How to customize your 1911 grips

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by hotsights

Must be illegal to do work this beautiful because I ain't seen the likes of it no-wheres else. I suppose that when you do it with pride and with heart, the craftmanship can withstand the scrutiny of even the closest, close up. The grain is gorgeous and it appears to be a natural finish showing off the polished effect of fine sanding? The Western Star seems to have grown from within the Maple and not inlaid into it. What specie of Maple is this? I bet you could take a tooth-pick and turn it into Excaliber. Nice, smooth and accurate edging alone to internal grip design, I forgot the correct word, but very smooth, also adds to the grip-a-bility, I reckon. As we often say in the Marine Corps, Well Done!

Hotsigts;

Thanks again for the kind words. You have a way with words that I have never had. It is so hard for me to express my thoughts into words for typing. Now on the other hand, if I can be in front of the person I can talk my way out of a paper bag, in other words I don't have a problem expressing my point in person, except for a speech problem I have and have had all my life, and will have until I die. Stuttering.
All this being said, I like to forgot why I answered this thread, the Maple is Rock Maple and is really beautiful. Not a lot of burl but just enouth grain to make it look good, and just a beautiful color finished with natural finish. These have been finished with Birchwood Casey's Tru-Oil gun stock finish, after much sanding.
Thanks again
Carl

[hotsights]

These are some experiments with wood and how I'm learning something about the nature of the wood i'm working with. Also, i'm getting the idea of how to use the original grip as a pattern and to hand sand and shape the wood and get the metal side flat. Woodnut's images are a large part of my inspiration. If I listen long enough and practice, maybe i'll make some real grips before long, maybe.

[hotsights]

Carl,

Just read your message and it brought to mind an interesting fact. A lot of people make their living talking and in the end, never create or accomplish anything. For some reason, as soon as I said that, I realized that the words had a "Political Ring," to them. On the other hand, some people are meant to be creative, work with their hands and take natural resources and revitalize them to be works of art, like a Carpenter. There is a Carpenter mentioned in the bible, the whole book seems to be about him, being a Carpenter and working with one’s hands is a good thing and he was also a teacher. Not doing any advertising here as that is not my intent, but when I visited your site, I discovered that you also make furniture, kind of like being a Carpenter, isn’t it? Oh, I don’t expect a reply comment when I leave a message, just as you have the time is fine, I know we all get our messages and we’re all busy.

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by hotsights

Carl,

Just read your message and it brought to mind an interesting fact. A lot of people make their living talking and in the end, never create or accomplish anything. For some reason, as soon as I said that, I realized that the words had a "Political Ring," to them. On the other hand, some people are meant to be creative, work with their hands and take natural resources and revitalize them to be works of art, like a Carpenter. There is a Carpenter mentioned in the bible, the whole book seems to be about him, being a Carpenter and working with one’s hands is a good thing and he was also a teacher. Not doing any advertising here as that is not my intent, but when I visited your site, I discovered that you also make furniture, kind of like being a Carpenter, isn’t it? Oh, I don’t expect a reply comment when I leave a message, just as you have the time is fine, I know we all get our messages and we’re all busy.

Hotsights,
I have heard the story, his name is St. Joseph, Saint of Carpenters. I am inserting a link for the miracle staircase that was built in Sante Fe NM in the 1800's. Please read the article at the bottom of the page on the right. This staircase has no support what so ever, it is free standing. It is very interesting to do some research on, or it was very rewarding to me.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...a%3DX%26um%3D1