Best material for grips

[USA-I]

What is the best material for use on custom SA grips? I like Ebony but am told it will split or crack on magnum loads.

 

[KEN CHAVEZ]

Just my opinion:

WOOD!

 

[Blue Duck357]

To me the holy grail of grips on a custom single action are real ivory, nothing looks or cost quite like it

 

[Hal]

Ditto to both Ken and Blue Duck.

Both wood and ivory would be my top choices for a custom S/A.
Ivory for looks and wood for shooting.

http://www.boonetrading.com/

Has either modern or fossil ivory in case you wondered.

 

[RWK]

Gorgeous, grained wood -- for atheistics and for shooting!

 

[riddleofsteel]

Woods;

Coco bolo
Figured walnut
Gonaco Avles
Rosewood

Animal products;

Ivory
Stag
Jigged bone
Horn

Synthetics;

Micarta
Bonded bone
Corian
Injected polymers

I am a lover of fine wood, stag and Micarta but the next set of single action grips I get will be from this guy;


http://www.gripmaker.com/stag/Default.htm

 

[nsf003]

Ivory for looks and wood for shooting.

Ivory for looks, wood for looks, both for shooting.

I love wood. Used to be a black rubber tactical guy, until I came here.


nsf

 

[Blackhawk]

I like Ebony but am told it will split or crack on magnum loads.

If the grips fit properly and aren't stressed by the screws, they shouldn't crack regardless of the loads.

You like ebony, so get ebony!

BTW, welcome to TFL!

 

[USA-I]

Thanks a bunch for the info- I really appreciate you all.
God Bless,
USA-1

 

[CZ_]

I like Coco Bolo wood grips, and also the black or white Micarta grips.

The Coco Bolo wood grips look great on any finished gun, IMO.

Black Micarta looks great on stainless guns.

White Micarta looks great on blued guns.

YMMV

 

[riddleofsteel]

The problemis that the main source of ebony grips is from Eagle. Over half of the grips I have purchased from them have been poor fits. One set required fitting I would classify as extensive. Ebony is a resonably dense wood as is used extensively in wood wind musical instruments. However, if it is not exactly fitted it will chip. Even the densest of tropical hardwoods will crack and split if not properly fitted.

 

[USA-I]

Well, I finially bought a pair of Ivory Micarta custom grips from Letts and I love them. Fit and finish are excellent, price + s&h was $97.00. They are straight cut at the bottom which gives room for my pinky.

 

[Paul Fitz Jones]

Ironwood grips

The toughest grips I ever saw are Tropical Ironwood grips given to me by a Foreign friend. I have a few dozen to only fit Smith and Colt double action revolvers.

They were made in the early 70's and the wood is no longer allowed out of the country unless it is in a work of art. The wood is now a National Treasure.

My friend wanted me to market them but he passed away too soon.

They are over sized to show the beauty of the wood with a laquer finish and it will take a carbide cutter to trim or make finger grooves in them with a Dremel tool they are so tough.

The trees they came from were hundreds of years old.