My foray into custom exotic wood 1911 grips

[CWG]

I finally figured out how to get the picture in, but have not found a way to resize it. Help.

These grips were made from desert ironwood burl. I wish I could show you a larger, more detailed photo. Maybe I will learn as time goes on. STR1 you do some awsome work. I am looking forward to talking to you in the future. Hopefully we can share some ideas. I have a lot of pictures of my grips that will be comming in the near future

 

[njanear]

Seeing these gorgeous grips makes me wish that I wasn't such a Glock Guy.

My only M1911 is an old Norinco, so getting a set of these for it would be like putting a nice party dress on an old sow.

Now, if you got into doing these for Ruger Vaqueros, I would probably be all over them.

 

[CWG]

Njanear,
Let me do some research on the Ruger you have and I will get back to you. There is a possablity I might could hook you up with a pair of very custom grips.
Good seeing your post. I will do better with the pictures when I have time to devote to it.

 

[SRT1]

Welcome to the thread CWG! I sent you a PM on pictures, hope it helps. Those grips look great, I look forward to seeing more (and bigger) pictures!
SRT

 

[CWG]

Thanks for the info SRT, I will check it out now and hope that I can show you some more pictures that are better. Keep an eye on my posts.

I finally got a larger picture on, but now it is way to large. I may have to change the settings on my camera.
This is a set of grips made from Stabilized CA. Buckeye Burl. You never know what the inside looks like until you cut them open, just like Christmas. Just added another photo of a set of fancy Maple that I stippled with the 1/2 diamond design. This design can also be darkened for more contrast. The picture does not give justice to the beauty of this wood. The last photo I used auto fix and it really shows the beauty of the grain in the fiddleback maple.




Thanks
CWG

 

[CWG]

SRT1, thank you, thank you, thank you for your information. I think I have finally figured out what you were talking about. Tell me your thoughts in a post or PM.
Thanks again.
CWG

 

[CWG]

SRT1, I hope you don't mind if I quote you, but this is truly eye candy. When I saw this piece of CA Buckeye Burl with all the grey grain, I had to work with it. When I start a pair of grips I can hardly put them down until I do the final finish, just to see the beauty of the grains. No two sets are the same even if they come from the same piece of wood. It is such a joy to work and finish fine woods. You should get a project going yourself and feel the joy of accomplishment. I should have some more pictures tomorrow. Since I am an artist, I couldn't resist putting some design work on these Slimcarry grips. I used the 1/2 stippled design and darkened the stippled work. The finish is Teak Oil. I may put a polyurathane finish over this in a few days in order to make them pop out even more. Hope you like the scenery.

​

 

[SRT1]

Very nice CWG! Bookmatching is definitely the way to go with grips.
I've got a plank of Thuya Burl that is unusual in that the rays don't necc. grow from in to out forming the normal burl pattern of eyes. The rays twist and dodge and go different directions resulting in the look shown in the pic. Oil finish keeps the glare down for the pic. Beautiful stuff!
SRT

 

[CWG]

Srt1

I like this one as well if not better than all the previous grips. I just finished a set of Thuya, the final sanding is done but no finish. I will post the picture when I finish them, it will be later on this week. I have serval sets that I am working on at the present time. Trying to get ready for a show.
Keep up the beautiful work, they are awesome.

 

[SRT1]

Back in post #149 of this thread, I put a pic of some beautiful walnut grips in an oil finish. Here is a set from the same block, same style, except that the finish is gloss polyurethane. I'd be interested in which all of you prefer and why, so please let me know. I prefer the gloss because it lets the figure and color POP, but have been thinking that this particular wood may look best in a satin poly. I look forward to your opinions on the finish. (sorry about the fingerprint smudges in the pic)
Thanks,
SRT

 

[MaximumQ]

Mr. Cesiumsponge,
Those are the most original, coolest grips I've seen to date!
Nice work. Colored on the gas stove? Necessity is the mother of invention - I'll have to try that sometime.

 

[CWG]

Sarge, may I call you Sarge?
This is the most beautifully figured Walnut I have seen in years. I sure wish I could find some just to close to that.
About the finish. It is really a matter of a persons taste. I prefer the Poly for the same reason you stated, it really makes the wood POP and shows every detail of the hidden grains. I use both, depends on what someone wants. Great work, keep it going.

 

[SRT1]

Spalted Tamarind has long been a favorite of mine. This set shows a great balance between the gray and the fine line spalting. Beeeeeeeautiful stuff!
A tough wood, it's good in a number of uses for us woodworkers.
Enjoy!
SRT

 

[orb]

SRT 1, I really like the oil finishes for their natural appearance.

 

[SRT1]

thanks for the input Orb.
I worked on this set over the holiday weekend. I've used Masur birch on furniture projects before, but never in grips until now.
The beautiful brown flecks and lines are caused in the wood by a beetle that attacks this particular tree while it's alive.
Very cool look.
Enjoy!
SRT

 

[SRT1]

First set of grips I've done for a Springfield Armory EMP. A whole new set up from "standard" 1911 platform weapons. Everything but the bushing spacing is different. These are Spalted Tamarind over Bloodwood.
Enjoy the beauty of the woods!
SRT

 

[SRT1]

My new Dan Wesson CBOB finally came in, so first order of business was to get it out of those shoddy stock grips that make it look like a dimestore toy and into something respectable. Here's the first set of bobtail grips for it, fit to the frame and rounded everywhere for more comfortable carry and shooting. Thuya Burl. Beautiful. Nuff said.
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Todays beauty is provided by Australia in the form of Corrugata Burl. This is a great wood with depth, great color, swirl and eyes. It also has the huge benefit of being very solid and heavy which makes it great for pistol grips. It works well and takes finish very well whether it's oil, poly, or lacquer. Great stuff!
Enjoy!
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Todays wood is indeed a treat for the eyes. I wish you could be standing here to see it as you wouldn't believe it. This is without a doubt the most 3D Afzelia Xylay I have ever had in my possession. I got lucky and found a block that I guess everyone else just grabbing off the top just missed. Lucky me!
My wife asked when I brought them in last night "How did you shape the wood like that?" and when she ran her fingers over the surface she couldn't believe it was glass smooth. You could swear the "vein" looking figure is above the rest of the wood, even when you're right there looking at it, but it's not. A beautiful trick of nature. This is something that most people will never see, so enjoy it while the pics are here.
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Sometimes you come across a pieces of wood that just blows you away, and this set is made from one of those pieces. It is Afzelia Xylay, but spalted. Absolutely gorgeous! The figure of the Xylay with the fine line spalt together is both unique and beautiful. I kept going back to these over the weekend while I was working on them just to look and stare. These may take over as my new favorite pair so far. Very unique and beautiful. Enjoy this treat from nature!
SRT

 

[SRT1]

Nice crosscut Bocote. Normally I would grain cut this wood, but I like the way the crosscut looks with the rounded lines of the bobtail frame. Pretty cool.

 

[SRT1]

One more for today.
Corrugata Burl from Australia in a bobtail grip set. Hard, dense and gorgeous. Great for grip panels or smaller wood projects (the burls only get so big... ).
This will tide you over til tomorrow.
Enjoy
SRT

 

[JeepGeeek]

beautiful work, guys.

I'm almost tempted to put a set of these on my 1911. But as it's a RIA GI, it would be rather like putting a fine furniture craftsman to task to fill a rented tenement.

 

[SRT1]

That's funny.
It's all aobut seeing and enjoying the beauty that's right in front of us that's all. So much beauty that is simply overlooked - the pics help bring it to the forefront and expose it for all to see. There are much worse things to be addicted to in this world than beautiful woods.
I hope you continue to enjoy everyone's pictures and work.
Sarge

 

[JeepGeeek]

having looked at your work, SRT1, I may have to go ahead and just get a pir of these grips after all....