so thin and "flat" that it does not fit into my grip well. Instead of even pressure all around the grip I end up with high pressure on the front and back and very little pressure on the sides. This makes it hard for me to hold the thin version of the 22/45 and accuracy suffers. You may find that the same thing happens with truly flat grip scales on your Norc. Which is why I'm suggesting you find one of these Rugers and see how it fits before you go to a lot of trouble to find this kit you're after.

What may help you more than thin grips that reduces the contact area too much is a new short reach trigger.

I suspect that your best option is a combination of the two options. A set of somewhat lower profile but not overly flat grip scales on the stock bushings combined with a shorter reach trigger.
 
Tapped to what?

I'd rather not of course, I'd just like to buy the grips and put them on


"Tapped" in this case reffering to having the frame re-threaded to accept the standard bushing threads. Depending on sizes this may not be practical. The existing holes in the frame would need to be small enough to allow for re-threading to the classic thread size. And from the sounds of your reply I'm thinking you would need a gunsmith to do such work given the need to check the sizing and tools to do the work.
 
Tapped to what?

I'd rather not of course, I'd just like to buy the grips and put them on

You have to replace the bushings. Standard Norc bushing are too tall for thin grips and the bushing thread is different.

The whole bushing replacement process is a PITA. If you are really bent on doing this I have a bushing tap that I could lend you.

I have small hands and was once on the Holly Grail hunt for ultra thin grips as well. Had them on my Norc 1911, GSG and CZ75.
Later discovered that I shot better with the factory grips.

Factory grips don't feel quite as comfortable as thin grips but I shoot better using them.

Case in point is that I use a med back strap on my M&P, never installed the ultrathins on my 85 Combat when I upgraded my 75, and abandoned my 1911 thin grips.

M
 
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I've noticed that some of the snazzy plastic and G10 grips these days with the bold texturing tend to be thicker than the plain and simple wood GI checkered grips. So simply replacing the stock grips on your Norc with a set of basic checkered wood grips might just give you a better feel. I'd still suggest that you look into the shorter trigger to go with this.

And of course a straight profile main spring housing if your gun has the humped back version.
 
Easy and cheap is buy the Pearce rubber grips that have a 'wasp waist' to them like this and work with regular bushings.



Otherwise, just buy the slim grips you like and file the bushings down and shorten the screws.
 
My need for thin grips is that the grips that came with my Norc are custom bubinga Wood Grips and though they fill the hand and really help in controlling the gun, I can't reach the controls, mag release or slide release without tipping/twisting the pistol to the left. With standard Norc grips I still have to break the grip to reach the mag release though less than with the custom. From one range session I know this pistol has great potential. I didn't break 1 second to shot with it yet but it's new to me and it's cold shooting outdoors.

If there aren't slim grips for the Norc or bushings that will fit without being tapped. I may have to just get the slimmest grips I can get that will fit. Slimmer than Norinco standard. I hate those plastic things?

Any suggestions???

Yes I do have very small hands. With ultra slim grips on a standard Colt I do well in reaching the controls and didn't have any issues, is why I thought of going that route. I never should have sold it.

I might have it tapped for standard bushings that opens up a lot of options. But if I can find thin enough grips what fit that does save some. So thinner grips that fit the Norinco? Suggestions and where can I get them.
 
This is going to be one of those cases where you really need to go around to the stores and find some grips then talk the nice folks behind the counter into fitting them onto a 1911 so you can try them. There's little point in suggesting thinner grips when we don't know how thick or thin your present grips are. And that's something you haven't provided.

As I suggested if your present grips are thick and textured then the basic GI style wood grips might well be all you need to work well. But again since I/We don't know where you're starting from it's hard to offer anything other then generalities.
 
Major issue is that I live in the NWT and there are no gun shops within a 16 hour drive, Edmonton is the nearest I know of with more than one.

Anyone know of a business that does mail order web or not. I'd like to get a few other parts at the same time so a good parts selection would be appreciated. Having to get 6 parts and pay shipping 6 times isn't easy on the wallet.
 
Major issue is that I live in the NWT and there are no gun shops within a 16 hour drive, Edmonton is the nearest I know of with more than one.

Anyone know of a business that does mail order web or not. I'd like to get a few other parts at the same time so a good parts selection would be appreciated. Having to get 6 parts and pay shipping 6 times isn't easy on the wallet.

Brownells is the all things 1911 source. What exactly are you looking for other than grips?

M
 
I got some nice wood grips on eBay that were a bit thinner than the plastic ones on my Norc, and filed down the stock bushings and screws to make them work. The two sellers I've bought from on eBay are jaruwan.p and costaricatreasurehouse. Both of these sellers had detailed pictures of each set of grips and accurate description. Between the two of them I think I have bought 4 or 5 sets of grips for various handguns.
Kristian
 
i purchased thin rosewood grips from brownells, also the bushings for them and the tap needed to recut the threads to imperial. The frame material on the norc is harder then normal but you can hand tap it (if you know what your doing. If you don't, get a smith to do it for you) If you do it, use lots of oil. I've done three of them now with no issues.
 
I'm looking for:
  1. Thin grips
  2. Beaver tail grip safety. Pretty much settled on Wilson high ride
  3. Flat Mainspring Housing- probably Wilson but might be anyone
  4. Adjustable sights - rear and new front. I haven't decided on the sights yet I'd like ones where the cut gives me the most choices in sights in case I buy something I want to change down the road so this is a difficult decision.
  5. Short adjustable trigger
  6. parts kit of the most broken/lost pieces - slide stop, firing pin, recoil spring, firing pin spring, extractor, barrel link and pin, pin set, and other stuff that goes south or flies away during dis-assembly/stripping. My list of spare parts isn't complete yet

This isn't my first 1911 but it is the first one I'm going to make "mine"

I'm trying to find a Canadian dealer but if I have to go through Brownells it might have to be multiple orders to get under the export limit. Which I understand has been raised to $500.00 so maybe not
 
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