In the late 1980s, Mauser was desperately seeking ways to remain on the pistol market, but without too much investment. They made a deal with Hungary based FeG and Feg did a couple of models for Mauser, which Mauser then sold under their own name. One of these models was the Model 80 SA (Single Action), a straight rip off copy of the FN Model 35 HP. Not much came from it, saleswise and the Model 80 SA sank into the ranks of forgotten weapons (nice name for a blog).
I picked up a few examples during the last decade and decided to play a bit with a well-used example that was liberated by the Belgian police at some point. Don't really want to know where it was between 1990 and 2000...
Anyhow, a couple of years ago I got in contact with the Israel-based company Zahal, who make and sell interesting conversion sets and bolt-on additions for many main stream hand guns. One of their products, called the 'Recover' line, consists of polymer based bolt on grips that convert existing pistols into picatinny / weaver rail equipped ones. This enables the user to attach some of the more popular (I hate this phrase
'tactical' gear. (Lamps, bottle openers and other thingamabobs).
Since I had a 1911 clone, and they offered a 1911 conversion kit, I thought let's try this, mainly out of curiosity as I can live quite happily without 'tactical' headlights on my guns. The 1911 version was a true bolt-on affair. The grips are fastened to the pistol with the original grip screws, replacing the grips. The Recover-grips wrap around the trigger guard and are additionally connected to each other with 3 allen screws. They don't damage the pistol in any way and no modifications are needed, provided the frame is a standard 1911 one. All in all, worked well, looked 'tactically' impressive. Fun.
A few weeks ago I found they also had a FN HP version (as well as several others, including one for the Beretta 92). I also asked them very, very kindly to consider a P08 conversion, just for the heck of it
Back to the FN HP set. It arrived today, and to be honest, they did mention that it will fit any standard FN HP and some clones, but not the FEG ones. Since the Mauser Model 80 SA is based on the FEG, and pretty well, I thought that the difference could only be marginal, so I was up for the challenge.
Turned out they fit quite well with a few minor cosmetic hitches. Since the bottom of the trigger guard of the FEG is slightly lower than the original FN ones, the grips have a tendency to sit a bit too low at the front. This is easily rectified by removing a small amount of material from the area that covers the trigger guard. Trusty old Dremel did a good job. Also the area where the grip moves into the trigger guard is slightly thicker on the FEG, again, simple matter of removing a slight amount of material from the Recover-grips.
With these very minor tweaks, the grips sit well and nicely flush with the frame.
All in all it's an inexpensive and fun way to dress up your old FN-a-like to look like a bad-*** 21st century plastic 'tactigun'. I installed a Chinese led/laser sight to complete the look. And when you get bored with that look, it's 3 allen screws and 2 grips screws away from the original configuration, no harm done.
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I picked up a few examples during the last decade and decided to play a bit with a well-used example that was liberated by the Belgian police at some point. Don't really want to know where it was between 1990 and 2000...
Anyhow, a couple of years ago I got in contact with the Israel-based company Zahal, who make and sell interesting conversion sets and bolt-on additions for many main stream hand guns. One of their products, called the 'Recover' line, consists of polymer based bolt on grips that convert existing pistols into picatinny / weaver rail equipped ones. This enables the user to attach some of the more popular (I hate this phrase
'tactical' gear. (Lamps, bottle openers and other thingamabobs). Since I had a 1911 clone, and they offered a 1911 conversion kit, I thought let's try this, mainly out of curiosity as I can live quite happily without 'tactical' headlights on my guns. The 1911 version was a true bolt-on affair. The grips are fastened to the pistol with the original grip screws, replacing the grips. The Recover-grips wrap around the trigger guard and are additionally connected to each other with 3 allen screws. They don't damage the pistol in any way and no modifications are needed, provided the frame is a standard 1911 one. All in all, worked well, looked 'tactically' impressive. Fun.
A few weeks ago I found they also had a FN HP version (as well as several others, including one for the Beretta 92). I also asked them very, very kindly to consider a P08 conversion, just for the heck of it
Back to the FN HP set. It arrived today, and to be honest, they did mention that it will fit any standard FN HP and some clones, but not the FEG ones. Since the Mauser Model 80 SA is based on the FEG, and pretty well, I thought that the difference could only be marginal, so I was up for the challenge.
Turned out they fit quite well with a few minor cosmetic hitches. Since the bottom of the trigger guard of the FEG is slightly lower than the original FN ones, the grips have a tendency to sit a bit too low at the front. This is easily rectified by removing a small amount of material from the area that covers the trigger guard. Trusty old Dremel did a good job. Also the area where the grip moves into the trigger guard is slightly thicker on the FEG, again, simple matter of removing a slight amount of material from the Recover-grips.
With these very minor tweaks, the grips sit well and nicely flush with the frame.
All in all it's an inexpensive and fun way to dress up your old FN-a-like to look like a bad-*** 21st century plastic 'tactigun'. I installed a Chinese led/laser sight to complete the look. And when you get bored with that look, it's 3 allen screws and 2 grips screws away from the original configuration, no harm done.
