Making wooden grips for 1911

[Quoheleth]

I'm a bit of an amateur woodworker and thought a nice weekend/evening project would be to make my own set of grips for my 1911. I found a website that has good step-by-step instructions. Looks like it will be fun!!!

I'm curious, though, as to what woods will work well for grips. Walnut is a classic, especially for single-action revolvers. Mesquite is a favorite in the southwest.

Any woodworkers out there with suggestions for wood to make functional and good-looking grips? I know I don't want the uber-high end woods that will cost me $100 for a small block. I have both a stainless and park'ed 1911.

I have some nice, clean oak I might try for my first run. I'm not planning, right now, to try to checker these. I don't have the talent or patience to do that. These will be finished smooth.

Thanks,

Q

 

[SaMx]

I don't have any suggestions, except to let you know that you can get scales of a lot of different types of exotic woods for cheap prices from knife making websites like www.knifekits.com

 

[Quoheleth]

Hey - thanks!!!

Q

 

[rcmodel]

You can't go wrong with walnut for your first learning experience.

It is beautiful if you pick fancy wood to start with.

Plenty strong for grips. That's what GI 1911's started out using.

Here are some I made.
The two S&W's are walnut with a Tru-Oil finish.
The 1911 is Elephant Ivory.
The Astra is Laotian Rosewood with no finish.


rc