Which grips?

[Ysabel Kid]

I picked up one of the Ruger Single Seven's recently. Still haven't had a chance to take it out shooting. Back has been acting up really bad, and it is all I can do to work.

As many of you know, I like to customize my handguns with non-factory grips. I always keep the factory grips (and keep them pristine), but this is one of the easiest and most interesting ways to personalize a weapon.

The Ruger Single Seven comes with these grips:



No bad, but I'd like something else. Had a set of sambar stag grips on a Ruger Blackhawk that I purchased from Old No.7 here, so tried them and they fit. Here's what they look like on the revolver:



It's not that the factory original grips are bad, just that they are not unique!

I'm thinking white grips look great with stainless steel, but so does black (as in buffalo horn). So, what do you think?

[Lastmohecken]

I love Sandbar Stags, and But sometimes go with Elk Horn grips because they are pretty good, and a lot cheaper, usually. I also have a set of Giraffe grips which are pretty good.

[ethang]

You stags look pretty good on the Seven. Since I choose poorly in the job dept and can't afford real ivory I like paper micarta on mine.

[Sixgun]

Kid,
That's a tough call. I've always liked grips that contrast with the gun finish. To me, nothing looks better than ivory on a blued gun, or even stag. Stainless or nickel guns look good with darker grips such as ebony or a dark Gonçalo alves. But.....that's me. The factory grips on your gun look nice.

These are ebony with pre war nickel silver medallions.......a nice custom touch...I'm having a hard time with all of this (edit stuff).......the gun is a 2" 629 Smith "Tunnel Rat".... One of a handful made by Smith.

[Blaine]

Stag is awesome

[3leggedturtle]

six what can i say. i luv porn thanx

[Marlin32]

Just having some work finished by Gary Reeder, would give him a try. He has some interesting styles, materials, and does wonderful work.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Nice looking Single Seven and those grips do set it off nice.
Lastmohecken, Nice collection there.

[Ysabel Kid]

Kid,
That's a tough call. I've always liked grips that contrast with the gun finish. To me, nothing looks better than ivory on a blued gun, or even stag. Stainless or nickel guns look good with darker grips such as ebony or a dark Gonçalo alves. But.....that's me. The factory grips on your gun look nice.[/img]

Six, that is my preference too. I like the grips to contrast with the gun metal. I think it sets them off even more. I really love the sambar stag grips, but more on my vintage Old Model Blackhawk in .30 Carbine.

Yep, I think I'll go with buffalo horn or ebony with the Ruger Single Seven.

BTW - I screwed up and hit "edit" versus "quote". Could you repost the picture? Sorry!

[Ysabel Kid]

I love Sandbar Stags, and But sometimes go with Elk Horn grips because they are pretty good, and a lot cheaper, usually. I also have a set of Giraffe grips which are pretty good.

I've been thinking about Elk Horn grips as well, so my 3rd Generation Colt SAA. I agree, they are a lot more reasonably priced than Sambar Stag grips. I haven't seen the giraffe grips; will need to look those up.

[Sixgun]

Jay,
I screwed up.....that's normal for Italians ....I posted the pic and went back to washing clothes.....(my wife don't do those things ) ..........did not check the result.....until an hour or two later..........
..........there's the pic-----6

Oh! Always be careful when choosing an antlered type grip....elk is very porous......stag is good....but SAMBAR stag is the BEST....very dense.....and desirable.

[AJMD429]

Of course with flat-backed grips, like SA revolvers, and 1911's, "making your own" is the ultimate in personalization.

As far as material, since the grips don't have much 'stress' on them mechanically, you can use about any material.

I'd consider bone, laminate woods, burled wood, the half-rotten wood I forget what is called that you use acrylic to fortify, or about any other thing that looks cool.

As one not allergic (so far) to poison ivy, I once made a set of grips for a Ruger Mk-II pistol from a huge river-bottom poison ivy vine. Several coats of polyurethane later, they had interesting hues of white, yellow, grey, green, and red... I sold the gun a couple decades ago but made sure to inform the buyer of the grip material.

There is also a company I used to buy pre-made 'Bisley' grips from for Rugers - http://www.vintagegungrips.net/rupigr.html

[Old No7]

...Had a set of sambar stag grips on a Ruger Blackhawk that I purchased from Old No.7 here, so tried them and they fit. Here's what they look like on the revolver...

I'm thinking white grips look great with stainless steel, but so does black (as in buffalo horn). So, what do you think?

Well, I'm thinking...

** Why the h*ck did I sell those grips?

** And can I have first dibs if you ever want to sell 'em?

Other than that, I have "silver/black" laminate on my Old Army, and they look pretty good too.

Old No7

[Rusty]

Personally I like stag or if you can find it, American holly. The holly looks and acts like ivory but at 1/4 the cost.

[Blaine]

Any votes for Snakewood?

[Streetstar]

I'd go synthetic ivory -- super nice, clean look on a stainless gun --- and i personally think white on stainless is quite a bit of contrast too - just a matter of perspective

[C. Cash]

They look really good YK!

[medicdave]

Good sambar is dead sexy and I'll take it anytime I can with the exception of the hand cannons, they get bearpaw wood grips. For me nothing comes close to the feel of good quality sambar. Not so big on elk or newer sambar, it needs to have some popcorn. I like the op's grips. These two are a modified talo super, and a single ten on its way to matching the talo.

[jazman]

I like American Holly, looks like ivory and ages nicely. This is a set by CLC Custom Grips, he only does Ruger and is a craftsman. The .357 was custom built for me by NKJ, unfortunately had to sell it when times got a little tough a few years ago. Shame, but life goes on.

[Sixgun]

yea Jazman.....I've been drying out this holly for such an adventure for the coming months. I sent some to Chuck 600 Yards for him to try out. I have some holly trees in the yard that I planted in 1975 and the trunks are about 10" in diameter. I cut some big branches off once in a while and these are the fruits of the labor. I think this winter, I'm gonna lop one of these trees down and sell the wood....might be enough to buy a new single action Colt....first gen. of course



I can't remember what these are as I put them on this Ruger back in 1976 when I was 22 years old....and probably half drunk at the time.......but I must have liked them to be on the same gun for close to 40 years.----6

[m.wun]

This is why I come to this place "man o man".!

[plowboy 45]

I don't know a lot
But I do know if you go with buffalo horn
HAVE IT STABILIZED
or it'll move all around
Nice lookin pistol btw
All ofem