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Gone Back To Wood Grips, How About You?

5K views 62 replies 41 participants last post by  PatinAz 
#1 ·
I've been shooting 1911's all my life. I have 1911's ranging in price, from very high, to relativly low. Many of my guns came with G10, etc. style grips. I've also purchased, G10 grips.

For some reason, I've found myself missing the look (especially the look) and feel, of good old wood grips! So I've gone back to wood, on all my 1911's. Nothing at all wrong, with G10, but for me, nothing beats quality wood grips!

If any of you guys feel the same way, WoodCaliber, makes amazing grips. Fit and finish, is outstanding! I really like the custom build section. (And no, I don't work for these guys) lol!
 
#2 ·
Seems I like all types of grips. One pistol has had ivory installed since new. One has custom burl wood grips, another has VZ, another wood and one actually has MagPul grips.

The MagPul grips are amazing for the low cost. The grip features a raised spine of sorts, they work very well.
 
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#3 ·
I'm not hip with the G10 grips either. Yes, it functions, but it also added extra weight to an already heavy gun. Moreover its additional weight changes the balance of the gun to the negative for me.

My incoming Series 70 Colt Competition .38 Super will have its G10 grip panels changed out for some nice and light walnut or cocobolo grips.

I may or may not do the same to the Series 80 G10 grip panels. I probably will swap them all out to wood sooner or later.
 
#4 ·
If any of you guys feel the same way, WoodCaliber, makes amazing grips. Fit and finish, is outstanding! I really like the custom build section. (And no, I don't work for these guys) lol!
Will have to look into this shop. I generally only use Esmeralda for wood grips. Have hard some issues with a few other makers. Thanks for the recommendation
 
#7 · (Edited)
I'm a traditionalist and I don't like any bells or whistles on a 1911 and I prefer plain checkered wooden grips.

But what I like even better are the USGI bakelite grips and I think they look good on any gun, and in fact, it would give a unique look to a modern gun. I have a pair on my 1911 which is pretty much in standard USGI 1911A1 configuration except it has a flat mainspring housing and I use 8 round Wilson mags in it that are black with the thin cast steel floorplate.

I found that pair of bakelite grips in unissued condition for ten bucks but they usually sell for more than that.

I also like smooth ivory or ivory micarta grips but only on bright nickel or stainless guns and I especially like the pimp look of mother of pearl grips on bright nickel guns.

 
#12 ·
I put Colt Pachmyers on my Series 70 Gold Cup and the wood grips that came with my Sig fit my hand very well so they stayed. But on my SA revolvers, I like to put exotics on them. Black buffalo horn and faux ivory on my shiny stainless Vaqueros. Look for something form my blue Vaquero.
 
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#17 ·
I like the looks of the wood that Esmeralda chooses to use. My only one issue with her grips is that they don't match the profile of the standard grip.

While her grip panels have the same width as the standard grip at the widest point, they're thicker elsewhere. The result is that the fore and aft portions of the grip panels are thicker compared to the standard grips.

Good for people with big hands, not so good for people with small hands (i.e. myself).
That is a great point to consider. You are right, very good observation.
I hadn’t really conderidered that, but now that I look, you’re right.

Darn it......
 
#25 ·
Loved wood grips on my 1911's. On the Sig's however, I found all the wood grips available to make the grip too thick so had to stick with the stock grips. If they made some REALLY thin wood grips for them they would be on in a second. Also tried the supposedly thin aluminum grips from Hogue and they didn't make the grade either.
 
#28 ·
I have taken a different tack. I enjoy woodworking and have started making my own grips. After a bit of a learning curve, they are turning out half decent. A couple wood shops in town sell scraps very cheap, so it's not a big deal if I make an "oops". I got 3 sets of grips out of a $1 piece of walnut and 2 sets of cherry grips out of another $1 piece of wood.

Commercially, I have had good luck with Raasco grips, SGM grips and Brown's custom grips.

Wood Tan Beige Circle Plywood

Cherry

Wood Metal Grey Iron Composite material

Brazilian walnut

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Plywood Still life photography

American walnut

Photograph White Colorfulness Iron Metal

Cocobolo
 
#29 · (Edited)
I have taken a different tack. I enjoy woodworking and have started making my own grips. After a bit of a learning curve, they are turning out half decent. A couple wood shops in town sell scraps very cheap, so it's not a big deal if I make an "oops". I got 3 sets of grips out of a $1 piece of walnut and 2 sets of cherry grips out of another $1 piece of wood.

Commercially, I have had good luck with Raasco grips, SGM grips and Brown's custom grips.

View attachment 352304
Cherry

View attachment 352305
Brazilian walnut

A friend of mine started the same way. He's come along way.

Check out his webstite. http://www.highfiguregrips.com/ :rolleyes:
A friend of mine started the same way. He's come along way.

Check out his webstite. http://www.highfiguregrips.com/ :rolleyes:
 
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