The M1911 Pistols Organization Forums Site

1911 lover

29th January 2006, 09:48

Hello all I think I figured out how to post a pic so here goes.http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/lennymax3/ria1.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/lennymax3/ria2.jpg

Sandman1967

29th January 2006, 10:56

Very nice 1911 lover!

N6CRV

29th January 2006, 13:28

Nice looking pair. What one shoots better?
Don

TxStorm

29th January 2006, 13:39

Nice looking pair. What one shoots better?
Don

As a RIA snob clubber.. I'd guess that ROCK does! ;)

1911 lover

29th January 2006, 14:10

I was very suprised at how well the RIA shoots I have 7 1911 pistols it did very wellhttp://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/lennymax3/target.jpg this was fired at 15 yard off hand. :)

Navy87Guy

29th January 2006, 19:17

Wow...if that's 15 yds off hand, I don't think it would matter what gun you had in your hand. Nice shootin', Tex!

Nice pistol, too. I've had my RIA for a couple of weeks and I love it. Just finished another 100 rds at the range this afternoon trying out my new 3-dot sights. Lots of fun!

Welcome to the club!

Jim

1911 lover

29th January 2006, 19:34

Thanks Navy87. I do spend alot of time at the range :D . And on gun pages on the internet. :scared:

Austin T

29th January 2006, 19:53

1911 Lover

You did good on your Rock and on the target practice,NICE!!!
I lke those grips on your Rock also.

AnimalKracker

29th January 2006, 21:04

TxStorm

29th January 2006, 21:45

1911Lover , here's an idea take the stock grips off the ROCK sand it down just enough to remove the finish, touch them "litely" with the flame from a propane torch to darken the grain a little than put a lighter stain just enough so the darkened grain shows through. Then finish with a SATIN or GLOSS finish whichever your prefer. Make those plain Vanilla grips stand out abit. But whatever you do remember enjoy it and have fun.

Better yet.. send those puppies my way, untouched.. :p

mumbling: torch a perfectly good pair of grips.. jeez.. :nono:

I just so happen to LIKE those plain grips.. ;) But then again, I also like the checkered black rubber ones too.. *sigh* Guess that makes me old.. all that new frangled wood types just don't look right to me. :(

AnimalKracker

29th January 2006, 22:00

TxStorm , relax ol' son we ain't talking about charing them. LOL We ain't going to mistreat the ROCK.

TxStorm

30th January 2006, 19:18

TxStorm , relax ol' son we ain't talking about charing them. LOL We ain't going to mistreat the ROCK.

Whew! Well, ok then.. ;)

Was ready to call a hotline to get emergency aid for the poor thing!

AnimalKracker

30th January 2006, 20:35

Some times you just got to deal with the misery and suffering and do what's best for the mutt. They'll understard that they'll be better after the pain. I'm sure several have heard us talking about "bob-tail" but I don't think it's sunk in that we may be talking about them. As long as it's the other guy that's getting his tail whacked everything is fine. A "miner" thing such as raising the grain on his grip, most ROCKS take this in stride.

Rusty Guns

31st January 2006, 16:34

Ya ain't settin fire to my "Rock" LoL

Hey man do ya have any that you have finished that way?
Or will we have to just wait till you finish these?

An old cabinet man ought to know what he's doin.
Bet they'll look sharp.

Might have to send ya mine.
I'm an old Fire Fighter and can't seem to let one burn for long!!

Rusty

AnimalKracker

31st January 2006, 16:47

I looked at both pairs that I took off of my ROCKS this morning. Thinking about fixing then up a little and sticking a set on my kimber. I really don't like those sharp checks. I'm planing on taking the ROCKS in for their make-over in a couple of days.

Mick_In_Texas

31st January 2006, 19:20

Y'all... Animal, those are NICE. I have a Rock, too, and gave one to my old man for Christmas; I LOVE those grips they put on them! Fact is, bought a set like them, from WoodGrips.com, for my Parked Springer, as well. I think the Rock has something like walnut; my WoodGrips ones, are cocobolo. They have a finer grain, and are reddish and black, as opposed to my Rock's brownish and black. Hee hee, Storm is a good guy... he's been doing some things on grips I think.

Rocks: I haven't had the chance to shoot mine much; but, what little I have, IT WORKS. My Springers also WORK. My poor dad's in awe of his, he hasn't shot it yet... he was just overwhelmed that I gave him that... He's been showing it off to a lot of folks, but, he's afraid to actually SHOOT it. Not because he can't handle it, but, because he just... bless his heart... can't believe he now has a 1911A1. I'm wanting to take mine out to some land soon... got a few things besides targets I want to fool with, in re: safeties and carry and stuff, and our range masters at my range, are strict (as they should be)... But, I think my Rock Island is a good one, as well. It's more military spec than my two Springers, actually. I'm thankful to have it. Like all my pistols and revolvers, it doesn't seem to have any "issues", and it seems to be extremely functional and reliable. At this point, I would not hesitate to carry the little Parked thing, even with the Novaks mag. But, until I get a chance to really run some down the pipe, my ss Springer is my carry gun. That may change in the future!

I make NO apologies to ANYONE for my RIA. I really think they're a viable and reliable 1911 overall.

Y'all all take care and be safe.
Mick

N6CRV

31st January 2006, 19:37

Hello, these were refinished but I did not burn them to get more grain. The stain is Walnut and Auto clearcoat for the finish.
http://webpages.charter.net/n6crv/grips2.JPG
Don

Mick_In_Texas

31st January 2006, 19:59

N6... and 1911lover, sorry for getting you mixed up as the original poster...

I think you posted something about this process in another thread. Sounds like it is a very durable finish on handgun grips. They look beautiful. I live in an apartment, and don't have any buddies in the automotive painting field; but, I'm thinking I'd like to figure out how to give my smooths in both cases a really durable and deep, glossy finish. I love this kind of grip for the 1911. Seems the automotive clearcoat, would make them very durable and resistant to gun oil... my smooth grips are on Parked 1911s... and they have the feel and look I like. While I'm a semi-tree hugger... I still LOVE fine wood "things", whether they're gun grips/stocks or furniture. There is nothing like the beauty and functionality of a fine 1911 with fine wood grips on it. It becomes... a thing of art, as well as functionality. Simple. Solid. Clean. Functional. Subtle. In a word, Beautiful. Well-made and crafted things... from a truck down to a hand tool, and including firearms... are beautiful. Longevity... durability... all these things are so sadly missing nowadays, in manufactured items. I think part of the appeal to us, of the 1911/A1 pistol, is its history, and its proven functionality and durability. Looks like the United States military, is also going back to it. A Garand M1 is functionally beautiful: it's solid, it's well made, it works, it performs... an M14, same thing. Fine wood on handgun grips, like the wonderful RIAs... I LOVE the ones they equip their 1911s with OEM. Really unique, functional and different; the ones that came from the factory on my Springers, just were terrible. Needless to say, they're not on those two weapons anymore... but, my RIA... boxstock and beautiful.

Y'all all take care and be safe.
Mick

N6CRV

31st January 2006, 21:24

Hello Mick, you can use polyurethane for the finish. The Poly will give a little more of a amber finish. In a way I liked the color that Poly gave them even more then the clear. The trouble I had was the drying time and the dust they picked up. In the summer I would of stayed with the Poly and let them dry in the sun. But it is only in the 30's around here so had to do inside. I did find that I was able to speed up the drying by setting them under the wood stove. Try the polyurethane it makes a nice finish, if you sand them with 2000 or 3000 wet sandpaper they will buff out real nice by hand with auto finish restorer.
Good luck
Don

AnimalKracker

31st January 2006, 22:18

If I remember correctly the grips on the ROCKS are Mahogany. Which is nice is it's own right. I've seen some pretty nice looking Mahogany wood.

Mick_In_Texas

1st February 2006, 16:47

Don, Animal...

Don, thank you. I was just looking at my two Parked ones, the RIA with the mahogany (I think Animal is correct on that one) and the Springer with the cocobolo... They are both so different in color and grain, and yet, both very beautiful and complement the Park finish. That refinishing may be a good project; I'd like to have them both more protected, and a little glossier than they are currently. Both sets are pretty solid pieces of wood. And functional for me. I like them.

Thanks for the tips, y'all. We'll see what I can accomplish, maybe...

Y'all all take care and be safe.
Mick

AnimalKracker

2nd February 2006, 00:19

I'll probaly get started next week on the refinish job on a set of the ROCK grips that I took off, putting them on the CDP I really don't like those sharp checkers.

Mick_In_Texas

2nd February 2006, 20:54

I'll probaly get started next week on the refinish job on a set of the ROCK grips that I took off, putting them on the CDP I really don't like those sharp checkers.

Evenin', Animal...

Man, I've got a set of aftermarket cocobolos in checkered... that the checkering is so radical on, they're painful. Grip is one thing, pain is another...

Our host and several others and I have had a discussion in another thread in the accessories forum about the smooth wood grips (and others, like my faux ivories on my stainless Springer)... for someone who's not military or LEO, smooths are good, I LOVE them. All three of my 1911s currently have smooth grips on them. I hated the black plastic things that came OEM on my two Mil-Specs... they were history almost immediately. My Rock, though, has those very nice to the touch and draw smooth mahoganies on it... they are just wonderful. So does my dad's Christmas gift Rock. I haven't changed a set of grips in a while, now... although I have several sets. For me, not necessarily everyone, my smooth sets, just work, and feel secure and comfortable on the range, and I have confidence that they're controllable in a bad situation (which I hope never happens again). I've had experience with everything from them, to the Hogue wraparound/fingergrip combat in rubber (currently on my Taurus, and two Rugers). My 1911s just feel RIGHT. Nothing against the others... but, may be going back to the factory OEMs on the Taurus, and two Rugers, this spring. Don't know. The 1911s are different... just really good design, for hold and aim. Smooth as equipped on the other three, maybe just won't feel right on the fat grip frames. On those three lean 1911s, though, THEY WORK.

Good luck on your project, too! I hate to admit it... but, I bid on some MORE polymer smooth grips with a design on them tonight. For Ol' Reliable. I KNOW my Rock's going to go through life with the factory stocks on it, though: unbeatable set-up. Even if I refinish them...

You and yours and all y'all take care.
Mick

Tom

2nd February 2006, 20:58

Hey, Mick! Wanna part with a pair of those cheap plastic Mil-Spec grips? ;)

Mick_In_Texas

2nd February 2006, 21:05

Hee hee, IslandersFan...

Sir, I will part with them BOTH, and with those cocobolo deep double-diamond checkered ones... none of them are for me. I also have the one Hogue wrap-around combat in rubber, for the full-size 1911s, that is not for me. PM me if you are interested. Would love to part for a little bit of money for the lot! If I'm not getting out of line here in the "general" forums, not the "sell" forums...

You take care and be safe.
Mick

Mick_In_Texas

2nd February 2006, 21:06

Shoot, just one set...

I'd send them to you for free, BTW, IslandersFan.

Mick

AnimalKracker

3rd February 2006, 19:15

Evenin', Animal...

Man, I've got a set of aftermarket cocobolos in checkered... that the checkering is so radical on, they're painful. Grip is one thing, pain is another...

Good luck on your project, too! I hate to admit it... but, I bid on some MORE polymer smooth grips with a design on them tonight. For Ol' Reliable. I KNOW my Rock's going to go through life with the factory stocks on it, though: unbeatable set-up. Even if I refinish them...

You and yours and all y'all take care.
Mick I'm looking for a good design for my NEXT project. I'm a sucker of a good loking set of grips. I'm "thinking" dobermann on them, I'll have to look and see what pictures I can round up. I used to raise dobes.

Mick_In_Texas

3rd February 2006, 19:43

Hee hee...

Hey, Animal, man, that sounds like a COOL design: I used to work with a guy who, with his wife, raised AKC dobermanns... raised right, they are, like pit bulls, a dang good dog. I SWORE to myself that I wouldn't buy any more grips the first of this year... but... I DID: got those black polymers with the gold "biohazard" symbol embedded in them. OHHHH, well...

You might check either GunBroker.Com, some of John's grips links, or even tattooing websites for ideas on dober designs... I know that they're a popular tattoo, but, listen, a set of grips with them on it... very, very unusual, and you MIGHT have a little "side business" on them: probably some out there, but, as many custom grips as I've looked at, never seen any. Pits and Rottweilers, yes. Dobes, no.

Good luck on the design, and good luck on the execution! ANY 1911 would look great with a set of dobe grips... and it would have a lot of personal meaning to you, as well. Our 1911s are not just weapons or tools... they're... functional pieces of working art. Maybe that's why many of us are suckers for grips and little "tweaks", like me thinking of changing my Springers to the flat mainspring housing like my Rock: I really like the "feel" of that on my Rock. No big deal, but, still...

You and yours take care and be safe, and y'all all have a great SUPERBOWL weekend, if you're in the U.S.
Mick

1911 lover

3rd February 2006, 20:31

Got new grip for my RIA I will post pic's of them mounted ASAPhttp://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/lennymax3/69_1.jpg

N6CRV

3rd February 2006, 20:34

1911 lover, WOW what are they made of?
Don

Mick_In_Texas

3rd February 2006, 21:41

1911...

Like N6CRV... those are BEAUTIFUL!!! Oh my God... they are just... beautiful and unique. Don's already asked THE QUESTION. Let us know!

Y'all all take care and be safe.
Mick

1911 lover

4th February 2006, 08:13

They are made of Birdseye maple. I'm just waiting for some new grip screws to mount them. Another pic to follow. Soon I hope. :)

Mick_In_Texas

4th February 2006, 14:57

1911...

Birdseye maple... thank you! What a beautiful wood for grips... especially for a smooth version. Oh, yeah, bro... DO try to share pics when they're mounted on that Rock!!! These are just wonderful... maple is a good wood, too. I like it.

Y'all be safe and take care.
Mick