do punisher grips make your 1911 "nerdy"...?

[loboloco]

I just bought a Springfield Armory Loaded 1911 (thanks YammyMonkey; range report coming soon) and want to have it redone in a reverse two tone to match my Taurus PT1911, which will have a stainless slide, blued frame, and polished aluminum grips with engraved ghost flames. Eventually, I'll nitre blue the grip screws, slide stop, ambi-safety, and maybe the trigger and hammer...

Anyway, I got to thinking, and I want to keep the original finish on the SA's slide, but do the frame stainless (duracoat will look great AND protect, I understand) and some sort of dark blue or black grips. I was thinking I'd go with black polymer grips with the silver/grey punisher skull, and the site I found them on (www.1911stuff.com) also has a black polymer with a silver/grey skull set of grips that I'm thinking would look rather spiffy...however....

I'm wondering if punisher grips are too nerdy, or if I should go ahead and acknowledge on of my favorite comic book heroes with one of my favorite firearms... does anyone else here have these grips, (I'm sure I've seen a picture or two on one thread or another, but I don't remember which ones) and would you be so kind as to post pictures here.

Having only recently joined this forum, I have found a wealth of knowledge and greatly appreciate all those who responded to my 9MM thread, even if you did not agree with me (to be honest, not many did) but that is what this country is about....expressing your opinion, even if nobody listens, because as it so plainly states in the Bill of Rights; "The right of the people...shall not be infringed upon..."

 

[Glockorama]

I would say if you like it, do it. The only opinion that matters here is yours.
I'm not much into those kind of grips myself, but I have to admit, those "Biohazard" grips are kinda cool.
Plus, you can always swap 'em with the originals (or others).

 

[VHinch]

Not a big fan, but it's your gun. Just doesn't "fit" on a 1911 to me, but then I like the older classics, pre-65 Colts and the like, and I prefer them with smooth wood grips.

 

[W.E.G.]

screams AirSoft

 

[phantomak47]

Its a gun, not a middle schoolers lunch box.

 

[JohnBlaze]

it's your gun, and if you like it, do it.

Why should it matter if others think your gun looks nerdy? It will still go bang when you need it to.

 

[Eightball]

Do it, and make sure to post pics afterwards.

Not my personal style or taste, but I've always thought those grips with an Iron Cross or Celtic Cross were always nifty looking. It's just personal preference.

 

[gb6491]

One of the beauties of the 1911 platform is the ease with which you can add your own personal touch. If you like the 'Punisher' grips then by all means go for it. It certainly doesn't preclude you changing them out further down the line. I'd bet there are a great many 1911 owners with grip panels stashed some where other than on a pistol.
Regards,
Greg

 

[Matt-J2]

I'm nerdy enough that if they made grips with the Starfleet symbol on them, I'd buy 'em. So yeah, go with the Punisher grips if you want em.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Make sure you add a orange tip. Grow up its a real weapon not a comic book toy.
But its your money So do as you please.

 

[Wopasaurus]

It makes it incredibly nerdy, however, coming from a fellow nerd, you have my 100% support.

 

[Shade00]

How nerdy can you be wielding a .45?

I'd say pretty nerdy. I'd think you were holding a toy. But maybe that could just be one of your tactics... make them think it's just a toy....

 

[skinewmexico]

I'd say more mall ninja than nerd. And a jury will love the grips, if you ever have to use it for SD.

 

[Monkeybear]

I have seen many a punisher griped 1911 online and a few in gunshops and the range. Why so many, because they are awesome.

 

[CWL]

Like a popular joke, I think that they will be amusing for a while but you will eventually get tired of them. Don't throw those wood grips away just yet.

 

[R12GS]

Its a gun, not a middle schoolers lunch box.

Agree. Its a weapon, not a toy.

 

[Girodin]

The only draw back I see is if it is your carry or HD weapon and you have to shoot someone. That said if you like the look go for it. Will others not like it? Read the above, but why should you care?

 

[Zoogster]

Putting skulls on your weapon will not look too good in court if there is a real dead person killed by you after self defense.
If they make the punisher connection it could be even worse!

The Punisher is a vigilante that dishes out his own punishment to criminals and is fond of firearms. Tell me that is an image you really want tied to you in a self defense case no matter how "nerdy" it is or is not?
Are you a gun nut that was eager to dish his own punishment out just like the punisher? The prosecutor will do thier best to convince the jury of it.
That could mean the difference between life behind bars and continuing on with your life after defending it.

You want to appear to be a mature thoughtful individual, the type of person who realizes life and death is not a joke, justice is for the courts, and that you only used self defense because it was absolutely necessary. Punisher grips say the exact opposite to the jury.

 

[BMW2]

I agree with Zoogster. If it's a range gun and you like the look go for it. If you carry it or use it for home defense I'd think twice. It's a sad comment on society that we have to worry about something like that but it is a reality.

 

[EHL]

It's your gun, get'em if you want them. I don't see the harm in it. Many guys pay big money for other "customized" grips since they want it a certain way for a certain look. If it's merely a weapon with absolutley no aesthetic function or dimension to it, then all 1911's would have the original brown GI grips for it. That's not the case and many gun collectors pay lots of money for not just functional improvements, but aesthetic ones as well. How can they argue that your taste in aesthetics isn't justified since they too have gone the extra mile to purchase extra's that are intended to personalize thier gun. As far as worrying about a jury goes, I would worry about the life of my family and my own first, and then worry about convincing a jury that the crackhead that broke into my house in the middle of the night, posed a threat to my family. I for one, would find you "not guilty" and I believe many other fair minded people would decide similarily, no matter what grips you had on your gun. Common, the grips have nothing to do with the shooting of the projectile. I think it's silly to worry about grips in a court case. I think they'd be interested in how many holes they have and are they in the front of his torso or his back? (running away) By the way, I'm a law student and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if a prosecutor used "the scary grips" as the lynch pin to his case, it would only take a semi-competent public defender (yes a public defender) to pull up numerous other examples of customized guns that were used in self defense that were ruled justifiable. On top of that, the prosecution would have to show a history of violence and disturbed behavior with people testifing to any previous "punisher" statements of how you are "looking" for bad guys and what you would do to them. If you aren't this type of person, then I don't think these grips would do you in with a jury of your peers. Honestly, the case would be decided by the merits, not the "scary grips". Just my .02 cents.

 

[R12GS]

LMAO!!! Yeah, tell that to other half of the country that would see John Kerry elected to president. Sorry pal, but if you believe that somehow magically everyone in this country see's things the way you and the vast majority of posters here do, you have a long long LONG way to go in criminal law. Being a student doesn't make you an expert on what takes place on the the stand, take it from me, I'm usually on the stand at least once a week.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Not for a self-defense gun. I have nothing against the Punisher or your love of comics, but if I were the attorney of the guy who was killed by you, I'd try to make the vigilante connection too.

 

[retgarr]

Theres a lot of hate from people on this thread. But it's your gun so m opinion does not matter, you like em' get em'.

As far as ending up in court after a shooting. The opposing attorney better have more than "he like comic book characters"

 

[loop]

I'll throw in my 2 cents' worth.

One of the first changes I'll make to any gun is the grips, but I make that change to improve shooting and handling characteristics.

My most recent grip purchase was to buy smooth, machined aluminum grips that reduced my grip circumference by almost 3/8 of an inch. That put my hand in a better position to control the gun.

Then I covered the grips with skateboard tape. Now they fit my hand and they don't move at all once I've gripped them. I have the same second, third and fourth shot grip I had for the first shot.

I have a SIG P220 with which I could not hit the broad side of a barn. I put Hogue wraparound grips with finger grooves on the gun and it now hits where I point it.

IMHO, grips should only changed when they offer the shooter an advantage over the original format. I have more than 20 autos (really have no idea how many) and only one has any sort of decoration. That is a Pachmayr logo insert. It just happened to be on the right grips.

My personal view is grips are a key to how you'll handle your gun. Decorate your holster, not your gun (and I have some really cool holsters).

The comments about lawyers are true. You offer them a field day if you ever use the gun in self defense with macho grips. They'd have a real tough time telling a jury I was trying to be macho putting skateboard tape on my grips, but that tape made me a better shot.

Like I said, just my 2 cents' worth.

 

[slzy]

i would'nt want Col. Cooper to see my 1911 like that.