Custom Grips

Olympus · May 11, 2009, 12:34 PM

I know there are some of us that make our own grips, so let's see them!

Here's a link to my website for the grips I make: http://brownscustomgrips.webs.com

Housezealot · May 13, 2009, 01:36 PM

I don't make my own grips but I would love to see some pics from guys that do! I hope this thread takes hold. mabey I will take some pics of the custom grips my dad had made for my .44 Smith.

Housezealot · May 14, 2009, 08:18 AM

here are the custom Ivory grips my dad had made. Sorry about the phone picture, I lost my camera a while back.

obiwan1 · May 14, 2009, 10:24 AM

Olympus:

VERY nice looking grips. I wish you well!

Olympus · May 14, 2009, 11:15 AM

Thank you sir. I appreciate that!

Olympus · July 9, 2009, 09:15 AM

Here are some pictures of a set I just got finished making for a customer.

Olympus · July 9, 2009, 12:57 PM

Here's the latest two sets that I've finished. If your style is a little on the wild side, these might do the trick for you. The grips are both box elder burl that are pressure injected with acrylic dyes. The purple set is sold. The grips are bobtail cut with bevels on both the bottom edge as well as the bobbed edge. The green and yellow set is a standard set and is for sale.

Jmarshall · July 12, 2009, 05:09 PM

all of those are just

Im starting to learn the trade, working on my first set that i think ill post when its done. Im going to try checkering them! You guys are truly an inspiration..

Olympus · December 6, 2009, 04:10 PM

Here's some of my newer ones.

Buckeye burl for officers frame

Spalted maple

English walnut

Fiddleback walnut

fisherman66 · December 6, 2009, 04:23 PM

These look like horn.

Great looking grips. Do you checker?

I've toyed with the idea of "grippin'". I don't really have the right tools.

I've also toyed with the idea of stock building, but I haven't gotten up enough nerve to start cuttin'. I had planned to use this chunk for a Ruger #1.

Olympus · December 6, 2009, 10:52 PM

No, I don't checker. If I offered just plain jane, run of the mill walnut or cocobolo then I might. But checkering the exotic woods that I use would take away from the beauty of the grain.

Grip making isn't that difficult. If you've got a band saw or a scroll saw, some sand paper, and few files, you've got enough equipment to make a set. Stock making on the other hand will be a whole seperate category. I wouldn't have enough patience to make a rifle stock.

fisherman66 · December 6, 2009, 11:09 PM

Your work is very nice. I think some of the less figured wood might look good with checkering. The burls and spalts really should be left alone to let the beauty show.

If I ever do make my stock I will have most of the shaping and inletting done by a duplicator, leaving only the final fitting and shaping for me. I'd love to learn how to checker, but I'm not sure I have the patience or understanding to complete a rifle. I have big dreams, but just enough understanding to know what a huge undertaking a hand crafted stock is.

Don P · December 6, 2009, 11:22 PM

Very nice grips

bsbllrooster10 · December 6, 2009, 11:59 PM

over on the 1911forum.com there is a member, Sarge43 makes some custom 1911 grips for all frame sizes. His website is
thefinergrain.com

He seems to make a great product.

Olympus · December 12, 2009, 02:41 PM

Here's the addition to my line up. Box elder burl grips with a smokey gray and tan color. The set is finished with 8 coats of tung oil

ClaysCustomGrips · December 12, 2009, 09:22 PM

Nice thread!

I don't actually make the grips myself, but I would like to learn how!
I just do the custom artwork.

Olympus · December 14, 2009, 09:51 AM

Here's another set of box elder burl finished with 8 coats of tung oil...

threejean · December 18, 2009, 08:25 PM

Hey Olympus, those are some pretty snazzy grips you've made. I'm picking up my first 1911 style pistol tomorrow, and when I get new grips, I'm checking your site first.

Olympus · December 19, 2009, 10:00 AM

Sounds good!

Here's another set from the same batch of wood as the other blue and tan set. This set is PC-style and is finished with 5 coats of high gloss urethane.

Olympus · December 21, 2009, 08:11 PM

More English walnut PC-style with a bevel bottom finished with 8 coats of tung oil.

Amboyna burl with the traditional cutout for the MSH pin and bevel bottom finished with 8 coats of tung oil. I originally wanted to use a high gloss urethane but the scales are from the sapwood so they didn't want to to take any of the urethane. I had to strip it off and use the tung oil. Not my preferred finish on this type of wood, but it's still nice.

fisherman66 · December 21, 2009, 08:27 PM

Beautiful stuff. Got anything that will fit on a Ruger LCP?

Olympus · December 23, 2009, 09:41 AM

I've never tried to make a set for an LCP. I imagine there is a bit of inletting to do on the inside of the grip, but I'm not for sure.

fisherman66 · December 23, 2009, 05:54 PM

I'm not sure it's possible within reasonable effort. It might be easier to mill the surface of the frame flat, then drill and tap for very shallow screws; but the frame might need that extra material to prevent excess flex.

Olympus · December 28, 2009, 04:57 PM

Buckeye burl that are PC-style with a bevel bottom.

Olympus · December 29, 2009, 04:43 PM

Here's a new set of the fiddleback maple. I'm really impressed with how they turned out.

May 13, 2009, 01:36 PM	#2
Housezealot Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 606	I don't make my own grips but I would love to see some pics from guys that do! I hope this thread takes hold. mabey I will take some pics of the custom grips my dad had made for my .44 Smith. __________________ We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

May 14, 2009, 11:15 AM	#5
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Thank you sir. I appreciate that! __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

July 9, 2009, 09:15 AM	#6
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here are some pictures of a set I just got finished making for a customer. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

July 9, 2009, 12:57 PM	#7
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here's the latest two sets that I've finished. If your style is a little on the wild side, these might do the trick for you. The grips are both box elder burl that are pressure injected with acrylic dyes. The purple set is sold. The grips are bobtail cut with bevels on both the bottom edge as well as the bobbed edge. The green and yellow set is a standard set and is for sale. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

July 12, 2009, 05:09 PM	#8
Jmarshall Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Posts: 32	all of those are just Im starting to learn the trade, working on my first set that i think ill post when its done. Im going to try checkering them! You guys are truly an inspiration.. __________________ Do you know whats worth fighting for, when its not worth dieing for? -Greenday (Evil Liberal Punk Rockers)

May 11, 2009, 12:34 PM	#1
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Custom Grips I know there are some of us that make our own grips, so let's see them! Here's a link to my website for the grips I make: http://brownscustomgrips.webs.com __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips! Last edited by Olympus; May 11, 2009 at 12:52 PM.

May 14, 2009, 10:24 AM	#4
obiwan1 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2002 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 400	Olympus: VERY nice looking grips. I wish you well!

December 6, 2009, 04:10 PM	#9
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here's some of my newer ones. Buckeye burl for officers frame Spalted maple English walnut Fiddleback walnut __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 6, 2009, 04:23 PM	#10
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	These look like horn. Great looking grips. Do you checker? I've toyed with the idea of "grippin'". I don't really have the right tools. I've also toyed with the idea of stock building, but I haven't gotten up enough nerve to start cuttin'. I had planned to use this chunk for a Ruger #1. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

December 6, 2009, 10:52 PM	#11
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	No, I don't checker. If I offered just plain jane, run of the mill walnut or cocobolo then I might. But checkering the exotic woods that I use would take away from the beauty of the grain. Grip making isn't that difficult. If you've got a band saw or a scroll saw, some sand paper, and few files, you've got enough equipment to make a set. Stock making on the other hand will be a whole seperate category. I wouldn't have enough patience to make a rifle stock. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 6, 2009, 11:09 PM	#12
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	Your work is very nice. I think some of the less figured wood might look good with checkering. The burls and spalts really should be left alone to let the beauty show. If I ever do make my stock I will have most of the shaping and inletting done by a duplicator, leaving only the final fitting and shaping for me. I'd love to learn how to checker, but I'm not sure I have the patience or understanding to complete a rifle. I have big dreams, but just enough understanding to know what a huge undertaking a hand crafted stock is. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

December 6, 2009, 11:22 PM	#13
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Very nice grips __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

December 6, 2009, 11:59 PM	#14
bsbllrooster10 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Location: NM Posts: 122	over on the 1911forum.com there is a member, Sarge43 makes some custom 1911 grips for all frame sizes. His website is thefinergrain.com He seems to make a great product.

December 12, 2009, 02:41 PM	#15
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here's the addition to my line up. Box elder burl grips with a smokey gray and tan color. The set is finished with 8 coats of tung oil __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 12, 2009, 09:22 PM	#16
ClaysCustomGrips Junior Member Join Date: December 12, 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 12	Nice thread! I don't actually make the grips myself, but I would like to learn how! I just do the custom artwork.

December 14, 2009, 09:51 AM	#17
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here's another set of box elder burl finished with 8 coats of tung oil... __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 18, 2009, 08:25 PM	#18
threejean Junior Member Join Date: December 18, 2009 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 2	Hey Olympus, those are some pretty snazzy grips you've made. I'm picking up my first 1911 style pistol tomorrow, and when I get new grips, I'm checking your site first.

December 19, 2009, 10:00 AM	#19
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Sounds good! Here's another set from the same batch of wood as the other blue and tan set. This set is PC-style and is finished with 5 coats of high gloss urethane. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 21, 2009, 08:11 PM	#20
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	More English walnut PC-style with a bevel bottom finished with 8 coats of tung oil. Amboyna burl with the traditional cutout for the MSH pin and bevel bottom finished with 8 coats of tung oil. I originally wanted to use a high gloss urethane but the scales are from the sapwood so they didn't want to to take any of the urethane. I had to strip it off and use the tung oil. Not my preferred finish on this type of wood, but it's still nice. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 21, 2009, 08:27 PM	#21
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	Beautiful stuff. Got anything that will fit on a Ruger LCP? __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

December 23, 2009, 09:41 AM	#22
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	I've never tried to make a set for an LCP. I imagine there is a bit of inletting to do on the inside of the grip, but I'm not for sure. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 23, 2009, 05:54 PM	#23
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	I'm not sure it's possible within reasonable effort. It might be easier to mill the surface of the frame flat, then drill and tap for very shallow screws; but the frame might need that extra material to prevent excess flex. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

December 28, 2009, 04:57 PM	#24
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Buckeye burl that are PC-style with a bevel bottom. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

December 29, 2009, 04:43 PM	#25
Olympus Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2008 Posts: 770	Here's a new set of the fiddleback maple. I'm really impressed with how they turned out. __________________ www.brownscustomgrips.com Exhibition quality 1911 grips!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search