Radical Concepts Wrap Around Grips

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

I've been trying these in lieu of the Pachmayrs I had on my 1911.


The same basic style as the Pachmayrs.

Radical concepts is an Oregon based company who contracted for Colt. They were assigned the task of making something better than the Pachmayrs, and now they market under their own name.


Very deep, aggressive checkering makes for an awesome grip surface that sticks to the hand.

I do like these better. The part that goes over the front strap could come up a bit higher, but that's likely just because I got used to the Pachmayrs.


Better support for ambi thumb safeties...


... as illustrated by the contact mark here.

They provide better support for an ambi safety; the Pachmayr grips were spongy in that area.


Very good plunger tube support.

The RC grips also support the plunger tube, unlike the Pachmayrs, and are made from harder rubber than the Pachmayrs, which allows them to be made without a metal "skeleton."

They are not molded to the hand, but I don't think one needs that in a carry gun.

These grips are just very functional. That's really the best praise I can give them, and the fact that they only run around $10 new doesn't hurt a bit.

Josh <><

 

[Aka Zero]

And now I have to get that operator I was looking at to get some new grips....

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

I did some writing to some people, and located the answer. It came to me in email and I asked permission to quote it:

Hello Josh,

Here's the story,.......Radical Concepts is owned & operated by a close friend and has been Colt's grip contractor for over 20 years. He tried for years to get a foothold in the commercial grip market but the big guys have such a strangle hold on the distributors, that he was never able to get off the ground.
Roger developed the Delta Elite medallion grip in conjunction with Colt engineering dept. and we are the sole source for OEM replacement grips for the DE . In the late 1980's he developed the 3 panel wrapround grip for Colt to address the trend toward consumers removing the factory grips on Colt pistols for Pachmayrs or Hogues.The RC grips you bought are a quantum leap in design and material over the pachmayr grip. 1st, the heavy steel inserts were eliminated by moulding a ribbed backing to the grip. This saved 60% of the weight. 2nd, the material is called santoprene. It's so strong, it eliminated the need for grip screw backing washers. The older (cheaper) neoprene compound Pachmayr & Hogue grips are made from oxidizes, discolors and warps with age , sweat & exposure to solvents. Not santoprene.
I talked Roger into letting me put the grips up on eBay & Gunbroker since he couldn't get a retailer or distributor to take them on. Shooters LOVE 'em! Sales are slow this way but it gives us a chance to get to know folks & have fun . Both of us have day jobs & this is shooting & collecting $ for us. I'm glad you like the grips....we're proud of 'em. If you have friends who are interested in a set, please refer them to me for a set. Price is $10 + $3 for shipping.... anywhere in the US. The grips sell on ebay & Gunbroker for between $10 & $25.
BTW..nice article. I have the RC grips on my SA .45 as well!

Scott Candish
(address deleted)

Josh,

They ARE the Delta & Tactical Elite grips.....without the Colt logo! Same exact grip.

Scott

And from the eBay site:

New, never mounted on a gun. Made by Radical Concepts in Oregon, USA! The supplier to Colt Firearms of 1911 moulded grips since the 1980's. No recycled Chinese tires in these grips! Colt came to RC and wanted a wraparound grip for the 1911 line that would improve upon Pachmayr Signature grips . A ribbed design was developed that got rid of the heavy steel insert in the Pachmayr side panels and lightened the grip & thinned it . Colt loved them & put them on all the high end 1911 line like Delta Elite & Combat Elite Models. RC then designed their own logo & moulded it into the side panels in place of the Colt medallions & marketed them under their own name. Retail price in 1990 was $19.95, 5 bucks less than Pachmayrs.This is the last handful of those new grips. 16 line per inch checkering on the side panels, 24 l.p.i. on the frontstrap. Will fit Colt clones as well. AMT, Kimber, Taurus, S&W, Rock Island, Auto Ordnance, Charles Daly, Springfield Armory....Government and Commander models. Especially cool if your initials are "RC". Richard Crenna, Ralph Cramden, Ritchie Cunningham, Royal Crown Cola!

So it appears they're made by a small operation in Oregon and distributed via the internet by Mr. Candish.

I left the distributor's name intact while removing his physical and email addresses to protect his privacy. If you want a set, they are currently listed on Gunbroker under the name Steelcutter, at eBay under the name steelheadscott, or you could contact me and I'll give you the gent's email.

I have no financial interest here and, frankly, am surprised there is not a website up.

Josh <><

 

[Richard]

Josh, I bet that rubber is ideal for CCW, you hardly notice it catching on your clothing. I have never heard of needing extra support for an ambi safety nor have I ever seen a 1911 with a stubby safety on one side and an extended safety on the port side. What gives? 1911s have been around for 96 years and functioned very well without extra support for an ambi safety or your safety treatment. Leave well enough alone and concentrate on your shooting. Sorry, that is the way I see things. Regards, Richard

 

[Rob1035]

As a lefty, I can definitely see the benefits of an extended safety on the right side and a standard on the left. The one you use is big, the one you don't is low profile...

I've often contemplated trimming down the left side of ambi safeties on my 1911s.

 

[mljdeckard]

It certainly doesn't look at all bad, I have been using the Hogue wrap-arounds for many years, mostly because they stay a bit gummy under all elements. (That I have encountered so far.) My dad just got his first 1911, I might tell him to give these a look.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Dang Richard, did you follow me around or something? Here's my standard reply to you on the other boards, for the benefit(?) of these folks.

Josh, I bet that rubber is ideal for CCW, you hardly notice it catching on your clothing.

It's hard enough that it doesn't catch. Almost like wood would be if it could wrap around.

I have never heard of needing extra support for an ambi safety

It relieves the torsion on the joint where the ambi safety joins and makes it last quite a bit longer. It's highly recommended.

I ever seen a 1911 with a stubby safety on one side and an extended safety on the port side. What gives?

I'm left handed. It's like a right hander relieving the right side of an ambi safety.

1911s have been around for 96 years and functioned very well without extra support for an ambi safety or your safety treatment.

1911 ambi safeties have not been around all that long. I recommend "The Tactical 1911: The Street Cop's and SWAT Operator's Guide to Employment and Maintenance" by Gunsmith Dave Lauck, with sections by Ayoob and others. Despite the flashy name, it gives very good, sound advice and is not in the "mall ninja" class of books.

However, you're a right hander and so if I were you, I'd just stick with the left side only safety, unless you plan to employ it in a role where you may have to shoot it with your left hand.

These new grips are a result of my shooting. The Pachmayrs were not treating my left hand right, having been built for a right handed shooter.

Besides swapping out the grips, I've been done with this project for a while now.

Josh <><

 

[Mighty Hd]

Radical Concepts, Portland, OR

Did anyone ever find a source for these grips?

 

[Tom Fury]

Try it with a smile

An old trick I used to do with Officers' model wrap around grips was to cut a smile about a half inch deep (or less, depending on what feels good) out of the top of the frontstrap, with an x-acto allowing the middle finger to fall in a pocket that goes all the way to the metal. I know it sounds like heresy to go cutting on the grips, but it feels really good.
Maybe try it first on one of those old Packys'.

Cheers, TF

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Radical Concepts, Portland, OR

Did anyone ever find a source for these grips?

Post #3 on this thread.

Josh <><

 

[magman1]

I have a couple of sets of these if anyone is interested
please e mail [email protected] as I do not check the forum often
thanks
Larry in Reno

 

[krs]

As a lefty, I can definitely see the benefits of an extended safety on the right side and a standard on the left. The one you use is big, the one you don't is low profile...

I've often contemplated trimming down the left side of ambi safeties on my 1911s.

I did what Tom Fury describes on both a CCO Colt and a stainless Gold Cup I have that came with grips like these. That top of the wraparound bugged me until I cut it down so that my finger could ignore the 'step' feel.

I still have those with a colt medallion on the CCO and it's one of my main carrys.

Wish these grips didn't have the logo on them and my name's Ralph Cramden.