Specifically, what type of plastic was used to make GI 1911 grips?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Specifically, what type of plastic was used to make GI 1911 grips?

Posted: 8/27/2016 3:25:12 PM EDT

What type of plastic was used to make WWII/GI 1911 grips?

Bakelite, cellulose acetate, nylon, etc.?

Was there any fiber or glass reinforcement?

Many listings of old grips for sale describe them as bakelite, but like other old plastic items, this description might not be correct.

Posted: 8/27/2016 5:14:04 PM EDT

[#1]

"Coltwood"

Posted: 8/27/2016 5:57:29 PM EDT

[#2]

Whatever they were made of my plastic grips from my 1911-A1 Colt Commercial 1959 started to warp and disintergrate when stored in my Gun box (tool box).

Posted: 8/27/2016 6:56:18 PM EDT

[#3]

Walnut (as in wood) was the standard materiel for many years.

Bakelite (one of the first 'plastics') was used at some point.

Never seen gutta percha set but have seen hard latex rubber.

Posted: 8/27/2016 7:09:12 PM EDT

[#4]

The WWII Colt plastic was first used in 1940, and was known as "Coltrock". "Coltwood" was a post war plastic.

They weren't Bakelite, they were a very early plastic.
I "think" it may have been Styrene or Polystyrene.

Back then not much had been experimented with fiber filling or nylon.

Posted: 8/29/2016 11:36:31 AM EDT

[#5]

My 1968 70 series 38 super had the Bakelite (I think) and I removed them and put on Pachmayers on for a few years...Tried to go back to Bakelite and they had shrunk so I went with the black rubber grips and im happy with them...the old bakelite grips continue to change shapes each time I look at them...they were flat last year.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Specifically, what type of plastic was used to make GI 1911 grips?

Handguns » 1911 Discussions

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