drewbeck

That is interesting and good to know. I definitely don't have a horse in this race just trying to get educated so thank you

Mike I definitely wasn't making a statement, I was asking the question because I always struggle understanding why "People say there is nothing like an SVI" to me parts are parts and some are better than others but to me they either have better parts or the "best" gunsmith in the world that makes the SVI stand above all others. So my question is always is it the parts or the guy putting them together that makes them what they are?

So if no other smith can build an SVI of comparable quality using all SVI parts everyone is saying that SVI is really the best gunsmith in the world?

Hence the question...Theoretically if another world class smith started with those parts (I know not possible) would it be an SVI, or would it just be "another" custom?

Do you know if they start with the same size grip to begin with and then machine the end mill cuts into the frame or is the aggressive a bigger grip to begin with? Matt Assuming they start with a standard grip and then end mill to create the recesses, I think if you wanted a smaller grip you could get the aggressive, file off all the points making it smooth and then add grip tape to the inset of the grip. It would take a fair amount of careful sanding/stoning but I think it could be done with patience fairly easily and finished with blasting and tape. Just a thought, there would be no going back on that though!

So the question that always runs through my head in these types of discussions is if akai, topsmith2, topsmith3, (not in any order) etc started with all SVI parts would the gun built be an SVI? Or "just" another custom?

Buy 7-13# and just try them, they will all feel different and shoot different. Your preference will also change as your shooting changes, and the load has a huge impact. If you bounce back and forth for a little while, one will stand out as feeling the best and shooting best because the sights return to an aligned state automatically when that happens buy a couple backups and keep shooting. I think trying them all is also good practice for really watching and paying attention to your sights. If you can tell how a spring actually impacts your sights, you are visually aware and paying attention to them

You should email them and ask if they do this. There will probably be quite a bit more machine marks left which may or may not be what you are looking for. I'm sure they would send you a pic of what they look like straight off the machine. You could probably get the same look and a better overall finish by just polishing the grip with a fine polish. I've thought about doing that to the points on the grip to make it shiny with dull recess but it would be a fair amount of work and when it arrived I liked the finish far more than I thought I would so I just left it.

The finish is just a sandblast finish. It is in the white but the texture from the blasting media changes the way light reflects making it grayer than a polished stainless. Ie the micro shadows make it look darker but there is no finish applied according to them when I asked the question. A finer blasting media would make it smoother and lighten it slightly

I'm leaving mine in the sand blasted finish. I'm polishing the inside to make sure nothing hangs up on reloads but the outside is a great texture. I also thought a lot about possible finishes. I think with the aggressive texture it would be tough to do. I'm not a plater but the detail in the machining may cause a lot of build up and clumping. They also said it's tough to get a consistent finish in the tiny recesses. The regular texture would probably lend itself to coatings better.

That is very nice, I just added a PT grip myself. Out of curiousity what does the gun weigh as built?

I like it

I haven't noticed any heat concerns with the grip. I'm sure if you put a black finish on it, it would get a little warmer than the stainless finish, but I don't have anything to back that theory up

The gun currently weighs in at 50.2oz, I didnt weigh it before but STI lists the weight at 39.2 for this gun. The PT safety is probably 2+ oz heavier than the stock one, so I'm guessing the grip is 8-9oz heavier than the plastic. I didn't have time to break it down tonight but next time I do I'll weigh it all. Does anyone have experience lightening a factory hard chrome slide???

There is more angle on the right side than the left however, it is still wider than almost all "wide" safeties. I'll take a pic next to the standard STI one tomorrow for reference.

What he said...They're huge!! Personally I was looking more for the slide guard than the pad size so it's gonna take a little while to whittle them down to the size I prefer. Anyone by the way can do this with a file and sandpaper if they take a little off at a time until they like the overall size.

They are way oversized even on the left handed (right) side. PM inbound

I'll try to get this tonight. I haven't weighed it yet and am still working. The recoil is for sure softer and better in my opinion and the balance is better even with the full weight slide, bull barrell, and long frame. I may lighten it, I've been looking at Gans but I'm hesitant with it being hard chrome already. Does anyone have experience with lightening a slide already HC'd

Quack what magwell is that?

Yup, mine is SS aggressive and completely changes the feel for the better. I posted my experience with getting it a couple days ago. They are sweet!

Check this area, if the grip is too long it will force the frame forward and not let it seat

Mark and check the fit of the front two corners of the grip and the overall length of the flat portion around the trigger guard. On mine, I had a very similar thing going on and found that the area round the trigger guard was a little too tight and the inlet was catching the grip. You can also check and see if the front screw will go in. Mine wouldn't and this is why I really started looking around the front. It may be too long and this pushes the frame back too far in the grip. The top front of the grip should be flat and flush in the frame inlet. Hold off removing any more material in the back and make sure the front fits in totally

They were a fun project, the holster mount cost was probably 2 or 3 bucks. If you can find a place that sells scrap they will have all types of small pieces to buy. If you buy longer sticks from Home Depot or somewhere similar you usually have to buy too much for one mount. I have extra now and a couple more designs I want to try. The best part is how much more room there is between the gun and belt without all the bulk plastic material. It's also so much stiffer and solid feeling than the plastic.

Ya, I will like go to a PT frame when I have a custom done. Shot it today, I definitely need to spend some time dry firing and shooting it outside of matches. The grip felt great but I have some work to do on my index as it changed slightly with the weight. Overall it felt great and I never noticed the aggressive texture other than it felt very solid and sticky but not rough at all.

I wasn't aware of Invictus, thanks for sharing. Their products look like a good solution for those not interested in making one themselves