Hogue Exotic Wood

[IN Defender]

Has anyone had any experience with Hogue's exotic wood grips? I was looking at the Rosewood and the Rosewood laminate. Is the natural better than then laminate or visa versa? Also, they say they can do custom textures. Anyone have experience with doing that? Thanks!

[RickB]

I bought a pair of smooth ebony grips, in July. They were delivered just over four months later, and I was very disappointed with the fit. I returned them, for an exchange. They assured me that the grips were to spec, and if I wanted to send my gun ($80 shipping, for $30 grips?) they'd make a set to fit my gun. Since I'd already had three sets of grips on the gun, I knew there was nothing wrong with it. A replacement set of grips fit little better. I would have highly recommended Hogue grips, six months ago, but I'll now probably never buy another set, and would recommend against buying them.

[dogdollar]

I had these "made to order" last year and it took about 16 weeks to get them.
They fit very well, but I HAVE seen wooden Hogues that did not....on the same pistol!
Anyway, I am pleased.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Gun%20Stuff/Aresleftside.jpg
DD

[Ping Ping]

I had these made last year. I have very large hands and need a palm swell to fill my catchers mits. They are extraordinarily comfortable and secure. They are of Gaboon Ebony and are cut for a magwell.
I have called several times to have another set made. The first time, I was told that they wouldn't make them until closer to the end of the year and that they wouldn't take the order until then. I have called back four times since and was told that someone would return my call. No one ever did. This has been very disappointing and frustrating, to say the least. The grips are indeed nice, but the customer service has recently come up wanting.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/JerrysDad/IMG_0156.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/JerrysDad/GroupEbony003.jpg

[cedjunior]

I JUST bought a set of Ebony Hardwood from Midway. I had to do some fitting on the grips in the plunger tube area, and they have to be pressed on pretty hard till they "snap" because the bushing holes are just slightly misaligned. Also one of the holes is slightly out of round on the outside. Haven't decided whether I want to return them or not. They were only $22.

[Panama1911]

I bought a pair of smooth ebony grips, in July. They were delivered just over four months later, and I was very disappointed with the fit. I returned them, for an exchange. They assured me that the grips were to spec, and if I wanted to send my gun ($80 shipping, for $30 grips?) they'd make a set to fit my gun. Since I'd already had three sets of grips on the gun, I knew there was nothing wrong with it. A replacement set of grips fit little better. I would have highly recommended Hogue grips, six months ago, but I'll now probably never buy another set, and would recommend against buying them.

What area of grip caused the major fit problem? Was it for a 1911?

[littledoc]

For mass produced stocks, I have always been happy with Hogue.

[RickB]

What area of grip caused the major fit problem? Was it for a 1911?

There's a large enough gap below the plunger tube to fit a second tube. The grips hung off the bottom of the frame, so I had to file them down to fit the magwell funnel, and I had to hog-out two of the grip screw holes to get the grips to fit against the frame. Any one of the three, and I would be satisfied, but that's two too many problems. I have had other grips (Caspian, Navidrex) on the gun, and I have had Hogues on other guns, and have never seen any of these problems before.

[Panama1911]

Wow, those things must have slipped in the jig or something. I guess everyone is going to make a lemon some time.

[littledoc]

Yeah, I'd be a little tweaked, too.

[pa_guns]

Hi

I have bought a number of grips from the Hogue auction site. For $20 a pair it's a great way to see how they look and fit. Since they are seconds, I don't have a problem with 1 in 5 sets being a bit off. If I paid full price 1 in 5 would be way to much ...

Bob

[johnuf78]

Lately I've gotten a few sets of Hogue wood grips where the checkering was fuzzy and not very crisp.

[Red Dog]

FWIW, I live about 50mi. from the Hogue factory, so I drive down there occasionally to get grips for all my handguns. After I got my SA Loaded, I wanted some ebony palm swells for it, as my hands are fairly large too. I went down and while there tried on both the smooth ebony and rubber palm swells. Both fit perfectly, but I got the rubber set for the cost factor. Kinda dumb, as I now wish I had gotten the ebony. Very nice grips for the price.

I have the Hogue smooth Kingwood finger-grooved grip on my Ruger GP100, and I couldn't be more pleased with it.