Production

All production is done on modern computerized machinery (CNC) to guarantee the proper fit on the frame. Each piece is then manualy sanded to created a perfectly smooth surface and to provide a more comfortable fit in your hand.

At the next stage we engrave a non-slip pattern (checkering, stippling, texturing, etc.). This affords better holding of the gun.

NOTE: Checkering or engraving grips will generally obliterate any grain present in the wood to start with, as it "pixellates" such features. If you'd like to retain the grain in wood, the choice of a smooth grip is recommended, as the grain isn't covered by the texturing process. We have many grips that are left smooth for this reason, and we actually select the finest wood for grain to be used in our smooth grips.

Then we treat the surface with a blend of natural oils, which protects the wood and brings out its natural beauty - it still looks and feels like wood and does not resemble a lump of plastic.

Also, we do not stain or use varnish on our grips, which allows you to make minor modifications, if necessary. All you need to do is to apply a little bit of oil to the exposed part of the wood. This also works great when restoring the beauty of the wood after minor scratches.

As a final touch, we oil and polish the grip to add a little gloss and to give it one more layer of protection.

In the past, we have tested other kinds of hardwood, but gradually, we have found that walnut is the best material to use - in its strength, its hardness, granularity and flexibility. Ever since guns have been produced, people have considered walnut to be the best choice and for historical weapons it is a must.

We currently use mainly the following types of quality walnut from California or Utah:

Bastogne - a rare hybrid resulting from a cross between an English Walnut and a Black Walnut species; selected for its closed pores and hardness. It can take hard recoil. The wood can be very beautiful or quite plain; sometimes confused with Royal Walnut.

Black (Claro) - probably the most plentiful of the strains in the US. It is native to California and a very beautiful type of walnut. We use a selected hard wood from the Black walnut trees . Claro has been in use for gun wood for over a hundred years.

English - planted initially in Utah by the Mormon settlers, because it grows well in cold weather (Carpathian Strain from Eastern Europe). The Northern California English is highly marbled, with mineral lines. High grade English Walnut blanks are very rare on this market.

French - the Northern California trees (Franquette strain) tend to be highly marbled, with mineral lines, each piece being truly unique (and very expensive);

NOTE: If you would like a specific shade of grip, you need to tell us this, otherwise we will pull a set from inventory without your input.

NOTE: Our grips are made to accommmodate the stock, factory-produced standard firearms listed. They may not work with enhanced/enlarged accessories including but not limited to fire control parts such as magazine releases, safeties, slide releases and so on. Alteration for such configurations is up to the purchaser or his representative.

All these woods come in a great variety of colors and figure. Every photographed grip on our site is only a sample of the general character, color and grain. Natural wood varies in hue and grain, and since our grips are not stained or dyed in any manner it is the natural wood's color and grain that shows on your grips - NOT an artificial colorant or enhancement. The wood used in our grips differentiates them from that of cheaper "generic" wood grips that may be artificially stained or colored to appear to be a higher-quality wood.

The photos within each grip's page shows a sample grip. If you prefer your grips in a specific hue (light, dark, etc.) you should e-mail us before ordering with the specific product number, to ensure we have what you'd like. Orders placed without such requests will be sent a set pulled from inventory without adhering to a particular characteristic.

Occasionally we come accross some trully unique pieces, which we then offer as exclusive products, sold as individual items (separately displayed and priced). These typically use extra-fancy grade wood, and are often numbered as unique sets and left smooth to allow the beauty of the wood to be the focal point.

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Production