Fancy grips - yes or no?

[wojownik]

Just picked up a pair of aftermarket grips (Altamont in Super Rosewood). Pics below - my Colt Commander in factory rubber, rosewood double diamond and then "super rosewood" serpentine.

What do you all think about dressed up grips? And which set do you guys like best?

Any opinions on Altamont? I had liked the idea of the serpentine grips until I tried them out a bit - a bit thicker, and IMHO the design is backward (I felt like the pattern should be on the front side of the grip, slick side on back - so your hand slides faster onto the grip, and your fingers benefit from the traction on the front side of the grip). Also, found out after they arrived that Altamont's "super rosewood" is actually a laminate. My double diamonds are real rosewood.

 

[jim243]

super rosewood serpentine

Just my opinion, but I like these better. Dresses the gun up better.

Jim

 

[Naybor]

I've been very happy with the rosewood grips from Altamont.

My Mk III is stainless steel, and have gotten a lot of compliments on it and also the grips.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I like the look of the laminate better also...I wonder if they'll darken less over time than the natural rosewood?

IMHO the design is backward (I felt like the pattern should be on the front side of the grip, slick side on back - so your hand slides faster onto the grip, and your fingers benefit from the traction on the front side of the grip).

The texture pattern is correct for an optimal grip on the gun. You shouldn't be applying lateral pressure with your strong hand.

Plus stock panels like that are really more about appearance...or they wouldn't have included the logo

 

[kcshooter]

I like the wood grips too, and you gotta swap out that ugly Colt factory trigger too.

 

[Snag]

I greatly prefer the look of traditional fancy grips like the double diamond ones in your second pic.

Whatever this pattern is I like a lot too.

 

[bannockburn]

wojownik

I like the fancy Altamont grips too, especially with the Colt logo on there. I also agree with what you said about the scaled pattern being better suited if it was located on the front portion of the grips. I have a Colt New Agent with laminate stocks very similar to yours with the difference being that the checkering is a semi-circle pattern on the front section of the grip. I feel it gives my fingers (and the palm of my hand on the other side), a much more positive surface to hold on to.

 

[HDCamel]

I'm a fan of the classics.
Double Diamond all the way. Though the ones in your second pic are a little dark for a stainless gun.

 

[surjimmy]

Snag, its called Spanish Diamond.

 

[Dr.Rob]

The double diamonds are fancy and functional...

Rather fond of these Herret grips in cocobolo

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=107187&d=1255493725

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Oh, YES! ...........

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[bbuddtec]

I think the rubber look best of the three, but great pics to all, and love the custom "9" grips on that Hi Power, Sharps!

 

[bigfatdave]

fancy grips are nice on range toys, but carry guns take a beating. I have slimline alumagrips on my 1911s - they're fairly durable and I think they look fairly sharp - but they're not "fancy"

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

bbuddtec, Esmeralda offers that laser cut, or whatever she uses, on several different types of autos.

 

[mgmorden]

I certainly couldn't afford to outfit all my guns with nice grips, but I plan to have at least a few done that way. In particular I really like the look of nice wood grips on stainless or chrome-plated guns.

 

[SaxonPig]

Well, they're rather plain and not fancy, but I have a fondness for ivory.

 

[gym]

VZ for good looks and the g10's for indestructability. For beauty see "sarge" at elite grips, the best Burled wood, ivory, "real ivory", and all kinds of skins. His "handler" series is the nicest IMO, for commander and full size coltsm Larger than the regular size they cover more metal and give an exeptional grip for accurate shooting.

 

[Swing]

mmm beauties.

 

[YankeeFlyr]

Snag's grips are sharp!

I recently had to decide between Cocobolo smooth grips and VZ's FRAG pattern for my 1911.

I chose the VZ grips.

Now I am looking at grips for my B-92FS...I really like the blue aluminum grips from Beretta!

Maybe...

 

[gym]

Sarge will make you special order frips if you ask him nice. I was supposed to order a pair of those multicolored composite Grips, for a bobtail, but sold the gun, I just put the aliens on my emp from VZ and they are bad ass in BLK. the grips can make the difference in an ok looking gun to a great looking gun IMO. Next to the finish you choose they are the most important, also light colors of burled wood go better imo with stainless, unless you go BLK or Ivory.Dark guns can look good either way,, but lighter color usually is better.
While typing VZ sent an email, they have a 4th of july sale going on, on a new limited run holiday grip, and 15% OFF their other ones so the timing is perfect

 

[ChCx2744]

SaxonPig, that belt looks really nice. Great OC rig.