My foray into custom exotic wood 1911 grips

[SRT1]

I think that grips with a lot of pattern or expecially darker grips look quite good on stainless pistols. To me, on the simple end, a stippled or patterned wenge, or Moradillo would be nice. Of course, Amboyna burl or something with that vibrant color would be great also! Really, it's your pistol and YOU have to be happy with it. There are many woods out there to choose from, just make sure it's something that makes it unmistakably YOUR pistol. That's the fun of it!


I promised pics of grain cut pheasantwood and here it is. You can see why they named it pheasantwood, the grain looks a lot like pheasant feathers both in texture and color. The yellows, browns and a few greens mimic the feather quite well. There is a lot of shimmer and reflectivity that jsut won't show in a still pic. Sorry, you almost have to see it to get it. Anyway, a beautiful wood that stands out.
Enjoy!
SRT

 

[asshat.308]

any with ambi safety cut outs??

 

[SRT1]

asshat,
Ambi grip cutouts are a simple matter to add to just about any grip as long as the maker has left sufficient thickness at the edge of the grip panel for the notch. As long as you apply finish to the area once it's cut, it's a pretty easy thing.
Since I'm here, here's a few pics of other woods from the weekends play.
Here's a pic of the pheasantwood grip on my CDP.

 

[SRT1]

Here's some beautiful Amboyna Burl from a new block. I love getting new blocks, it's like Christmas!

 

[SRT1]

Last one for today.
Here's some Corrugata Burl on my CDP. An Australian wood that has a great color and the burl figure is outstanding.

 

[Byron Quick]

SRT1,

Some beautiful work you do. I'd really like to see some of those grips with traditional style checkering. On others, it would detract from the beauty of the grain...I think.

 

[SRT1]

Byron,
I wish I knew how to checker, but I don't. I do a "stippled" texture that I can get creative with. I think it's pretty cool and provides a good grip on the weapon for those who like texture. On many of the exotics I agree with you, checkering or texture would detract from the beauty.
Here's an example of the stippling. Anyone can do it. These grips are Purpleheart, and the lack of dramatic graining lets the texture fit well.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad people are enjoying the pics and the wood!

 

[SRT1]

Blurry pic, here's another in Bloodwood that should be clearer.

 

[SRT1]

Sometimes you just get a wild hair and go off on a tangent. This is one of those times. I took a piece of Maple and jsut started cutting it up and adding various exotics to it when I glued it back together. The piece ended up having bubinga, purpleheart, padauk, cherry, and wenge when all was said and done. Different, but I think kind of cool. Interested in what others think, good or bad. Let it fly!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you FRANKENGRIPS!

 

[SRT1]

Here's a pic of Black Lilmba wood. It is a lighter weight wood, but tough and can have some dramatic graining and color. The panel on the oppsite side of this one has orange in it. You can see a small streak of it in this pic, but not as prominent as on the other side. The graining and color variation make this a good wood for use on small projects like grips. A lot of stuff to look at in a small piece.
Enjoy!
SRT

 

[orb]

The maple with assorted strips are pretty wild looking! It's amazing how symmetric they are. It kind of looks like you tied up your gun.

 

[SRT1]

Wouldn't want to do that.

You cut and glue a 3/4" thick block then just cut it in half, and Viola! Bookmatched grips. Don't want to give away too many secrets.

 

[SRT1]

Two sets that I actually am in the process of stripping off the poly and putting on an oil finish. The poly is just to "sharp" for these two woods and actually takes away from it, which is something I NEVER want to do to wood, so off with the poly and on with the oil. We'll consider these the "before" pictures and the ones with oil on Monday, the "after" pics. I think you'll see a difference in the overall visual feel of them.
The first is in Moradillo a rich chocolate brown with dark brown to black veining running throughout. Neat stuff and very masculine looking according to my wife.

 

[SRT1]

the second is Iroko a beautiful golden color the shimmers with tight figure as you move it in the light. This wood will lose a little bit of that shimmer in the switch from poly to oil, but the overall look should be improved to a greater degree.

 

[SRT1]

Here are the same Moradillo and Iroko grips except with oil finishes now instead of poly. In this case, I thing the oil wins.

 

[the_fallguy]

HUGE difference! I would like to see some more of your grips with an oiled finish.

 

[SRT1]

Ask and ye shall receive.
Here's a set in Purpleheart and Moradillo with an oil finish. I think they came out nicely.

 

[SRT1]

Here's another set in a light tung oil finish and is made from Thuya Burl. These panels are "ray cut" as opposed to burl cut. The sets in burl cut show more eyes and a teardrop type grain. Beautiful stuff! Expensive, but worth it in the end. Enjoy the pic!

 

[vetteracer92]

Those are some really sweet grips. You should look into some snakewood and red palm(I have the palm on a pool cue) and should look beautiful as grips.

 

[SRT1]

I was going through my snakewood stash the other day, but unfortunately none of the pieces are big enough for grips. I bought the pieces primarily for pens. I will get some larger pieces eventually. I too think the grips in snakewood would be cool.
Thanks,
SRT

 

[paul45]

Great woods and pics! Might I add, IMO, you should stay with the tung oil. Much nicer, looks much better on wood.....I usually don't like poly finishes.

You should get a 1/2in. forstner (sp) bit and add Colt medallions as an option.....you would clean up!!

 

[SRT1]

Thanks Paul! I'm getting many votes for staying with the oil finishes, and I think I may follow that advice in all but the highly figured woods. Even on them I may go to the more satin poly finish. With heavy figure in the wood, there's just nothing like polyurethane to make it POP out at you.
Thanks for the opinions and ideas, I always appreciate constructive criticism.
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Having made the above post, here's another set in gloss poly.
This wood is Elm and has some interesting grain movement and the beautiful eye cluster low in the grips. Nice stuff. Again, a wood that you wouldn't normally think of as distinctive, but finding the right piece can make all the difference.
Hope you like them.
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Here's a set of Beeswing Narra that just went to a friend. They were cut for a magwell. Great color and beautiful rolling figure. No wonder I never get tired of this stuff.

 

[orb]

I received my purple heartwood and moraddillo grips and they look even better in real life! Thanks!