Help with TM Desert Warrior 4.3

[Eeyore]

Alright so I have a TM Desert Warrior 4.3, externally it is stock. I also own a real Serpa holster. Because of the rail on the bottom of it the gun will not fit into the holster. The rail is not integrated into the frame and can be removed via two screws.



I have purchased a new holster, a Serpa Xiphos which is made to use the Xiphos light from Blackhawk industries. Even with the holster specifically made to use a rail mounted light, the pistol will still not fit.

The pistol is an ILLusion custom and is my work horse, and I love the Serpa for its performance. Would anyone know if I can modify the rails on the gun to fit the holster? Or perhaps is the rail on a metal body that is integrated into the frail slimmer?

Thank you

[pancakedestroyer]

The integrated rail on a 1911 is a bit slimmer.

I don't know that you'd want to do anything to try and modify that rail either.

Did you ever consider a custom kydex holster?

[Eeyore]

Originally Posted by pancakedestroyer

The integrated rail on a 1911 is a bit slimmer.

I don't know that you'd want to do anything to try and modify that rail either.

Did you ever consider a custom kydex holster?

I just spend $200 on a Xiphos light and holster. As I love the Serpa I would very much like to be able to use it. I might have to give in and have ILLusion install a metal kit for me.

[ILLusion]

Originally Posted by Eeyore

The pistol is an ILLusion custom and is my work horse, and I love the Serpa for its performance. Would anyone know if I can modify the rails on the gun to fit the holster? Or perhaps is the rail on a metal body that is integrated into the frail slimmer?

Besides removing the rails completely, I wouldn't recommend "modifying" the rails at all.

The other issue that makes fitment more difficult, is that you are dealing with a block cut slide.

If the rail is an absolute requirement, I would probably suggest getting a custom kydex holster built, as there is no real world holster out there that fits a gun as franken-messed-up as the Tokyo Marui railed-1911 series. It is seriously a rail added on as a second thought, and as such, is one of the worst concepts ever. Why Tokyo Marui didn't just re-tool to create a PROPER integrated rail frame is beyond me. It was a quick patch solution that only created more problems.

[5kull]

I used to own a TM 4.3. It didn't fit inside my 1911 Blackhawk serpa because of the squarish shape, so I modified the serpa and it worked perfectly. I don't know if this is possible with your particular combination?

First I losened the screws on the holster to give me a little bit more play inside the holster. I placed the holster near a very mild heat source so that the plastic would give a little, then I inserted the 4.3 slowly and looked where it was too tight. I used a thin and rounded metal file very carefully to give me a little bit of room, only where needed. I did this very gradually until the 4.3 went all the way inside but very tightly. Kept filing gradually. I kept the 4.3 inside the holster at night until the plastic of the holster took the shape of the 4.3 where needed. Filed some more until it was perfect... Best holster I ever had.

Not sure this will work for your particular set up because your rail looks bigger (from memory), you will need a good eye to calculate it. Maybe you will have to make two slots on each side of the holster to accommodate the rail? As long as the body of the 4.3 is held tightly you can modify the lower half of the holster.