Make your own Delrin (aka Big Dog) grips for your CS9/40/45

[CS45Fan]

Hi Folks -
I read a lot of post on this site about these "Big Dog" grips. Like some of you, I tried to contact BIG Dog but no response. So I took it upon myself to see if I can do this. After 2 failed attempts I found the right combination of parts to successfully make these grips for my CS45 (see pics).

If anyone is interested, I attached a PDF file with the parts, tools and steps I used. Sorry - I didn't have time to take step by step pics (which would be after the fact anyway). If you try my instructions, please let me know how you make out. Good luck!
Cheers!
CSFan45

 

[prescobd]

The look good. Good luck with them.

 

[nocents]

nice job.....look great........there is a CS45 like yours local to me that I really am being tempted by.......but a 4513TSW is still calling my name

 

[TercGen]

Nice work CS45Fan, and thanks for sharing your process!

 

[HCH]

Nice job.
Tell me about using Krylon for a touchup. I've been considering trying it to get a little more grip. Was it the "for plastics" type of Krylon? How does it hold up?
Thanks and thanks for your write-up.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Nice work! I've been working on a pair of 3913TSW grips for my CS9 since I brought it home. I've been doing a little each day, but so far they're coming along nicely.

My goal is to make everything fit around the mag catch and side plate. It's not quite where I want it yet, but it's getting there.

ETA: New picture with the re-contoured mag catch notch.

 

[CS45Fan]

Thank you all for the compliments!

To HCH - here is the link to the Krylon paint. I used Camouflage Paint made with Fusion for Plastic® Technology - | Krylon

I've read of folks using it their firearms and I can't tell you how it holds up - but I suspect it won't hold up like Cerakote You can always respray it if it wears - only takes a few minutes and suppose to be completely dry in 1 hr. Just don't over spray!

I did another pair of used delrin grips that were really wore and now they look brand new. You can buy it at any automotive store. Best part its cheap for a can and will last a long time.

To Nakano - they are looking really nice!!! The trick is that backstrap - plunger area and how you get the plunger to sit in there. Good luck!

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Nice!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[TercGen]

Nice work! I've been working on a pair of 3913TSW grips for my CS9 since I brought it home. I've been doing a little each day, but so far they're coming along nicely.

My goal is to make everything fit around the mag catch and side plate. It's not quite where I want it yet, but it's getting there.

Looking good, Nakanokalronin! Through research and some experience with making these grips, I'm convinced you won't be able to get these on totally straight, they'll always be slightly skewed.

From what I can see from your picture, you are basically there already. I would recommend grinding the mag release button arc a little longer & higher to help it clear the button, then see if that helps to move the grips forward a smidge.

I also took material off of the back vertical wall of the sideplate cutout (top left of the left grip side) to relieve pressure on the sideplate tab. This also helped my grips to slide forward a bit.

Next comes the fun part - finding the hole!!

 

[BruceB]

Looking at my CS40 with original Big Dog grips, the forward edge of the grips are parallel with the edge of the mag well where it meets the front strap. The cutout for the mag release button is lower than the button (not centered) but it doesn't come near touching the button.

Mine have the extended rear section of the grips so the bottom lines up with the mag bottom. I much prefer this, the extra length makes the grip better - for me.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

Looking good, Nakanokalronin! Through research and some experience with making these grips, I'm convinced you won't be able to get these on totally straight, they'll always be slightly skewed.

From what I can see from your picture, you are basically there already. I would recommend grinding the mag release button arc a little longer & higher to help it clear the button, then see if that helps to move the grips forward a smidge.

I also took material off of the back vertical wall of the sideplate cutout (top left of the left grip side) to relieve pressure on the sideplate tab. This also helped my grips to slide forward a bit.

Next comes the fun part - finding the hole!!

I was planning on making the mag catch area on both sides a little bigger for clearance and did so this morning. The grips don't move any farther than in the picture so I may just leave it as is. I ordered a really inexpensive used set of 3913 Hogue grips yesterday so I could modify that insert instead of the one that came with my CS9. This way the CS9 Hogue grips I have stay complete and unaltered.

I have a few ideas to mark and maybe even cut out the hole from the inside. One involves heat and the other is a custom finger operated drill.

 

[Hill_Country]

I think you've figured out the secret to this modification by using the little plastic blocks. This is a great approach to solving the mainspring cup problem.

The little plastic blocks are both a blessing - in that they make it possible - and also a curse in that they are easy to screw up. I went through a bunch of them when I was modifying the Crimson Trace lasergrips to fit various 3d gen models. CT finally wouldn't give me any more and they wouldn't sell them individually. But the good folks at Hogue were happy to sell them to me at a buck a pop (which I was only to happy to pay). Much cheaper than buying spare grips. I might have a few left if you have any problems getting them from Hogue.

I'm sure you figured this out, but there is a ridge inside the Delrin grips that has to fit tight against the rear of the frame. The grips index on the tab under the beaver tail and this ridge and if you don't have it tight the grips will wobble just enough that you'll hate it.

Getting that ridge tight against the frame - and then drilling the hole in the right spot - looks to me to be the toughest part of the project. The CT grips were much easier since I could just put one side on the frame and use that for a template (and it was still tricky).

 

[TercGen]

I was planning on making the mag catch area on both sides a little bigger for clearance and did so this morning. The grips don't move any farther than in the picture so I may just leave it as is. I ordered a really inexpensive used set of 3913 Hogue grips yesterday so I could modify that insert instead of the one that came with my CS9. This way the CS9 Hogue grips I have stay complete and unaltered.

I have a few ideas to mark and maybe even cut out the hole from the inside. One involves heat and the other is a custom finger operated drill.

Looks good with the new mag catch cutout!

Tom 45 shared a good method for finding the pilot hole that has been successful for me, basically a very educated guess with a tiny drill bit. Making sure that the bottom of the grips are straight and flush with the bottom of the frame, I marked the center line of the pin hole first on the frame, perpendicular to the bottom edge, then put the grips on and transferred the mark to the bottom of the grips. I then measured the distance to the approximate center of the grip pin hole from the bottom of the frame on the same line, using a digital caliper. With a 1/16" bit, I drilled a hole the same distance up from the mark on the bottom of the grip, and have been inside the pin hole every time.


@Bruce B,

I have seen some photos of CS40's & CS45's with straight-fitted Delrin grips before, even one example with the extended grip that was fully straight and seated, with the mag button cutout centered and the sideplate apparently fully covered. I believe it is possible to do so with these models, but have yet to find a photo of a CS9 that didn't look to be a bit skewed.

If it is possible, I would love to hear about how someone did so, as I wasted a few grips trying myself.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

TercGen,

It might have to do with the types of grips used. The TSW grips may be a tad askew, but still cover the plate while the regular 3913 grips fit straight right off the bat. It could be that the back strap is thicker on the TSW grips towards the bottom due to where the hammer spring cup area is cut off. I'm not 100% sure, but most of the Big Dogs grips I've seen are askew and only a few are straight. This is all speculation since I don't have any factory 3913 grips to compare them to, but mine were more askew until I started taking material off the bottom inside of the back strap past the removal of what's left over of the spring cup retainer.

If you Google "CS9 Big Dog grips" you'll see both examples and the straight one's seem to have been cut all the way across the bottom like what would have to be done with a regular 3913 grip. I can make mine straight, but I have to push them back and up which won't do. As they sit in the picture, they don't move at all and look to be in the same position as the Big Dog versions I've seen.

Thanks for the tip on the hole positioning. After thinking about the other options, I figured that I might as well make a small jig that fits in where the spring cup retainer goes, put the factory pin in and put the grips on. The jig would go up and around the bottom and have a hole on the other side lined up with the one inside. This way I just drill straight through from the outside. I'm waiting on the Hogue 3913 grips to come in so I have time to make one on my milling machine. If it works I'll send the jig to the next person doing the same grip modification and they can send it to someone else, etc.

 

[tom 45]

Hi Tercgen,

This is a photo of my CS9.
This is the best I could do to get the side plate and mag release centered.
Don't ask me how I did it.
This is the second grip I did...
I really took my time on it.

 

[tom 45]

This is a better photo to show the alignment.

 

[TercGen]

Wow, great fit on your grips Tom 45!! Your front edge looks parallel to the frame to me, and I've never seen a better fit on a CS9. Thanks for sharing that man, I wish you knew exactly how you did it.

Now that I see it's possible, I think I'll try making a new set for mine as well and see if I can't fit them better. I've still got a few extra grips and won't be using my CS9 during the Winter, so good time for a project!

 

[nocents]

This is a better photo to show the alignment.

very nice look indeed.....for some reason the grey grip looks better on your CS9 than a 3913LS/NL

 

[Nakanokalronin]

This is a better photo to show the alignment.

Looks pretty good to me. I'll try to get mine a little straighter after I get the hammer spring cup insert in. It might have more to do with aligning them better.

 

[BruceB]

Hi Tercgen,

This is a photo of my CS9.
This is the best I could do to get the side plate and mag release centered.
Don't ask me how I did it.
This is the second grip I did...
I really took my time on it.

Well done! That's how grips should fit !

I tried to get some shots of the real Big dog grips on my two-tone CS40, it's tough to get any contrast between the grips and the black frame.