How to customize your 1911 grips

[JLA]

Originally Posted by Woodnut

Thanks for the info on the circle cutters. I have something very similar, just had not thought to take the center pilot out. Again, Very Nice Work.

Here is a recent set of grips that I made out of LIGNUM-VITAE. This is some wood that a customer had left over out of a Banjo neck that he had someone make for him. He sent me enough of it to make him a set of grips and a set for myself. It is a lot harder than expected and has a really high gloss when polished. I subduded the shine in this photo so you could see the grain of the wood. He said he tuned the Banjo and left it in the corner for over a week and it was still in tune, so I know from that it will not wrap or twist in any way.
Give me some thoughts on this type wood. It is very new to me.

I like it. it looks like a laminate and since a week in the corner with 6 strings pulled tight against it didnt warp it its tough enough for a 'user' 1911. Im rough on grips. most of my pistols, less the rubber stocked ones, have dents and dings all in the grips from hard use, even my 70 dollar set of scrimshawed ivory polymers

[Woodnut]

Here are a couple of sets that I just finished. Thought I had better post them before I ship, or I will forget to post them.

BTW, Sam, if you are reading this, I will ship your grips tomorrow, 11/23/10, sorry it took so long. I will let you post the pictures, when you get them.

The Buckeye Burl is as near mirror image as you will ever see. They are really book matched and a beautiful set of grips.

The next set is Cocobolo. They came out of my inventory. Had a customer that wanted a Navy Medallion with his last name hand carved underneath it.
As usual, comments are welcome.

Enjoy!

[Shooter45]

Carl, I'm waiting for delivery and should have the grips in a couple of days. I'll put them on a pistol and take a few pictures to post on the forum. Everyone is going to want a set of these.

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by Woodnut

Here are a couple of sets that I just finished. Thought I had better post them before I ship, or I will forget to post them.

BTW, Sam, if you are reading this, I will ship your grips tomorrow, 11/23/10, sorry it took so long. I will let you post the pictures, when you get them.

The Buckeye Burl is as near mirror image as you will ever see. They are really book matched and a beautiful set of grips.

The next set is Cocobolo. They came out of my inventory. Had a customer that wanted a Navy Medallion with his last name hand carved underneath it.
As usual, comments are welcome.

Enjoy!

I like them both Carl, but I think the Buckeye Burl is my favorite of the two. I love that grain in the Burl, just looks like it's as hard as rock?

[johnlives4christ]

the hand carved name wouldnt suit me. the burl i like though

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

the hand carved name wouldnt suit me. the burl i like though

Thanks for the feed back, I offered to take the grips to a friend of mine and have the name done with laser, but he did not want that. He said that he wanted the hand done look, witch is always a little more crude than I like because of the size. I can do a lot better with larger images. But as usual I do what the customer wants. I agree with you on the Buckeye, to me they are some very nice grips.
Thanks for looking.

[johnlives4christ]

when i get another 1911 i'll probably have you make me a set of grips. i dont recall if i ever asked you. do you make grips to fit other guns? such as smith and wesson j frames?

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

when i get another 1911 i'll probably have you make me a set of grips. i dont recall if i ever asked you. do you make grips to fit other guns? such as smith and wesson j frames?

John I do build other grips but usually have to have the original grip for a pattern. Also it depends on how complex the work is on the inside of the grip.
I would be glad to answer some of your questions in an email. cwgrips@gmail.com

[hotsights]

Your usual work of artful creations are shared with us again. Actually, both grips have a distinct beauty and I be hard pressed to choose if I had to. I'll say that for me, the most natural look is my favorite because it is solely the gift of the wood and the touch of the artist that I see.

My amazement at the "matched set" of Burl is a treasure onto itself, if I didn't know better, I'd say to get a match like that, you're either blessed or they were fabricated and of course, they are the real thing.

Carl and to all, I wish you a very, Happy Thanksgiving and we all have much to appricate and we all appreciate those over seas who see to it that we keep it and share with the world.

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by hotsights

Carl and to all, I wish you a very, Happy Thanksgiving and we all have much to appricate and we all appreciate those over seas who see to it that we keep it and share with the world.

AMEN! Martin

[Shooter45]

Carl, got the grips installed on my carry pistol and I can say they are much too nice for this old junker. The Walnut turned out much better than expected and the TFF medalions are awesome. I took a few pictures but the lighting was pretty bad but I'll post them anyway then better ones later.

Thanks for a job well done.

[Woodnut]

Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sam
They do look good on that gun. And I would not call that gun a junker, you can send her to me anytime it gets too junkey for you. LOL. You took some nice pictures too.
Looks great, glad you finally got them back. Sorry for the delay.

[Shooter45]

Carl, I was handling the pistol this morning and it just keeps looking better. I'll leave them on my carry pistol a few days longer then put them on something nicer. I especially like the TFF logo, great idea. The grips really came out nice and I'm very proud of them.
Again, thanks.

[johnlives4christ]

they are quite nice. i like the 45 by the way sam

[BacSi]

Great workmanship! I'll keepyou in mind if I need any work done.
BacSi

[Bubblehead]

Beautiful work. How did you make the medallions?

John

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead

Beautiful work. How did you make the medallions?

John

Hello John

Thanks for asking about the medallions. They were cut out of Snow White Holly wood with a jewelers saw. Then the TFF was cut into them with a exato knife and rotary tool. Well let me back up the TFF was cut first then the shape cut out of the wood. After the medallion was inlaid into the grip the TFF was then poured with black epoxy and sanded smooth with the surface.
Thanks for looking and keeping up with the thread.
Carl.

[hotsights]

Carl,

I never know what I'm going to say when I hear you have some new work on display. Then as always, the work itself speaks out. Sure, there are many artists doing very nice work, but you are so clever in the way you create your designs and give them a place all their own. The Snow White Holly looks like a plaque with the TTF inlaid in such a way that it has that 3-D look. When I first saw it, I thought about an ATF friend of mine, he would love something like this. You do more than share Carl, you give us an "experience," thank you.

[Shooter45]

Originally Posted by hotsights

Carl,

I never know what I'm going to say when I hear you have some new work on display. Then as always, the work itself speaks out. Sure, there are many artists doing very nice work, but you are so clever in the way you create your designs and give them a place all their own. The Snow White Holly looks like a plaque with the TTF inlaid in such a way that it has that 3-D look. When I first saw it, I thought about an ATF friend of mine, he would love something like this. You do more than share Carl, you give us an "experience," thank you.

+1

I have shown these grips to several people and all were very impressed. So was I with the quality of work that went into them. When Carl told me of his idea, I didn't completely understand how he was going to do his creation. But, Carl is a pro and I had no doubt about his ability. He sent me a picture of the finished product and I was excited to say the least. Then the grips came in the mail......I was speachless. The pictures do not do these grips justice. They are truely presentation grade.

Thanks Carl, for a job very well done.

[Zane71464]

Now that is something else! As hotsights was saying, the TFF inlaid the way it is, gives it the 3D effect. That is totally amazing and they look awesome!

[Woodnut]

Here are pictures of some Amboyna and Desert Ironwood cut into an Officers model grips for a member of TFF, Dale Dugas. Dale furnished the wood and I did the labor.
Enjoy!

[Dale Dugas]

Thank you again Carl, for having the skills to take wood and create artful tools.

I will post photos when the grips get here to Boston and show everyone.

[Dale Dugas]

wait till you guys see the new grips Carl is working on are done.

Going to be some very nice ironwood with some added features.

You really need to call Carl when you need grips.

He is the man hands down!

[Olympus]

Thanks!

[Woodnut]

Should have some new grips for you to look at in a couple days, with some costom work on them.