3D-Printed 380 Mag Grip Extension (Pics)

[MahrLalk]

I learned a lot at this forum before purchasing my first Kahr. Thank you all!

I always wanted some grip extension for my pinky on the tiny CW380. I know Pearce makes one, but I don't like its "PPK" feel. Also, I want to keep the OEM magazine floor plate for reliability. So I came with an idea to make a grip/pinky extension with minimal modification to the magazine. After a few days of tinkering, I finally came up with some satisfactory prototypes (click the thumbnails for full size):

https://i.imgur.com/8GG77DRm.jpg (https://i.imgur.com/8GG77DR.jpg)
(Matching the cheese grater patterns)

https://i.imgur.com/lTb3wjRm.jpg (https://i.imgur.com/lTb3wjR.jpg)
(Slide on, slide off)

https://i.imgur.com/65WIqNnm.png (https://i.imgur.com/65WIqNn.png)
(Flat vs curved in large, medium, and small sizes)

https://i.imgur.com/eCAUei0m.jpg (https://i.imgur.com/eCAUei0.jpg)
(Freestanding)

https://i.imgur.com/WAngbJZm.jpg (https://i.imgur.com/WAngbJZ.jpg)
(The essence of iterative design)

https://i.imgur.com/sfvyYt3m.jpg (https://i.imgur.com/sfvyYt3.jpg)
(CS(Curved-small) model spray-painted with rustoleum metallic finish; my personal favorite)

I have yet to test at the range but theoretically the design doesn't change any factory mechanism. I have no interest in making money from this, but I don't want other people to take my design and sell it on eBay or Etsy. If you folks here are interested in these models, I will post a link for download instead of upload them to a 3D model repository. If you don't have a 3D printer, you can send the files to craftcloud3d.com and get a quote for someone to print and ship them to you. I welcome any comments on this. Thanks for reading!

10/25/2020 Edit: Download link for STL files (https://mega.nz/file/AQwCzYaD#2hRBb7qUSTqig_4Fe18qEVh2F8pQ3UGP0FepX7Kc1 Tk). The password for the zip file is my username (MahrLalk).
12/20/2020 Edit: Added a short flat version (FlatX) which only covers half of the magazine floor plate.
03/21/2021 Edit: Made some minor adjustments and updated the download link.

[yqtszhj]

That looks good.

[MahrLalk]

That looks good.
Thank you! :D

[tokuno]

Impressive!
I'm curious: What software did you use for this, and what is the output file format?
My first career job was in the SF CAD market retailing AutoCAD Version 2.6, running on 286 machines . . .
Back in the 70s/80s, the visionaries saw this future as an inevitability, but I hardly believed it, and I'm excited to see it coming to fruition.

[Bawanna]

Way over my head, I have no idea what you just said. I like the product results, look good.

[yqtszhj]

Impressive!
..... running on 286 machines . . . .

That was a while ago for sure..........

[scattershot]

Nice work! I really like the slide on/ slide off plate. Do you market those commercially?

[MahrLalk]

Impressive!
I'm curious: What software did you use for this, and what is the output file format?
My first career job was in the SF CAD market retailing AutoCAD Version 2.6, running on 286 machines . . .
Back in the 70s/80s, the visionaries saw this future as an inevitability, but I hardly believed it, and I'm excited to see it coming to fruition.
I used Fusion 360 and the output file format is STL, which is standard for 3D printing. I used AutoCAD professionally before but I never liked it. ;)

[MahrLalk]

Way over my head, I have no idea what you just said. I like the product results, look good.

Thank you Bawanna! Have been reading a lot of your comments on various topics...

[MahrLalk]

Nice work! I really like the slide on/ slide off plate. Do you market those commercially?
I don't, but I can offer the STL model files for free if you need. You can print the models yourself or send them to a service platform like Shapeways and 3D Hubs. I recommend using craftcloud3d.com for quotes comparison.

[getsome]

Dang, I'm still looking for the TV remote so I can watch the 11:00 news to see how many people got shot today.....I think technology has left the building for this old man.....Nice looking grip extension MahrLalk, no idea how you made it but I'm impressed, don't worry about me uploading it, I'm still trying to download lunch......Oh one last thing, I think you seem to be the right guy with the skills to fabricate a product that will sell and make money for you, tool up a "butt plug" (not a bad word) to fill in the rear of the gap in a Kahr grip so it doesn't look like something is missing and you will sell a bunch of um.....There are several company's selling Glock plugs to fill in the void in the grip but nobody has done it for Kahrs so you may have found a new market for your 3D printer skills and abilities and I'd be a customer.....

[MahrLalk]

Dang, I'm still looking for the TV remote so I can watch the 11:00 news to see how many people got shot today.....I think technology has left the building for this old man.....Nice looking grip extension MahrLalk, no idea how you made it but I'm impressed, don't worry about me uploading it, I'm still trying to download lunch......Oh one last thing, I think you seem to be the right guy with the skills to fabricate a product that will sell and make money for you, tool up a "butt plug" (not a bad word) to fill in the rear of the gap in a Kahr grip so it doesn't look like something is missing and you will sell a bunch of um.....There are several company's selling Glock plugs to fill in the void in the grip but nobody has done it for Kahrs so you may have found a new market for your 3D printer skills and abilities and I'd be a customer.....

Thank you, getsome. I used to run a small 3D design/printing shop on 3DHubs.com before they changed their business model. Nowadays I'm just too busy with work and occasionally I design things for fun. Since you are interested in the models, I will upload them and put a link in the main post when I get back to my computer later today.

[MahrLalk]

I just added a download link in the main post. You can visit craftcloud3d.com to have the parts quoted, printed, and shipped to you for a low cost. Material-wise, PLA works but PETG, ABS and Polycarbonate are preferred.

[tokuno]

Thanks, MahrLalk.
I downloaded the files, and have had fun taking a closer look at your work. Impressive!

[MahrLalk]

Thanks, MahrLalk.
I downloaded the files, and have had fun taking a closer look at your work. Impressive!

Thank you for your kind words, tokuno. I'm glad you liked it.

[Flyboyron]

I learned a lot at this forum before purchasing my first Kahr. Thank you all!

...

10/25/2020 Edit: Download link for STL files (https://mega.nz/file/cJoQwALS#sZIOB6wCMUY3QYMGGsl-vyZkM1YCpNFUPzQMohvjMzk). The password for the zip file is my username (MahrLalk).

Thanks for making the .STL available for these. I don't know if they'll work for my 9mm, but I suspect with a bit of tweaking, they would.

I appreciate your sharing them.

[MahrLalk]

Thanks for making the .STL available for these. I don't know if they'll work for my 9mm, but I suspect with a bit of tweaking, they would.

I appreciate your sharing them.

You are welcome. They probably just need some careful scaling.

[MahrLalk]

I have added a short version which only covers half of the magazine floor plate. The new design expedites the 3D printing process and lowers the material cost.