Polymer Frame/Grip Texturing FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about our polymer frame/grip texturing service.  If you don't see the question/answer that you are wanting please contact us via email or a direct message on Instagram or Facebook!

Aggressive Competition style texture on the left, and

less aggressive Concealed Carry style texture on the right.

Q: Do you offer "gap" or "recessed" borders?

A: Those types of borders look great when done properly, but we don't offer any type of special borders due to the amount of time it takes to make them look good.  If you want those types of borders on your polymer frame/grip, then there are a lot of professionals out there that specialize in them.

Q: Do you offer other textures besides your Concealed Carry or Competition textures?

A: Over several years we have developed and refined the technique that we use to consistently produce our Concealed Carry and Competition textures, and we feel that it looks great and is very functional, so we are sticking to those two textures for now.  If you want a specific texture, then it's best to send your polymer frame/grip to someone that specializes in that particular type of texture.

Q: Do you texture different colored polymer frames?

A: Currently we only provide texture service for black polymer frames and grips.  The technique that we use to consistently produce our texture does not work well with colored polymer as it tends to leave a lot of burned or discolored areas within the polymer that is almost impossible to avoid or remove. Colored polymer frames/grips require a specific technique, a specific heat range, and extra special care to avoid these discolored areas.

Q: Do you offer any frame/grip modifications along with your texturing?

A: We can do some basic stuff like trigger guard undercuts and finger groove removal on Glocks. We've even done a few grip chops, but we currently don't do any modifications that require structural changes to the frame/grip due to liability issues.  If you are wanting something specific, send us an email or a direct message on Instagram or Facebook to discuss.

Q: What is your lead time to get a frame/grip textured?

A: That really depends on what is already in the queue, but we are certainly not back-logged like the more well-known professionals out there. Once we receive your frame/grip, we can typically get it done and shipped back out to you or your FFL within a week.

Q: How do I ship you my frame/grip if I am not in the Texas Panhandle area?

A: If the item you are shipping is considered a serialized firearm, then you'll need to ship it to us per Federal regulations. Contact us for our FFL's contact/shipping information.  You will be responsible for the cost of shipping the frame/grip to our FFL, and you will be responsible for the cost of the transfer back to you at your local FFL when you pick it up.  We will cover the cost of the FFL transfer on our end to receive the frame, but the return shipping back to your FFL will be $50 which includes additional insurance. If the item you are shipping is NOT considered a serialized firearm (i.e. - Sig P320 grip modules or 2011 grip modules), then you can ship it directly to us and we can ship it directly back to you when done at a less expensive rate.

Q: Your rate is $25 per hour, but how many hours will it take for my gun?

A: It usually takes 4 to 6 hours to prep and texture a polymer frame/grip once it's on the bench depending on what is involved, so the average cost is around $100 to $150 plus $50 for return shipping if applicable.

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

CZ P-09 Grip Chop and Texture

Here is a CZ P-09 that we just did a grip chop to P-07 size with our concealed carry texture. This one was a little more difficult to do than the Glock 17 grip chop that we did recently, but it turned out really nice. Similarly to the Glock 17 grip chop, we added a little bit of material to the bottom lip of the front strap so that it lines up with the magazine base plate. The grip can now accommodate the flush fitting 15-round P-07 magazines for ultimate concealment or the extended 17-round P-07 magazines, which still make the gun shorter than the ultra long P-09 grip length. 👌

The unmodified P-09 frame.

A P-07 backstrap in place prior to cutting.

Initial cut to a P-07 size.

Original texture smoothed out and ready for new texture. We added extra material to the bottom lip of the front strap so that it lines up with the magazine base pad.

Finished texture with a 4mm smooth border at the bottom.

Compared to a stock P-07 frame.

With a flush fit 15-round magazine inserted.

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

Modified FOMI Belt Clip for IWB Holsters

We use the authentic USA made FOMI belt clips (Fold Over Mold Injected) as a standard belt clip on our light indexing IWB holsters. These belt clips are very durable (made of Nylon 66) and are very convenient for putting the holster on or taking it off the belt. The only problem with these clips is that the large reverse tab at the bottom of the clip that makes them so easy on/off can sometimes get bumped against something and inadvertently get dislodged from the belt, or loose clothing can occasionally get snagged under the tab which may impede accessing the gun quickly in a high stress situation. We offer a modified version of the FOMI belt clip for our light indexing IWB holsters by request at no additional charge.  This trimmed down version of the clip makes it more secure on the belt, virtually eliminates the chance of clothing getting snagged under the end of the clip, and it reduces the overall bulk of the clip for less printing under clothing. The caveat is that it makes getting the clip on and off the belt just a little less easy, but we think it's worth the extra security and peace of mind.

Modified version on the left vs standard version on the right

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

Glock 17 Grip Chop and Texture

Just finished up this Gen3 Glock 17 with a grip chop to a Glock 19 size. Finger groove removal, recontoured trigger guard, concealed carry texture, beveled magwell opening, and also added a lip to the bottom of the front strap to give the Magpul magwell something to hook onto. 👍

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

Stippling Work for Polymer Frames and Grips

We are now offering stippling work for polymer frames and grips.  We've been doing stippling work for a couple of years now on our personal guns, but we've had enough interest from other people to offer it as a service.  RFV Tactical does not have an FFL at the moment, so this service is only available to the Texas panhandle area for now.  Our rate is $25 per hour, and most stippling work can be completed in 3 to 4 hours once we have the item in hand.  Below are some examples of our work.

Staccato C2 2011 with aggressive texture

Glock 17/34 frame with aggressive texture

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

Holster Length Matters!

When it comes to non-light bearing IWB holsters, we always recommend a holster made for the fullsize version of a gun for use with a compact gun (assuming the frame/slide profile is the same) as the extra length aids in concealment.  If the holster is made for the shorter compact version of a gun, the grip of the gun above the belt line tends to tilt out away from your body which makes the gun print more when concealed.  The additional length of a fullsize holster helps to counteract the gun from tilting out above the belt line. In most cases the extra length also allows a comfort puck to be mounted to the back of the holster which further counteracts the tilting.  

A 3.9" Staccato C2 in a holster for a 4.25" 2011 Commander

A CZ P-07 in a holster for a CZ P-09

A Glock 19 in a holster for a Glock 17

With subcompact guns like the Glock 43 or Sig P365, we will use the longer version of the gun as the mold (i.e. Glock 48 or Sig P365XL), and then simply trim down the end of the holster to reduce the overall length but still keep the holster around 1/2" longer than the gun's frame/slide profile.

If a longer version of a subcompact gun doesn't exist (i.e. Springfield Hellcat), then we will artificially add an extra 1/2" inch to the slide/frame profile of the mold.

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/

Minimalist Kydex Wallets

We are now offering minimalist wallets with an integrated money clip as an accessory product. These are based on the same design as our universal fit mag carriers and will hold up to 10 credit cards. Our wallets are made with 0.080" thick Kydex or Holstex. Available in Black, Carbon Fiber, Gunmetal Gray, Olive Drab, and Flat Dark Earth. Other colors and prints can be special ordered for additional cost and wait time.

Check out our website for more details and pricing on all of our products!

http://www.rfvtactical.com/