Dremel to the rescue
 

I added a Dremel tool to my RRHT (Really Really Handy Things) list this week, I had never had much occasion to use one but happened to have one in the garage.

The Back Story

This week I purchased a set of the reproduction Arro grips from gvt1911, very nice grips indeed (with a thumb rest on the left panel) but I forgot that my "shooter" 1906 AE has a grip safety, which requires a significant grip modification from the standard P08 grips to clear the safety. The first picture shows the starting "flat" back of the Arro grip along with the carved back of the original Luger grip. The scratchings on the back of the arrow grip are my first try at sketching out where a cut needed to be.

The Dremel cutting tool made short work of the relief that needed to be made and I have posted a picture showing the finished product. Other areas I needed to relieve a bit on the left grip were the rear edge at the bottom, around the grip screw, around the mag release button and at the top left corner where the grip fits against the frame.

The right grip also required a little trimming to better fit the frame at the bottom as well as a slight enlargement of the cut around the mag release button where it pops out of the frame when the mag release is engaged.

Mark, Nice job! I have a tube rack full of dremel tools at my leather bench. Thousands of drums, grinders and other bits. I use a dremel every day. Very handy tool.

Rich,
Now you are a "real" gunsmith; I don't know how you survived without one.

I have five maybe six dremel tools, various sizes- and have two inside the house in my "light" 'smithing area, and a flex cable dremel and two hand helds in the real shop.

They save a lot of time for such things as you show.

Some guys will kid you about using a dremel tool, but I have found it to be a very handy tool for lots of tasks.

I really believe that the stories about issues in gunwork with the dremel, tis not with the tool, but rather with the user and the specific environment. All tools crater things if not used properly. The buck stops with the user.

Flamed............well I am close to well done on both sides. The good people that you meet is worth the torching from others that you can ignore.

I can't imagine a workshop without at least 2 Dremel tools. I have worn out at least 2-3 over the years. I found out quickly that the "bargain" Dremel-type tools are NOT a bargain, especially if it is to be used a lot.

A nice job on fitting your new grips. They look like they wound be comfortable to shoot with.

The new grips are extremely comfortable. I had a slow fire 94 today (25 yards, two hands) before I ran into ammo problems with my reloads. The thumb rest really does give me a good grip on the Luger and the grips are thicker overall, filling my hand better and making the grip safety a non-issue (sometimes it can be difficult to depress fully when the grip is on the small side).

I use dremel every day : a nice tool !!

The originals held up well. I'm still using the one I bought in 1958.

It's worn out a lot of bits, and a couple of sets of brushes, but it still runs like new.

Mike, I also still have my first Dremel my Dad gave me in 1980 when I was in middle school. Should have worn out a long time ago.

Jim