What is your preferred 1911 grip material and design?

[tazman]

I have handled a number of 1911 pistols over the years(who hasn't). I am finding myself leaning more towards function over looks these days. I don't own any historical arms or safe queens so am not concerned with the appearance for the most part.
I have used wood, plastic, rubber, and other synthetics. I have handled stag, bone, and once handled ivory.
I, personally, am liking the G10 style grips with fairly sharp checkering these days. I can still shoot the others but the G10 grips just feel better in my hand.
I like the gray colored ones. Garish colors really don't do anything for me.
I do like white grip panels on stainless steel for the contrast but that seems to be the extent of it.
I have never held a stag grip that feels right to me.

What are your experiences and preferences?

[onelight]

I'm not much of a 1911 guy , but I'm with you on materials G10 micarta and rubber .
I do have some checkered aluminum grips on a sig p220 I really like .

[Dan Cash]

Preference: Wood, Ivory. Sambar stag if the scales are properly proportioned. Unfortunately, most such stag grips spoil the grip and upset the pointability of the 1911. Rubber, plastic etc. are simply tacky.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Chip McCormick thin, checkered rosewood.

[Thumbcocker]

Not sure what the material is but the black textured grips on the Sig 1911's is great.

[Dale53]

https://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0240.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0240.jpg.html)

https://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0239.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0239.jpg.html)

The above carved ivory grips are my general preference, but must confess that my IPSC years were served by these “standard” carved wood grips (without the red dot sight). As an aside, I have a 100,000 full house rounds (nearly all my home cast bullets) in this 1911 with those grips:

https://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3328.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3328.jpg.html)

Dale53

[DougGuy]

I am pretty flexible, I prefer the default brown plastic checkered WWII era grips on a WWII era pistol or a WWII era clone. I chose some real pretty checkered rosewood with a gold rampant pony for my latest Commander build.

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/1911%20Commander/NewAutoOrdnanceColtCommanderLeftSide640_zps734p3kr 9.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/1911%20Commander/NewAutoOrdnanceColtCommanderLeftSide640_zps734p3kr 9.jpg.html)

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/1911%20Commander/RoseWoodDblDiamondGrips_zpsgyv84fdk.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/1911%20Commander/RoseWoodDblDiamondGrips_zpsgyv84fdk.jpg.html)


If I had a really glossy blued 1911 I would go with resin ivory +s which looks so close to the real deal it ain't even funny..

I had a 1937 Colt Commercial Model 1911A1 that was so deep blued it looked wet. It had the original 24lpi checkered walnut of the pre-war guns, and it also wore some genuine ivories like a true gangster, it was a stunningly beautiful pistol regardless of what grips were on it.

[Bazoo]

I like standard thickness checkered wood. I think I'd like the G10 too but I've not tried them yet. I ran hogue rubber panels a while and they were okay, but I prefer wood as rubber is too grabby on a shirttail.

[Rick Hodges]

Checkered wood, standard size works for me.

[Iwsbull]

I really like the buffalo bone handles I have on mine as opposed to the checkered wood and I do not like rubber on a 1911 at all.

[2shot]

Kensight Sharkskins

[Love Life]

I like my grips to line up with the edges of the grip frame. I make my own. Preferred materials are elephant ivory and desert ironwood.

[JBinMN]

Checkered wood, standard size works for me.

Ditto

[Walks]

Yep, I like Checkered Wood the best.
My Dad favored Carved Ivory or Stag with a lot of Bark. Of course the clunker 1911A1 We boys got to Shoot wore Brown Plastic.

My Lone Surviving 1911 from the "Gleaning" of my collection to get into Cowboy Action wears a set of Pachmyer's.
Better grip for arthritis.

[bluelund79]

Either checkered wood, or elk antler. My carry 1911 wears elk. I can’t get used to G10, just prefer a warmer feel.

[6bg6ga]

Chip McCormick thin, checkered rosewood.

second that

[Petrol & Powder]

For shear durability materials such as G10 or Micarta are tough to beat.
For "working" full size guns, particularly DA revolvers, I still like plain Jane Pachmyr black rubber grips.
But for concealed carry guns I go with wooden grips. The wooden surface doesn't grab clothing, No matter how sweaty you hands get the a checkered wooden grip provides a good purchase and if they do get beat up, they're not stupid expensive.

For a 1911 pattern gun I like checkered Rosewood with the double diamond style checking like the ones in DougGuy's photo.

A cool feature of Rosewood is the color goes all the way through, so even if they do get a scratch - a little linseed oil and you're good to go.

[osteodoc08]

I really like the overall usefulness of G-10. I can get them in an innumerable amount of shapes and colors which are incredibly durable and resistant to damage and other issues. Once you shoot genuine Ivory, however, they will spoil you. Wish I had some real ivory, but I'll have to stick to my G10 for now.

[tazman]

I was hoping for a discussion like this.
I have decades of experience with revolvers but not so much with pistols. The 1911 platform is relatively new to me.
I am liking the responses we are getting here. Lots of good information.

[GhostHawk]

Wood, well checkered but otherwise nothing to grab, catch or bind.

And well I just prefer the feel of it.

I recently bought a RIA 4" revolver in .38 spc, came with these big rubber overmolded grips.
Went to the web site and found replacement grips for that model. 20$ Nothing fancy just nice rosewood nicely checkered.
Fits my hand better and now my speed loader works where before it would not because of the grips.

[Bigslug]

I like the standard GI shape. There's some nice variation out there in terms of panel thickness, but I'm not really one for thumbrests and finger grooves. As to material, I really don't care much from a practical standpoint, but for wood, there's a little voice in my head that lobbies for American walnut on an American handgun. As for aesthetics, a weapon platform with a history that long brings personality to the party. On an older gun, commercial or GI, the individual gun has to tell you what it wants.

I like G10 on a modern one, but they did teach me a useful trick - the stuff has ZERO compressibility, so there's ZERO push back against the heads of the grips screws, which therefore tend to work loose. I now install teeny little o-rings on my grip screws to act as lock washers.

Even on the modern 1911's, I still like to apply a sense of "Roots". On my 21st Century Springfield with it's rail-mounted flashlight, G10 grips, epoxy paint finish, and night sights, I installed a mainspring housing with a 19th Century lanyard loop that I have no intention of putting a lanyard on.:bigsmyl2:

[scattershot]

I prefer checkered wood, but lately I have been playing with a set of G-10 panels. The jury is still out. I don’t care for rubber at all.

[Char-Gar]

Wood, bone, ivory, vintge micarta checkered or uncheckered, all work for me. It is the grip thickness that determins my choice and not the material.

[Texas by God]

Wood or bone unless it's for hard use, then plastic is good enough.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Bazoo]

I've never tried them on a 1911 but I think checkered buffalo horn would be nice. I have had smooth buffalo horn on a single six and kick myself often for selling the grips.

[one-eyed fat man]

GI, double diamond wood or WW2 brown plastic are my preference. I've tried the Pachmayrs and don't like them. Real stags are too thick. Fake stag, like fake ivory, are too cheesy. Real ivory or maybe giraffe bone might work but have never held a pistol having them.

[Bazoo]

I've wanted to try pachmayr American legend grips but haven't had the chance yet.

[tazman]

Wood, bone, ivory, vintge micarta checkered or uncheckered, all work for me. It is the grip thickness that determins my choice and not the material.

Right there is an opinion I agree with. Some of the grip panels that came on a couple of my pistols were simply too thick for proper handling for me even though I liked the looks.
I tried some cheap, thin plastic panels and they worked but didn't feel right. I have never come across a set of rubber grip for the 1911 that are thin enough to suit me.
The G10 panels I have are great. They are the right thickness, well checkered, and do not slip or rough up my hand during use. My hands tend to perspire a lot.
I haven't had a problem with the screws coming loose yet.
I love the looks of some of the colored panels, mostly the ones that look like either pearl or black pearl. They are usually too slick for me.

[ioon44]

G10 micarta is what I have on my 1911 and .45 Para.

[Love Life]

You can always install slim bushings and slim grips.

[tazman]

You can always install slim bushings and slim grips.

Absolutely!!!
I purchase a handgun because of function and reputation. I replace the grips as needed to make it fit my hands.

[Love Life]

Same here! Except I usually go in the opposite direction and add standard bushings and full size grips.

[tazman]

My issue is I have large hands but short fingers. A thick grip makes it difficult for me to reach the trigger properly.
I had a target 1911 that came with special grips from the factory. Palm swell and grooves. They simply did not work for me in any way.
I put standard grip panels on it and it worked fine.
Unfortunately, it didn't shoot any better than my other 1911 pistols so it went to someone who thought really highly of it. One of the few purchases I actually made money on.

[wildcatter]

My favorite for everyday inside the waistband carry are the Hogue wrap around rubber finger groove grips. But I have a pretty big paw.

I have a Valor V-Bob that came with a slim diamond checkered grip was way to small for me, I ditched them right away for a set of VZ Diamond Back Black Desert Sand G10 full size, these were an excellent grip with a lot of traction, problem was they dug me raw carrying every day inside the waistband against my side. That was the reason I went with the Hogue over them.

The VZ's are available in slim and full size, and in my opinion, not the prettiest grips, not nearly as pretty as my Esmerelda's fancy Rosewood, or sarges Buckeye Burl, but the most functional I have used.

[PHyrbird]

Got a Recover Tactical set for Xmas. They are plastic, and really slick. Replacable grip panels, covered trigger guard with squared serrations, Plus an under rail for optics make their product an innovative solution. It is a pity the grips won't stretch to fit a double staack 1911 frame. Yes they are affordable. Yes they are not premium quality, fancy, exotic material. But for the $$$ I like them. Now I can have a laser on my S/A swap barrel pin gun.

[Drew P]

If your hands get sweaty then forget about most of these mentioned. G10 and rubber are your best choices. Or micarta, or carbon, which is functionally the same as g10. I love g10! You can even get it to look like wood, which I’ve done on my revolver in my avatar, it’s a smooth finish yet retains grip when wet somehow. Then there’s the various grippy covers you can put on, but I find them tacky (literally and figuratively) lol.
My 1911 came in g10 and I wouldn’t have one any other way now, unless it’s just a glass box piece to look at.

[cwlongshot]

100% agree taz!!

Rough scales have never bothered my hyde! The advantage in the hand far outweighs all else

The G10 is what Im liking for sure. Knifes and gun grips!!

CW

[bruce drake]

I'm the sole survivor and advocate for the Hogue overmolded rubber grips it seems.

My Beretta 92, both Colt 1911s, and my Browning HiPower all wear the grips. I even slipped a Pierce Grip adapter under the stock grips on my Star Super Model A to have the same grip profile as all my other pistols. And that same grip profile is on a couple of my AR rifles as well.

some folks are traditionalists, some folks aren't. Me, I went to what I felt fit my hand best and the scores definitely approved.

Bruce

[gwpercle]

At this moment it's a set crafted from Gaboon Ebony by Kim Ahrend's .
1911 smooth Combat finished in tung oil .
They are on a stainless steel AMT Hardballer . The dark black looks good on the stainless and there is just enough grain so it doesn't look like black plastic .
Gaboon Ebony's status is listed as very rare and is one of the most expensive woods on the market.
I'm glad I got them when I did . Rosewood and Cocobolo are now not available from Ahrend's .
Gary

[pworley1]

I still like the standard walnut that came on my 1927 model. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[clintsfolly]

Will be the odd ball my favorite grips are the aluminum ones from STI.

[lefty o]

G10 in any of the larry davidson designs. very high quality, too bad he quit making them.

[Greg S]

https://www.hogueinc.com/1911-govt-model-coco-bolo-checkered-panels-with-palm-swells

These are very comfortable in my XL/XXL (thick) hands. VZ also just started offerring these too.

[Gtek]

VZ Gator Backs worn on several here, basically factory size wood with scallops in Micarta.

[DiverJay]

Hogue Wraparound Rubber Grips