AGW Custom Hand and Laser Honeycomb Stippling Grip Reduction and Gas Pedal Cut Glock G45 Gen 5 Pistol

To Stipple or Not to Stipple...

November 20, 2024

A lot of people ask if they should get their frame stippled or use a grip tape product. Others say never stipple as it reduces the value of the firearm.

Bushido Glock G43x

Custom Art Work Commissioned for Glock G19

Law Enforcement G45 for Duty / Training combines form and function (Gas pedal and Grip reduction / Laser and Custom Stippling)

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to stippling vs grip tape. Much of it is firearm dependent and up to the owner/user.

If you purchased a firearm as an investment only, stippling and grip tape are probably not needed. Neither really increases value of collector items and if functional grip is not needed you can pass on the above options.

If you have a job that requires a duty weapon or tactical application then function takes priority over form. Stippling and Laser Stippling can accomplish both. Grip tapes are more of a one size fits all solution for the user. I have used products from several companies and had mixed results, often my experience ends with removal and replacing tape with laser stippling. Grip tapes always rely on some type of adhesive. Most of these do not mix well with gun oil and cleaners, sweat from CCW use or hard daily use in and out of a duty holster. They also add more girth to the grip area which is not always desirable. In fact most Glock users want less girth so grip tape is already a step in the wrong direction.

Custom Glock 19 G3 with Grip tape (Increase in already large grip diameter/girth)

Lets get some facts straight before we try and pitch the case for why stippling is better than grip tape and why when done properly it can actually add value to a firearm.

What is Stippling?

Laser Stippled G19 Frame (AGW Honeycomb Pattern)

Stippling is the process of adding some sort of texture to a firearm grip to increase the positive engagement between the users hand and the frame. This is usually accomplished by adding texture to the frame or grip and most of the time is is done by melting the polymer with a hot piece of metal. Most firearms from the factory have some sort of texture molded directly into the grip/frame. Glock most notably has small square bumps that protrude from the grip area to add texture. These bumps add surface area and edges so that more contact is made with the users hand. Stippling does the same thing. When a small hot piece of metal is inserted into the polymer frame it melts and creates a small pock or dimple. These can be varied in shape and size depending on the piece of metal and technique being used. However the principal remains the same, by creating more surface area and more edges for the hand to grip we get a more positive engagement for the users hand. Competition shooters like Taran Butler of Taran Tactical Innovations has used small pock stippling for decades. The smaller the pock creates more edges resulting in a very positive engagement. Some people would call this an "aggressive" stipple pattern, because of the large amount of positive engagement. The advantage of this pattern is the amount of engagement can be toned down by simply sanding the polymer grip area with a high grit sand paper to remove some of the aggressive purchase. This method has ultimate flexibility because it can really be fine tuned for each specific user and even more fine tuned based on where on the grip you want aggressive vs non aggressive stippling. This stippling is tedious and can be time consuming but for competition use or maximum engagement may be worth it.

Stock Glock 19 G3

The Same Glock G19 G3 after gunsmithing by Taran Tactical Innovations

Laser stippling, more than just a neat pattern.

Laser stippling has become very popular over the last several years, specifically for the aesthetics and less for the function. However it can double as positive engagement if done correctly. Laser stippling usually consists of removal of grip material vs hand stippling that is melting/reshaping of grip material. This means ALL laser stippling must be done with caution or you can literally remove too much material and ruin a frame. (You can also melt frames or light them on fire too if the settings are not correct) Laser stippling has almost infinite options when it comes to patterns or designs in removing the material. From a simple Honeycomb pattern to an intricate samurai mural almost any artwork is possible. However not all laser stippling is really functional. I have commissioned custom art work for designs in Glock frames because of the purely aesthetic value, but from a functional standpoint it was the same or worse than a stock frame. Being able to provide a well thought out laser stippling pattern that is BOTH aesthetically pleasing and fully functional is not always easy. After many hours and many test frames several patterns and designs have emerged as the best balance between form and function. The AGW honeycomb provides a good increase in grip for the palm portion while custom hand stippling on the finger and backstrap area create enough positive engagement for duty use and competition shooting without being too aggressive for CCW use. The AGW honeycomb also maintains enough frame material that there is no reduction in frame strength or reduction in thickness around the magazine. This pattern combined with a grip reduction completely transforms the feel and look of any sized Glock from full size to micro compact.

AGW Honeycomb is Form and Function

Gas Pedals and Grip Reductions? Are they for me? What's the point?

Glock G45 Grip Reduction

Gas pedals can either be added or cut into the frame itself. These are simply more aggressive points of contact for the shooters non dominant hand and usually are on the left side of the frame towards the front (forward of the slide release on a Glock) where the non dominant thumb can push down to help combat muzzle flip. Mostly used for competition but sometimes used for duty or tactical use that can add some stability and comfort to the users grip and also help "train" or remind the operator where to place the second hand, specifically the thumb. Texture from laser or hand stippling can also be added and is usually done so on both sides of the frame to help with grip on the dominant hand for the trigger finger so that a positive engagement is maintained prior to placing the finger on the trigger itself. Grip reduction has become supremely beneficial for certain Glock users as it changes the diameter of the grip itself by reducing the girth slightly and more importantly changing the angle at which the frame is held to aim. By reducing the downward angle that glock frames must be held at it creates a more neutral hand/wrist position (much more like a 1911) so that the users wrist is more inline and at a more comfortable/natural position. While this is hard to explain once you hold and feel and aim a grip reduced Glock you understand the drastic improvement and then question why they have not been designed this way from the factory. This modification is performed by using a CNC jig to remove a piece of the factory frame from the backside of the grip. It is then replaced with a 3D printed polymer piece that has the same characteristics as the stock frame material and a more neutral angle. This piece is clamped and glued to the frame with a special polymer epoxy and then "Stippled" into the factory frame on the sides where it makes contact. After the frame is laser or custom stippled you can not tell the difference between the factory and non factory polymer and it looks like it was designed this way from the get go. Turn around on this modifications is usually 48 hours.

More Ergonomic hand angle with a grip reduction (1911 style)

Grip Rediction stippled into the rear of the Grip and Small Gas Pedal Cut infront of the SLide Release

Hopefully this article helped answer some questions and shed some light on what stippling is and why it is mostly superior to grip tape. For a duty weapon or a tactical operator custom and laser stippling cannot be beat, especially if hard use and inclement weather or gloved use are expected. Even for CCW use stippling has a place and purpose and if you just want a custom looking pistol with some one off or fancy art work, laser stippling can accomplish that as well.

Below are some examples of form, function and a combination of both along with some gas pedal cuts and a grip reduction.