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Removing Gen 3 Finger Grooves

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biscut53

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Seriously considering finger groove removal on G3 Glock 23. In a perfect world, my Gen 3 would have the same feel as a Gen 5. That is what I seek. Recommendations? Yes, I know the only way to ensure I get the feel I want is to buy a Gen 5. Push that silly fact aside.

What have you guys done? Who did the work? and how does it feel in the hand? Pics would be really beneficial as well.
 
#3 ·
You can easily do the work yourself with a dremel or even a round file. Most smiths or whoever won't charge that much to take them off for you if you don't want to do it on your own.
 
#6 ·
I've removed them from all 7 of my Gen 4's: 3 34's, 2 35's, and 2 41's. I block sanded mine, by hand, with the proper grits, with a 3-M dust nibbing pad. I've also removed the texture from the front and rear straps of said guns and put skateboard tape, there. If you take your time and are careful, you can remove the entire humps and have a perfectly flat front strap. Knowing when to change grits up to 1500 for the final finish (1200 for the final finish will also work) is key so you're not going into the actual grip plastic. Any of that you remove is eating into the 'structure' of the grip. The humps are not structure nor is the texture. All that stuff is is a nuisance. IMO, no matter what kind of texture comes on a Glock, it doesn't work with sweaty hands. Skateboard tape works if you got motor oil on your hands.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
This isn't a project I want to undertake myself. I don't think I can replace a Gen 3 olive drab lower if I mess it up. Can anyone recommend professional service for this?

I'd love to see some pics of how they come out.

Rocky: You have a little confused. I don't have a Gen 5 40cal. I like my Gen 3 OD Glock 23 and if I could get the grip grooved flattened I'd have no need for a Gen 5 40 at all.
 
#9 ·
biscut53 said:
I'd love to see some pics of how they come out.
Click to expand...
I didn't miss this the first time you asked...I just got no way of getting a pic on the net (no phone or camera of my own). The only 2 I've ever posted, here, my daughter helped me with and those took acts of God to get her to do. If I ever get a cell that'll do it, I'm gonna post about a gozillion pics of my work.
 
#13 ·
biscut53 said:
Seriously considering finger groove removal on G3 Glock 23. In a perfect world, my Gen 3 would have the same feel as a Gen 5. That is what I seek. Recommendations? Yes, I know the only way to ensure I get the feel I want is to buy a Gen 5. Push that silly fact aside.

What have you guys done? Who did the work? and how does it feel in the hand? Pics would be really beneficial as well.
Click to expand...
Don't use a Dremel tool. Dremel tools are too hungry and it's too easy to remove material and impossible to put it back.

Use a 1/4" coarse square file and just file down the "Bumps" and leave the factory checkering between the bumps. Then wrap different grits of sandpaper around the file to try to blend in with the factory texture. Removing the dumbass finger grooves allows your hand to assume a natural position on the grip and leaving the factory checkering eliminates the need for ugly-ass stippling.

Below is a picture of a job that was professionally done but I don't know who did it. but you can do it yourself if you're reasonably skilled and the hardest part is matching the factory texture, but you can come real close to doing so using different grits of sandpaper and coarse steel wool.
Image
 
#14 ·
Borg Warner said:
impossible to put it back.
Click to expand...
You can put it back but you have to take the shavings and turn them to plastic dust which is tedious and then you have to mix it with epoxy and apply it to the part you whoopsed on, which is messy and has to be resanded all over again. I agree with you...just do it by hand from the get go and watch what you're doing. It's easier than many think.
 
#16 ·
harold63 said:
You can put it back but you have to take the shavings and turn them to plastic dust which is tedious and then you have to mix it with epoxy and apply it to the part you whoopsed on, which is messy and has to be resanded all over again. I agree with you...just do it by hand from the get go and watch what you're doing. It's easier than many think.
Click to expand...
Doing it by hand is not hard to do but a professional can do a better job of matching the texture if you want it to look really nice and you're willing to pay 75-100 bucks. If so, my suggestion would be to copy the picture I posted and show it to someone who specializes in polymer grip modifications and have them duplicate it.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
That is exactly what I am hoping f
Borg Warner said:
Don't use a Dremel tool. Dremel tools are too hungry and it's too easy to remove material and impossible to put it back.

Use a 1/4" coarse square file and just file down the "Bumps" and leave the factory checkering between the bumps. Then wrap different grits of sandpaper around the file to try to blend in with the factory texture. Removing the dumbass finger grooves allows your hand to assume a natural position on the grip and leaving the factory checkering eliminates the need for ugly-ass stippling.

Below is a picture of a job that was professionally done but I don't know who did it. but you can do it yourself if you're reasonably skilled and the hardest part is matching the factory texture, but you can come real close to doing so using different grits of sandpaper and coarse steel wool.
View attachment 978711
Click to expand...
That is exactly what I am hoping for!! I wan't it done professionally. I built my home by myself in 2004 and I learned a lot. I don't want to attempt this on my own as I won't be able to find another olive drab lower if things go bad....and I want it to look professional as well.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Bradley T said:
Why not do the smartest thing and simply trade the Gen 3 for a Gen 5?
Click to expand...
Please don't tell me what is "smartest." I can make my own decisions, thank you. I'm sure you didn't mean it as pretentious as it sounds. I thank you for the suggestion but I have reasons to want to keep the Gen 3 and make it more comfortable if I can.
 
#20 ·
biscut53 said:
Seriously considering finger groove removal on G3 Glock 23. In a perfect world, my Gen 3 would have the same feel as a Gen 5. That is what I seek. Recommendations? Yes, I know the only way to ensure I get the feel I want is to buy a Gen 5. Push that silly fact aside.

What have you guys done? Who did the work? and how does it feel in the hand? Pics would be really beneficial as well.
Click to expand...
Since you don’t want to go the gen.5 route I’d send it in to Wilson Combat
or another company that does similar quality work to do a good job on it.
I wouldn’t want to risk doing a bad job on it myself.
Keep in mind that less then a professional job done on this, you’ll get
a lot less money off of it if you ever go to sell or trade it in.
It’s something to think about.
Whatever you decide, good luck to you.
 
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