recommendations for finding ww1 1911 grips

[7thGenAustinite]

I'm looking for some original ww1 wooden grips for my 1911 (built 1918). it currently has the ww2 grips but would love to get it back to as much original as possible. Im not looking for mint grips ($$$$) just some decent condition ones that have the proper patina to match the gun.

 

[Mac Attack]

Grips are hard to find because a lot of older 1911s saw a lot of use and the wood panels were worn down, cracked or unserviceable

Grips are out there. Check places like 1911forums.com or M1911 forum you may be able to hind a pair. If you can get them for $200 or less you got a good deal. Otherwise you can check gunbroker or one of the other auction sites but be prepared to pay quite a bit.

 

[Zerodefect]

Just get some new wood grips and let the dog drool on them, then hang them in a tree for a month or two. Then zip tie them to the grill of your truck and drive around for a while.

Extra points for putting them on your 1911 and then throw it down the driveway so the scratches on the grips line up with the ones on the gun.

I'm sure someone has a way to age grips. But why bother. Wood grips get pretty nasty on thier own. Or are you looking for the old school plastic grips?

 

[7thGenAustinite]

Already have the WWII plastic grips on the gun

 

[robert seddon]

A few questions come to mind here, like is it a Colt, a Remmington, a Springfield or a bastard of two of the above, or a real smiths nightmare (off brand manufacture during WW II) ? The wood used is different for all of these as the suppliers could be different or change .. the same type, but different grades of wood were on many of them.

 

[1911Tuner]

Pretty sure that Brownells still carries the checkered/double diamond grips...and they're pretty cheap. The last set I ordered were about 18 bucks...real wood.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I went through this for a number of years. There are no repro grips that perfectly duplicate the early WWI walnut grips. Some come close, but anything new just doesn't look aged, or realistically worn. Cylinder & Slide was having some made and offered them for a few years, but I do not see them lately. Herrett's comes close with (if you specify) a DARK black walnut. Hogue's have a similar pattern but look too new. I'm sure someone could do it, maybe the supplier to Turnbull, but they would charge over $100, maybe even $150 for a pair. You can find the originals, in slightly worn shape on ebay occasionally for $90-$150 (that is your best bet for the best "look"), and near new originals have gone for over $200, bought, I'm sure, to restore a $2000 - $4000 gun.