Grips for a 1911 Colt 45

[Speeronline]

Friend has a relatively stock Colt 45 and wanted to do something to make it look more custom... So I took the factory plastic grips off and made new ones out of mesquite... Then I thought they would look good with a carving or inlay about the size of a nickel ... So I decided to actually use a nickel! I sanded ine side down and polished it up and then carved his initials into it with a little embellishments and I think it turned out really nice!





I could have filled the gap by the inlay in with something but I didn't think it needed it...

[ray-man]

Nice work on both the grips and the nickel. Your friend will certainly be pleased with those. Of course he would be even more pleased if that Colt were a Sig.....Smile

Ray

[mobjack68]

Good looking stuff, guy!!

If you didn't know....checkering tools for stocks/grips are really inexpensive..
The smooth grips have always been my favorite, shooting a 1911A with smooth grips is sometimes no fun...then I do keep a lot of oil on mine!!

hey ray-man...throw that sig in the sand, pick it up to shoot and see what happens...

[Mayo]

Originally Posted by Speeronline

Friend has a relatively stock Colt 45 and wanted to do something to make it look more custom... So I took the factory plastic grips off and made new ones out of mesquite... Then I thought they would look good with a carving or inlay about the size of a nickel ... So I decided to actually use a nickel! I sanded ine side down and polished it up and then carved his initials into it with a little embellishments and I think it turned out really nice!





I could have filled the gap by the inlay in with something but I didn't think it needed it...

Nice job!!!Now this is what I'm interested in doing. I just hope the crape myrtle wood will do the job.

[davidinsarasota]

Didn't notice the gap till you mentioned it. Looks great.

[Donsexton]

Looks as good as any I have done

[Robson Valley]

Smoooooooth!

BTW, should you ever lack inspiration, there soon will be a major auction of a collection of Mr. S. Colt's original pistols. FieldandStream.com has a very nice photo series of what will be sold.
I need a nice donation of $50,000,000 from some nice Nigerian for me to start bidding.

[riodot]

I really like the inlay and the idea of using and engraving a Nickel.

It looks good and I will have to try that.


Your friend looks to have the same model 1911 pistol I worked on - a Rock Island 1911 with smooth grips. Smooth grips are just asking for some carving.


It was decided a basketweave would look best and be very fuctional.



There are a few other photos of the grip here:

A custom carved pair of 1911 pistol grips

You really have to watch it. It's easy to cut too deep and 1911 grips are thin.

Lance

[BrandantR]

Those are some nice looking grips. I like the idea of the inlayed nickle. Gives it a nice touch.

Lance, I like that basketweave pattern on your set too.

I have a Bersa 380 that I've been thinking about making a set of custom grips for. This has given me some great ideas.

[Robson Valley]

The Cali collection of Colts has gone to auction. Several went for $800,000 to $950,000 each.
FieldandStream.com