Customizing Your Off-Duty Weapon

Aug. 13, 2021
It doesn't have to cost a lot to customize your weapon. Know what you need and want and source it accordingly.
Duty handguns, in the law enforcement profession today, are fairly dull. What I mean by that is that they are standard issue, standard design, basic features weapons. It’s part of the uniform appearance and restricted or limited features makes administrative concerns easier for the agency. But none of that applies to your off-duty handgun(s) and many of us prefer to “dress the gun up” a bit. What is involved in that and how expensive can it be?

Well, if you get out of hand, it can be costly. After you buy your off-duty gun for something between $400 to $600, you could easily spend equal that amount again in gunsmithing, an optic, grip/frame customization, after-market magazines, extensions and more. Recognizing that, if you want to customize your gun without effectively doubling the cost, there are other things you can do.

Replacing the magazine catch and the slide stop is usually easy. The parts aren’t typically expensive and the swapout is something most gun owners can do. (If you’re not SURE you can do it properly, then don’t. Get a certified armorer or gunsmith to do it.) Changing from regular sights to night sights is another fairly simple change and you can find night sights online for under $80 if you are patient and look. Adding a light/laser unit is usually pretty easy, but the unit itself can be costly depending on the manufacturer and features/performance offered. Don’t forget that there’s an ongoing cost to lights and lasers: the batteries you have to feed them.
Frame/grip customization can be costly, as can slide cut work. While both offer true custom appearance and performance increase potential, many gun owners find the cost prohibitive. There is, however, a less costly solution. Companies like Talon Gun Grips make appliqués in various sizes, textures and colors for a wide variety of guns. If they don’t make a set of grip wraps for your particular weapon, they offer sheets of the material so you can cut your own. I have Talon Gun Grips on my Glock Model 43, Glock Model 48 and Glock Model 17. I have used pieces of their material to cut myself and put on the front strap of my Springfield Armory 1911 because it was smooth and I wanted more grip purchase. Additionally, for color contrast or other “custom touches,” such materials can be cut and applied to front sides of the slide, other contact points on the frame/grip and even on magazine extensions.

At the end of the day, we all need to be confident in, competent and comfortable with our off-duty weapon. If “dressing it up” some helps with that, then go for it. Just don’t let someone sell you on expensive custom work that you don’t need. Know what you need. Know what you want. Source and price it accordingly. Use reliable, vouched-for gunsmiths/custom shops. Share the results—good or bad. That’s how the rest of us know what shops and gunsmiths to use.  

About the Author

Lt. Frank Borelli (ret), Editorial Director | Editorial Director

Lt. Frank Borelli is the Editorial Director for the Officer Media Group. Frank brings 20+ years of writing and editing experience in addition to 40 years of law enforcement operations, administration and training experience to the team.

Frank has had numerous books published which are available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other major retail outlets.

If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email at [email protected].

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