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Being as enamored as I am of my K9's rubber grip, and not satisfied with the slip-on grips available for my CW45, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I wanted to achieve three things: A soft K9ish feel, a little more meat to fill my hand, and something to absorb recoil.
So I drove down to Hecht Rubber Company, whose slogan is "Everything in rubber," and requested some 1 1/2" inside diameter "rubber" tubing. They sell several different materials including rubber, neoprene, sponge rubber, and latex, and I asked his recommendation for something I could stretch over a screwdriver handle. Oh, I've learned the hard way not to mention guns or airplane parts when you're customizing. A machine shop refused to serve me when I asked if they could make me an airplane part, and one never knows the feelings of a shop owner toward firearms, so I called my CW45 a screwdriver. Hold the vodka and orange juice.
He first offered me something that was no more than a bike inner tube. I'd just tried that, and honestly it seemed ok, so I said I wanted something thicker.
Then he came out with two other black rubber samples, one 1/8" thick and smooth, the other about 1/16" thick with a texture on the outside. They both seemed like they could stretch, so I took a foot of each.
Back home, I got out my Kahr "Screwdriver" and proceeded to stuff the thicker tubing over the grip (after the proper safety check of course, and removing the magazine). It was a tight fit, lemme tell ya. But I got it up to the trigger guard and that seemed adequate, so I got out a razor blade to whack the other end off. That wasn't so easy. This prototype is a bit rough down on that end, but it'll work for testing.
It makes the grip 1 1/4" wide by 2 1/8" deep at the palm swell, and does give it a K9 feel. Next is to go shoot and see what it does. I'm hoping it tames the CW45 somewhat, as I find it a bit of a wild ride. It holsters fine, the grip sticks out regardless of what's on it. Whether it snags on clothing is up to the individual's sartorial choice.
So I drove down to Hecht Rubber Company, whose slogan is "Everything in rubber," and requested some 1 1/2" inside diameter "rubber" tubing. They sell several different materials including rubber, neoprene, sponge rubber, and latex, and I asked his recommendation for something I could stretch over a screwdriver handle. Oh, I've learned the hard way not to mention guns or airplane parts when you're customizing. A machine shop refused to serve me when I asked if they could make me an airplane part, and one never knows the feelings of a shop owner toward firearms, so I called my CW45 a screwdriver. Hold the vodka and orange juice.
He first offered me something that was no more than a bike inner tube. I'd just tried that, and honestly it seemed ok, so I said I wanted something thicker.
Then he came out with two other black rubber samples, one 1/8" thick and smooth, the other about 1/16" thick with a texture on the outside. They both seemed like they could stretch, so I took a foot of each.
Back home, I got out my Kahr "Screwdriver" and proceeded to stuff the thicker tubing over the grip (after the proper safety check of course, and removing the magazine). It was a tight fit, lemme tell ya. But I got it up to the trigger guard and that seemed adequate, so I got out a razor blade to whack the other end off. That wasn't so easy. This prototype is a bit rough down on that end, but it'll work for testing.
It makes the grip 1 1/4" wide by 2 1/8" deep at the palm swell, and does give it a K9 feel. Next is to go shoot and see what it does. I'm hoping it tames the CW45 somewhat, as I find it a bit of a wild ride. It holsters fine, the grip sticks out regardless of what's on it. Whether it snags on clothing is up to the individual's sartorial choice.
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