While cleaning weapons the other day, I took a good look at my 1911 and thought to myself, "Those plastic grips just don't do it justice."  I then thought, "Hey, I've got this new carving bench that needs to be used."  And, so, I started roughing out some grip blanks.......

 

The bench turned out to be exactly what I needed to carve these out.  It was the right height, allowed a surface that I wasn't too worried about abusing, and just really gave a rustic feel to the whole process......

 

 

I definitely need more practice.  I learned a lot about using oak as a carving medium and about customizing grips for a particular person.  I need to make another set, but these actually feel pretty good in the hand right now.  We'll see what happens in the future.......

 

 

I still want to know how someone can get this angry over a front sight.......

 

 

Thad, you are blazing new trails here my friend, I don't think anyone ever thought of a greenwoodworking carving bench for 1911 grips! Keep on keeping on my friend! I am enjoying your story with this bench and what you are making from it.

4 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Thad, you are blazing new trails here my friend, I don't think anyone ever thought of a greenwoodworking carving bench for 1911 grips! Keep on keeping on my friend! I am enjoying your story with this bench and what you are making from it.

Thanks!  I still wanna know how that front sight pi&&ed this guy off, though.  Makes me wonder about other front sights.......

I don't get angry with them. I just don't use 'em. Center mass shots don't require them. Remember the rule of sevens. Most firefights last seven seconds, the participants are usually seven feet apart and, typically seven shots are fired. Who's got time to line up and use a sight? 

5 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

I don't get angry with them. I just don't use 'em. Center mass shots don't require them. Remember the rule of sevens. Most firefights last seven seconds, the participants are usually seven feet apart and, typically seven shots are fired. Who's got time to line up and use a sight? 

I am with you on aiming. The weapon has a feel and with practice you just know where and how to point.

 

7 second rule is very true in civilian life.

4 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Who's got time to line up and use a sight?

I was out with my 1851 Navy cap n ball over the weekend, I have a brass pin site and a notch in the hammer, I had to sight 2 feet below my target to get on the gong, last shot of the day I just said the hell with it, point it and shoot it, I hit that danged gong, first time all day!

There's some adjustments I can make, but I may just leave it, sure makes for some good fun.

Me personally if I shoot my 1911 seven times you best call for extra body bags.  One per is more than sufficient to take someone down at close range.  That's a rather large hole.

.45 ACP.   Because, like me, slow and fat is exactly what you need!!

I haven't owned a weapon in about 8 years.  Honestly I haven't had the need.   Although the handle scales look nice.... How ever I would have countersunk the screws.  That could probably cause some issues down the line when shooting it.  It could hurt your hand with rough edges.  It looks nice though especially with the color of the wood and the dark color of the 1911.

Edited October 12, 20205 yr by AndrewB

1 hour ago, AndrewB said:

I haven't owned a weapon in about 8 years.  Honestly I haven't had the need.   Although the handle scales look nice.... How ever I would have countersunk the screws.  That could probably cause some issues down the line when shooting it.  It could hurt your hand with rough edges.  It looks nice though especially with the color of the wood and the dark color of the 1911.

Thanks!  Yeah, there a lot of improvements I'll be making on the Mark II version.  That's why I went with oak this time, I have a lot of it and it's easy to learn from.

Andrew since you mentioned the protruding brads is a no no I would also roll the edges of the wood somewhat to get a smoother feel of the weapon as the culprit was falling down from the extra weight of the slugs piling up around his heart!!

The color of the wood does go with the weapon and I like that part... so yes, you do have a good start.

On 10/12/2020 at 1:36 PM, Smallpatch said:

 

The color of the wood does go with the weapon and I like that part... so yes, you do have a good start.

I definitely have more work to do. This is a first attempt and I learned that I need to learn some more about shaping and sizing, but I'm happy with the basic design.  Once I get it perfected, I'm thinking about making a series of scales in a theme,  after all, a man likes to accessorize too.