okie john
05-15-11, 16:37
I like (or can tolerate) everything about Glocks but the grip angle. After several thousand rounds through my G19 over the last few months, I bought a used G23 that had been customized by Robar with their frontstrap reduction, backstrap reduction, and high-grip modification. In my hands, it's superior to the stock grip. I tried the G19 upper on this lower and found that it ran perfectly, so it became my EDC.
I liked the grip reduction, but I wanted it done cheaper, faster, and locally, so I went with Dane Burns of Burns Custom Pistols (http://burnscustom.com/). I've known Dane professionally for going on 15 years. He has a well-deserved reputation as a great 1911 guy. I had already rasped off the finger grooves and increased the trigger guard clearance. Dane eliminated the hump and relieved the frame in the beavertail area, then stippled the front and back straps.
Stock G19 (left), Burns-modified G19 (right).
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/okie_john/3StockG19BurnsG19.jpg
This shows a stock G19 with the Burns-modified pistol. The lip at the bottom of the front strap feels more pronounced than before because I removed a LOT of material when I cut off the finger grooves. And you can’t see it, but this masterful rasp work inadvertently created a long, wide flat that runs vertically down the front strap where the finger grooves used to be. Combined with Dane’s stippling and the other work, they give this pistol a most excellent feel in the hand.
Burns-modified G19 (left), Robar G23 (right).
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/okie_john/4BurnsG19RobarG23.jpg
Differences between Burns and Robar pistols include:
1. The stippling on the Burns pistol is rougher than the finish on the Robar pistol, which is several years old. I suspect the Burns pistol will smooth up a bit in time.
2. The Robar grip extends down behind the magazine slightly. This gives a slightly different grip, as I can feel the corner of the magazine on the heel of my hand with the Burns pistol but not with the Robar. I doubt that this makes any difference.
3. The Robar finish wraps 360 degree around the grip—purely cosmetic but a nice touch. The front strap and backstrap texture on the Burns pistol differ somewhat from the stock texture, but in an altogether agreeable way.
The cost including return shipping was $200, and turnaround was a snappy six days. (Cost for the Robar work is $285. Not sure what their waiting time is now.)
I've taken it to the range a couple of times and found it to be fully the equal of the Robar pistol in terms of handling, so I’ll have Dane do a couple of more of these very soon.
Please let me know if anyone has questions.
Okie John
I liked the grip reduction, but I wanted it done cheaper, faster, and locally, so I went with Dane Burns of Burns Custom Pistols (http://burnscustom.com/). I've known Dane professionally for going on 15 years. He has a well-deserved reputation as a great 1911 guy. I had already rasped off the finger grooves and increased the trigger guard clearance. Dane eliminated the hump and relieved the frame in the beavertail area, then stippled the front and back straps.
Stock G19 (left), Burns-modified G19 (right).
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/okie_john/3StockG19BurnsG19.jpg
This shows a stock G19 with the Burns-modified pistol. The lip at the bottom of the front strap feels more pronounced than before because I removed a LOT of material when I cut off the finger grooves. And you can’t see it, but this masterful rasp work inadvertently created a long, wide flat that runs vertically down the front strap where the finger grooves used to be. Combined with Dane’s stippling and the other work, they give this pistol a most excellent feel in the hand.
Burns-modified G19 (left), Robar G23 (right).
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/okie_john/4BurnsG19RobarG23.jpg
Differences between Burns and Robar pistols include:
1. The stippling on the Burns pistol is rougher than the finish on the Robar pistol, which is several years old. I suspect the Burns pistol will smooth up a bit in time.
2. The Robar grip extends down behind the magazine slightly. This gives a slightly different grip, as I can feel the corner of the magazine on the heel of my hand with the Burns pistol but not with the Robar. I doubt that this makes any difference.
3. The Robar finish wraps 360 degree around the grip—purely cosmetic but a nice touch. The front strap and backstrap texture on the Burns pistol differ somewhat from the stock texture, but in an altogether agreeable way.
The cost including return shipping was $200, and turnaround was a snappy six days. (Cost for the Robar work is $285. Not sure what their waiting time is now.)
I've taken it to the range a couple of times and found it to be fully the equal of the Robar pistol in terms of handling, so I’ll have Dane do a couple of more of these very soon.
Please let me know if anyone has questions.
Okie John