MODIFICATION - 1911 GRIP MEDALLIONS

MODIFICATION - 1911 GRIP MEDALLIONS
I’m getting wood at regular intervals now, which is an improvement!
I want to add an extra touch to my Sheriff outfit, so I decided to inlay some Texas Peace Officer medallions into a pair of grips.
This project is like a pair of stiletto heels: Extremely Uncomfortable, but holy moly it does look sexy.

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   • MODIFICATION - 1911 GRIP MEDALLIONS  
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STEP 1 MATERIAL
The grips are made of rosewood and they have diamond cuts with a border.
The medallions are made out of sterling silver, with a screw back attachment.
STEP 2 CENTERING
The first step is to make sure I drill the hole in the centre on both grips, so I designed and 3d-printed this jig.
It's available for download on my Patreon page.
Or you can do without it, and guesstimate the position.
I place the jig in my vice.
I use a 2mm drill bit, and adjust my vice lengthwise, making sure the drill hits the centre of the 2 grip screw holes and the centre hole.
Now that it’s centred, I need to set the depth of the drill.
STEP 3 MEASURING
To do that I need to measure the grip panel and the medallion.
The grip panel is 6.7mm thick, and the medallions 4.5mm.
So drilling about 3mm into the grip seems to be a good compromise.
I want the medallions to be firmly seated in the grips, but with enough thickness left on the grip panels so I don’t destroy them.
STEP 4 DRILLING
After choosing the depth, I place the left grip panel in the jig, secure it with the screws, and away we go.
I use a 38mm Forstner bit to make the hole for the medallions. Since I can't add back wood, I make a shallow cut. If there is a need I can go back to this step and make it deeper.
My medallions have a screw attachment on the back, so I drill straight through the left grip to accommodate the screw.
For this I use a regular 5.5mm drill bit for wood.
Oopsy daisy, my wood got excited. Note to self: Anchor it.
STEP 5 MOCKUP
I now place the medallion in the left grip
And attach the screw.
After some consideration I decided not to go any deeper into the grip. Since I don't want to ruin the border or risk a structural failure. The downside is the huge gap between the medallion and the frame.
They will be very awkward to hold, but it’s not a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of style!
I test the setup on my gun.
Making sure the screw won't interfere with the magazine.
Being satisfied with my left grip, I repeat the whole process on the right grip.
STEP 6 FINE TUNING
Now to choose which line to follow. Either the horizontal line of the slide or the line of the grips. I choose the latter.
STEP 7 TESTING
When both grip panels are installed, and looking MARVELLOUS,
It's time to test fire this thing.

Please note that I’m performing these modifications at my own risk. These mods can go very wrong if you lack the skills, tools and knowledge required, and can damage your equipment and parts as well as cause injury on your person if you attempt them yourself. Please do not attempt to replicate these actions on your own and only hire professionals to carry out these tasks.