Rosewood, Walnut, or Silverblack on a Blued Gun?

"Rosewood" can appear so many different ways, that it's hard to give a blanket endorsement.
I have some rosewood grips that are wine-colored; a deep, almost blood red. Another set is red-ish brown.
I returned two sets of "exhibition grade" rosewood grips that were a disgusting bright orange.
I have very different appearing rosewood grips on three of my guns, and like them all, but some rosewood is not very appealing.
 
Don't know if it helps, but I like the look of stag on a blued gun. Mine are mostly "Rosewood" with that reddish stain that makes them look more like Cocobolo. Silverback is okay and does look pretty nice but reminds me of ugly black rifles...synthetic, I guess.
 
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"Rosewood" is a pretty broad term, all correct. The color and grain depends on its origin. Brazilain rosewood, which is now pretty well non-obtainable, is very dark brown with deep chocolate brown grain pattern and is most desirable. Bolivian is similar, very deep dark brown, almost purple at times. African rosewood tends to be more nearly reddish brown, while Indian rosewood runs to the orange colors.

Bob Wright
 
"Rosewood" is a pretty broad term, all correct. The color and grain depends on its origin. Brazilian rosewood, which is now pretty well non-obtainable, is very dark brown with deep chocolate brown grain pattern and is most desirable. Bolivian is similar, very deep dark brown, almost purple at times. African rosewood tends to be more nearly reddish brown, while Indian rosewood runs to the orange colors.
Click to expand...

And that's before staining.
 
Lots of personal choice here.

A while back I really had an urge to get an (synthetic) ivory grip on my Remington NMA. I ordered the "aged" color rather than the more plain, new white & fitted it. Then I hated it! It was somehow too "stark".

Ivory%20Rem58_zps8zmrweuc.jpg


I went back to the factory dark wood & much preferred it!

DSCF9139_zps26e41746.jpg

(All images (C) Wogpotter 2011 & 2012)
 
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That picture is not rosewood. It's Dymondwood/Pakkawood laminated birch that has been dyed. See the layers? Real wood doesn't have layers like plywood.
 
How about Goncalo Alves, very hard with lots of color variation. Stag, Ivory, very sexy. Rubber is for cheap hammers!;)
 
This is Hogue's Pau Ferro, very similar to dark Walnut on a D-W 15-2. This is about the ideal combination for me.

(Image (c) Wogpotter 2011)
DSCF7971_zps70d33fff.jpg
 
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I appreciate all the posts here. I've had wood grips on a few guns that came with them for years but I'm only just starting to learn. While the laminates seem less expensive and sometimes more... well... fantastically colored; are they all made from birch? Does birch have properties that make it less desirable beyond looks?
 
The birch has attributes that make it better for lamination. It takes stains well, and once laminated, the grips are very durable, colorful, and waterproof. They need no finish, and will buff to a mirror shine.
They just aren't solid wood.
 
"laminates" is about as definitive a term as "wood" is.

I've seen some really pretty laminates, some in "natural wood" colors & some in obviously "artificial" ones. Again it's a personal preference, but I find the laminates with many thin layers more appealing than the ones with just a few thick ones.

Years back I had a 'smith bed a laminate rifle stock that had dozens of thin layers. His comment was telling when he finished the job. He said it was "More glue than wood"!:)
 
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