"Dymondwood"?
- Thread starter ArmedBear
- Start date
- Status
A laminated grip with a fancy name that S&W has been using for about 25-30 years.
They (Dymondwood) were made in the 80's by a company that was called ACE. The model you have is more of a current production. Not sure if Excaliber is making them for S&W ?
Top center and bottom center are both original Dymondwood S&W grips from the ACE company who I think at one time S&W may have owned.
Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
They (Dymondwood) were made in the 80's by a company that was called ACE. The model you have is more of a current production. Not sure if Excaliber is making them for S&W ?
Top center and bottom center are both original Dymondwood S&W grips from the ACE company who I think at one time S&W may have owned.
Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
That's what S&W currently sells.
The gun I'd want it for is a lot older, but would look good with them, or original wood grips. These, however, are cheaper than the originals in good shape, and the laminate is probably harder to booger up.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some glorified Trex-like plastic/wood stuff or something.
Thanks for the good info!
The gun I'd want it for is a lot older, but would look good with them, or original wood grips. These, however, are cheaper than the originals in good shape, and the laminate is probably harder to booger up.
I just wanted to make sure it wasn't some glorified Trex-like plastic/wood stuff or something.
Thanks for the good info!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Dymondwood is a copyrighted trade name for decorative laminated wood sheets made by the Rutland Plywood Corporation (RPC).
http://www.rutply.com/products/dymondwood.html
However makes the grips for S&W is making them from Rutland Dymondwood slabs.
rc
http://www.rutply.com/products/dymondwood.html
However makes the grips for S&W is making them from Rutland Dymondwood slabs.
rc
Dymondwood
Many of the grip manufacturers offer dymondwood as an option, including Ahrends, Badger, Altamont, Raasco, etc. The material is very durable because of the plastic laminated with the wood. The grips below on my 686 are Badger walnut dymondwood.
Many of the grip manufacturers offer dymondwood as an option, including Ahrends, Badger, Altamont, Raasco, etc. The material is very durable because of the plastic laminated with the wood. The grips below on my 686 are Badger walnut dymondwood.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The "plastic" is not laminated to the wood.
It is part of the wood.
They pressure treat the layers of wood veneer as they are laminated together and the "plastic" actually is uniform throughout the material.
Think of it as the same thing as Micarta, only using wood veneer instead of cloth or fabric laminations.
I have used it for making knife handles & grips for about 25 years.
After grinding & shaping it, you can finish sand it and buff it to a high shine. There is no finish used on it because the "finish" or "shine" is inside the wood fibers already.
It is widely used in re-curve & compound bow handles and laminated rifle stocks because it is near indestructible stuff that will not warp, crack, or deform under pressure!
rc
It is part of the wood.
They pressure treat the layers of wood veneer as they are laminated together and the "plastic" actually is uniform throughout the material.
Think of it as the same thing as Micarta, only using wood veneer instead of cloth or fabric laminations.
I have used it for making knife handles & grips for about 25 years.
After grinding & shaping it, you can finish sand it and buff it to a high shine. There is no finish used on it because the "finish" or "shine" is inside the wood fibers already.
It is widely used in re-curve & compound bow handles and laminated rifle stocks because it is near indestructible stuff that will not warp, crack, or deform under pressure!
rc
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,662
"Dymondwood" is yet another brand name for a plastic filled laminated wood.
Thin sheets of wood are impregnated with a resin, stacked, then subjected to high heat and extreme pressure to bond it into a solid mass.
There are a number of trade names used by various companies including "Pakkawood" and several others.
It's an extremely durable, attractive material, that gives a better appearance the more it's shaped and contoured.
It's great for pistol and knife handles, but too heavy for most long gun stocks.
Depending on the company making it, it's available in sheets of as much as 4' by 8', and in thicknesses up to 4" and possibly even more.
There are many color combinations. One of the most unusual I ever saw was a set of European-type target pistol grips made from contrasting Burgundy colors with a layer of a golden-white wood.
This made the grips appear to have a gold stripe running through it.
Thin sheets of wood are impregnated with a resin, stacked, then subjected to high heat and extreme pressure to bond it into a solid mass.
There are a number of trade names used by various companies including "Pakkawood" and several others.
It's an extremely durable, attractive material, that gives a better appearance the more it's shaped and contoured.
It's great for pistol and knife handles, but too heavy for most long gun stocks.
Depending on the company making it, it's available in sheets of as much as 4' by 8', and in thicknesses up to 4" and possibly even more.
There are many color combinations. One of the most unusual I ever saw was a set of European-type target pistol grips made from contrasting Burgundy colors with a layer of a golden-white wood.
This made the grips appear to have a gold stripe running through it.
Hmmm...
I think that, if I wanted some Cocobolo or Goncalo Alves grips, I'd order those grips.
Are you saying that a composite is being sold as a figured hardwood, or that you expect some random pair of grips you buy to be made of Goncalo Alves, even though the ad/listing doesn't say they are?
I think that, if I wanted some Cocobolo or Goncalo Alves grips, I'd order those grips.
Are you saying that a composite is being sold as a figured hardwood, or that you expect some random pair of grips you buy to be made of Goncalo Alves, even though the ad/listing doesn't say they are?
I like laminate for practical use. It's not figured walnut or some tropical exotic, and there's nothing wrong with ornamental wood on guns in my book. But I have a Ruger target pistol I use for club shoots, and the laminate checkered grips on it are holding up far better than walnut would -- but they still feel like checkered wood.
Everything has its place. One just has to be careful what he buys, when there's so much variety out there.
Hence, my question to start this thread.
Everything has its place. One just has to be careful what he buys, when there's so much variety out there.
Hence, my question to start this thread.
- Status
