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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - fancy grips worth it?

Posted: 11/18/2017 10:50:34 PM EDT

hey all,

I don't know why, but I've been debating fancy ass 1911 grips since I started dreaming about my first "real" 1911. I mean like mammoth tooth, Tusk ivory, etc. they are expensive and clearly not something I need in my life since I lived 35 years without. but damnit I still want them! Problem is I would want to keep them on the gun to carry and shoot at the range, not just for instagram photos and crap, so I'd want them to hold up. Budget would be about $500 which sounds just crazy typed out, but I get little joy out of plastic guns, so I would use them. I already have a Baer TRS I'm wearing the blue off with practice and a nice leather/shark holster it could ride in.

can somebody please tell me that I'd be better spent buying an M&P2 compact to play with at the range before I need fossil grips? or hell, talk me into them instead...

Posted: 11/18/2017 10:58:29 PM EDT

[#1]

Get the grips you like, then post a pic for us.

Posted: 11/18/2017 11:33:52 PM EDT

[#2]

Always wanted ivory on a blued colt myself.

Posted: 11/19/2017 12:25:01 AM EDT

[#3]

Got some nice fossil grips on eBay for $150
Be in no hurry but buy the ones you really want if you see them since you may never see them again. 1911's look great with Bone/ horn grips

Posted: 11/19/2017 7:04:59 PM EDT

[#4]

I've found that it is best to keep ivory grips ON the gun. That way, they don't warp. If they warp, the next time you put them on a gun, they can (will) crack. Don't ask me how I know this.

Ivory grips should always be mounted using the little, rubber donuts that several grip makers offer. The donuts serve many functions, like keeping the screws tight without having to use loctite. But, for Ivory grips, the donuts insulate the grip from the shock of the gun recoiling and help protect them from damage (breakage). Put the donut on the screw shank after passing the screw through the grip. That way, the donut will be between the gun and the grip to do its shock-absorption.

Personally, I think the 1911 is one of the best guns for showing off exotic grips.

Go for it. Put them on the gun and use it.

Posted: 11/20/2017 1:06:29 AM EDT

[#5]

I've kinda wanted some mammoth tusk grips. But I doubt I ever will since I prefer my guns practical and useful, a part like that to me belongs on a collector peice, which I am not. Running some G10 wiley clap style grips currently.

Posted: 11/20/2017 3:10:32 AM EDT

[#6]

This reminds me that I still need a polished nickel .38 Super for some ridiculouse mother of pearl inlayed rosewood grips I have laying around...

Posted: 11/20/2017 8:27:53 PM EDT

[#7]

Some nice Mammoth tooth grips will probably cost about 3-4 X your budget, so forget about it. For between $50-$100 you can get a really nice set of linen or cloth micarta grips in various colors. Then there are some nice exotic types of wood that you can get as well for several hundred $s.

Link to grips

Posted: 11/21/2017 3:48:27 PM EDT

[#8]

I have fully checkered ebony grips on an almost black gun.

Looks good and does not attract attention.

Posted: 11/23/2017 8:22:06 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Always wanted ivory on a blued colt myself.

View Quote

Attached File

Posted: 11/24/2017 12:13:21 PM EDT

[#10]

I love my mammoth tooth, my engraved walnut grips. They carry well and hold up well.

Here is the link where I got mine and they are in your price range

http://www.gunnerproducts.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=tooth

Posted: 11/24/2017 12:53:16 PM EDT

[#11]

Get some Ivory grips. You won't regret them.

I have my set currently on a polished stainless Colt .38 super.

It's fucking beautiful.

My shooters have VZ grips.

Posted: 11/24/2017 4:21:32 PM EDT

[#12]

Check CDNN I got the Tulip Wood grips for $30:

Posted: 11/24/2017 8:52:06 PM EDT

[#13]

Attached File

1st pair is water buffalo bone and cost around $30, then stag around $100, and the fossil bone ones from ebay for $130

shop around you will find what you want without spending alot

dyed giraffe bone is really good and not too expensive
shop on etsy

Posted: 12/7/2017 4:41:09 AM EDT

[#14]

Dont buy mammoth tooth if your going to actually shoot the gun they are slick like glass and crack easy also. The rest Ivory, Bone, Antler ect are pretty good to go and not as slick or fragile..

Posted: 12/9/2017 9:34:01 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've kinda wanted some mammoth tusk grips. But I doubt I ever will since I prefer my guns practical and useful, a part like that to me belongs on a collector peice, which I am not. Running some G10 wiley clap style grips currently.

View Quote

This is my take. Imagine dropping your gun. If your first thought would be "oh shit, those grips!", you need something more functional. YMMV. I'm not a "barbecue gun" kind of guy.

Posted: 12/10/2017 6:17:07 PM EDT

[#16]

Here are my Ivory wood grips from Esmeralda she has many options and wood choices:

Attached File

Posted: 12/11/2017 3:57:50 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/65995/1911s_grips-372119.JPG
1st pair is water buffalo bone and cost around $30, then stag around $100, and the fossil bone ones from ebay for $130

shop around you will find what you want without spending alot

dyed giraffe bone is really good and not too expensive
shop on etsy

View Quote

@dayphotog those water buffalo bone grips are really cool and I've not heard about that material before. where did you pick those up?

Posted: 12/11/2017 10:56:46 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
@dayphotog those water buffalo bone grips are really cool and I've not heard about that material before. where did you pick those up?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/65995/1911s_grips-372119.JPG
1st pair is water buffalo bone and cost around $30, then stag around $100, and the fossil bone ones from ebay for $130

shop around you will find what you want without spending alot

dyed giraffe bone is really good and not too expensive
shop on etsy

@dayphotog those water buffalo bone grips are really cool and I've not heard about that material before. where did you pick those up?

on eBay and an etsy seller Kim something from Vietnam

Posted: 12/11/2017 11:18:29 PM EDT

[#19]

I ordered a set of these for $100 (normally $150) with the holiday price drop.

Mammoth gives me wood, but the durability scares me. These ram grips are something you can shoot and enjoy the looks of too

Pics of El Chapo gun they are going on (still at the Smith finishing the high polish and getting a new trigger and front bead)

Attached File

Posted: 12/18/2017 7:47:07 PM EDT

[#20]

Love my ivory....

Posted: 12/19/2017 12:48:54 AM EDT

[#21]

Where are you all finding Ivory?

Posted: 12/19/2017 1:29:52 AM EDT

[#22]

ABS plastic and super glue is what you want.

Posted: 12/19/2017 8:56:42 AM EDT

[#23]

I just ordered some mammoth tooth blanks to make into a knife handle... if that goes well I might try 1911 grips. we shall see.

Posted: 12/19/2017 1:06:00 PM EDT

[#24]

Depends on what you mean by "carry the gun". Carrying it concealed around town or as a "BBQ gun"...OK. Carrying it in the woods, around a farm, etc...no way.

Posted: 12/19/2017 11:08:06 PM EDT

[#25]

I carry with ivory, including woods and farm.
Thousands of rounds per year.
It yellows a bit from skin contact with my 4:00 side but still looks and feels great.
No issues.

Do it.

Posted: 12/19/2017 11:21:00 PM EDT

[#26]

I can show you a reason not to.... These grips sure looked awesome in the picture, not so much in real life.....

Bone grips are in my future.

Posted: 12/25/2017 9:48:24 AM EDT

[#27]

well I ordered some mammoth tooth ivory as a Christmas present to myself. I will be posting pics when they get here

Posted: 12/25/2017 10:02:09 AM EDT

[#28]

I am particularly fond of burlwood grips.

Posted: 12/25/2017 3:22:37 PM EDT

[#29]

Attached File

So mine came in the other day

Posted: 12/26/2017 10:08:22 AM EDT

[#30]

Attached File

Ivory. Don't have a 1911 to put them on right now. I was going to sell them, but I have no proof they are "pre-ban" and interstate sale is no longer legal. I had these on a LB UTC.

Posted: 12/26/2017 8:24:39 PM EDT

[#31]

ABS plastic grips are legal across state lines:

Attached File

Posted: 12/26/2017 9:50:16 PM EDT

[#32]

Less Soviet looking than the above:

Attached File

Posted: 12/26/2017 10:46:55 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Less Soviet looking than the above:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/84655/effort1911Mk2aAmerican-402373.JPG

View Quote

Can I get a set of those?

Posted: 12/27/2017 2:31:14 AM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted: Can I get a set of those?

View Quote

Give me a bit to get to a final design and order some parts, and you can be a beta tester. How good are you w/ the Kragle & a Dremel?

Posted: 12/28/2017 2:41:25 AM EDT

[#35]

@ricky_45 Parts ordered, some from Canada. I have to build them myself, then write instructions. After you look @ the online instructions, if you're still interested, shoot me your address and I'll mail you the parts. Then it's up to you to cut them, glue them, and drill them to fit. I'll try em out on my Auto-Ordnance, and I may talk @sample into testing them on his AMT.