I have a bead blasted stainless DW Valor Commander that needs some more interesting but useful grips than the thin black G10 grips on there now.

I like the look and idea of the Wilson Combat style starburst pattern but have no experience with it. I'd prefer a grip with moderate texture. Open to G10, micarta, and hardwooods as this will be a carry gun.

Looking for something thin and with a flat magwell bottom. Suggestions? Ideas? SGM an Lok seem to make great stuff, but I've never seen either in person.

Any ideas and suggestions?

Look at the Dan Wesson Shadow grips. I replaced the VZ double diamonds on my Valor Commander with those. They not only work/feel better, they look better too. Grippy where they need to be, and slick elsewhere.

They come in both a standard thickness version, as well as a round butt slim thickness version. (If you want to use the standard thickness one, you'll need to swap your grip bushings and screws, since the Valor Commander comes with slim grips/bushings/screws.)

Standard: https://shop.cz-usa.com/Produc...045SHAD_Grips-Shadow

Slim/Round Butt: https://shop.cz-usa.com/Produc...s-Slim-Shadow-Bobbed

Love those, except I'm running a S&A magwell and they don't make a flat bottom version. Thank you for the suggestion!

I’ll offer a pic here of this stainless Ed Brown with the caveats a). you may be after a more practical or service-type grip than these and b). I can only assume that stags like this can be had in a flat-bottomed version like you need.

This gun wore a couple of different double-diamond checkered grips (which I also really like on stainless) before I put these new-to-me stags on. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the combo, but have very much warmed-up to it.

For what it’s worth, I carry this gun a lot. The checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing give me the “grippiness” I need when using smoother panels like these.

What about carbon fiber?

https://blog.carbonfibergear.c...bon-fiber-gun-grips/

Micarta, VZ grips are great

https://vzgrips.com


Wood? Take a look here-

https://esmeralda.cc

Go old school.
Pachmayr.
Just slapped a set on my new SR1911.

Check out VZ Grips, they offer a number of different textures in different configurations. I've got a set that came on my Gold Cup that I really like. I'm going to have an ambitious safety fitted to it and will be ordering a second set cut for the safety.

https://vzgrips.com

Sarge at thefinergrain.com is a great source with various textures available as an option. Me? I generally prefer smooth grips.

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
check out STONER GRIPS or COOL HAND GRIPS.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm giving give the Cool Hand grips a try off of Amazon. The red and black one with the starburst pattern and scoop seem to look the best on a stainless gun. If I don't like them then back they go and I'll try something custom.

I have sweaty palms so while smooth grips look great they don't work great on a hot day. And a lot of the best designs have the beveled bottom instead of being flat cut for a magwell.

I do love stag grips too -- have a set on my 101-year young 1911.

I too like the look of stag with stainless steel, though you may not get the practicality or texture you desire.



For moderate grippiness, check out VZ-Grips "Frag" pattern. They're pictured here on my CZ 75, though this texture is also offered in various 1911 options and colors.

Another vote for nice wood (these are from Sarge's Grips)...

Great thread! I've been asking this question myself recently, as I recently picked up an SA Loaded Stainless. The SA factory grips are actually pretty nice, and the diamond checkering provides a positive grip even through the front strap isn't checkered. I know I ought to leave it alone, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it....but there's something about minor customization to make a gun your own. This thread has some great ideas, keep 'em coming!

I've got these on a stainless Colt 1911:



I originally had these, but wanted something a little grippier:

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Check out VZ Grips, they offer a number of different textures in different configurations. I've got a set that came on my Gold Cup that I really like. I'm going to have an ambitious safety fitted to it and will be ordering a second set cut for the safety.

https://vzgrips.com

I have the same grips on my Colt Competition and like them a lot as well.

And the VZ's that came on my Defender.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
Great thread! I've been asking this question myself recently, as I recently picked up an SA Loaded Stainless. The SA factory grips are actually pretty nice, and the diamond checkering provides a positive grip even through the front strap isn't checkered. I know I ought to leave it alone, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it....but there's something about minor customization to make a gun your own. This thread has some great ideas, keep 'em coming!

Fun little DIY-
You can toss a piece of grip tape / no skid tape on the front strap.
Take the grips off, measure - make sure the edges of the tape are under the grips.

MOP's?





not mine, but I like the way they look

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
And the VZ's that came on my Defender.

I like that pattern. That might be plan B if what I got on Amazon doesn't work out.

I second Esmerelda, great work,fit and looks.

Hard to imagine that one couldn't find something appealing and grippy in the VZ lineup for a stainless gun.

I've got some predator green double diamond VZ's on my stainless Colt Defender that look pretty good. and some double diamond black/greys on my Dan Wesson pistols (although those are black and not stainless). The VZ website will often show you the look on a stainless and blue pistol once you click on the picture.

Most anything can look pretty good on that canvas. I've been attracted to orange, olive drab, ivory colors and I think the blue grip that Colt uses looks nice.