1987 Colt MKIV Series 80 that I stippled and tweaked. Handles 45ACP & 400 CorBon


Brace of 2010 Dan Wesson CCO 45s


2009 Dan Wesson CBOB 45


2009 Dan Wesson RZ-45 Heritage


1997 Tweaked Brolin Patriot P45C Compact Carry Comp slide on P45T model frame


2006 Charles Daly 1911A1 Field EFS set up for either 45ACP or 400 Cor-Bon

Never looked into 1911s because policy forbids us to carry it but my ex-gf and kids got me the SIG 1911 Ultra for my birthday.

Loved it so much I ended up getting a Ruger Commander in 9mm for fun as well.

I don't have anything special or unique like many posted, but here is my one and only 1911:

Here is my first 1911 in a long time.

Just a few of my toys with a trifecta of 1911's pictured...Wilson Combat Classic .45 , Wilson Professional .45 and an Ed Brown Classic Custom .45. Love 'em all

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I have a serious woody for this gun.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
I don't have anything special or unique like many posted, but here is my one and only 1911:

Since this is the Sig Forum and all!

Well, I finally got off my butt and snapped off a few quick images of my Nighthawk. It was a custom ordered build. The grips were carved by Brian Challis out of a small block of highly figured amboyna burl that I purchased from a seller. I usually buy all my woods for grips and send them to a craftsman to be carved. Nighthawk did a great job building this particular by Jeff Phillips and Kevin Hillhouse who both moved back and forth from Wilson and Nighthawk and others. They did a great job on the herrating both topside and rear slide. Precise hand serrating on the rear slide. As these images were snapped off in haste, I see that there is a small smidgeon of oil coming off the back off the right side of the slide Anyways, taken with the iPhone 6S, they didn't come out so bad!

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:

Those are some seriously nice grips! They look three-dimensional. Very nice job on that gun! You have good taste.

Thanks Billy. If you do enjoy the exotic woods, here's a snap of the blocks I still have left. All the smaller blocks are already cut into book matched pairs. I really loved the burls These will be soon shipped off to Brian to carve some more goodness!

Are all those blocks amboyna burl? Absolutely beautiful!

The second block from the top right is just breath taking. The color contrasts in it are amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by HawkeyeJohn:
Are all those blocks amboyna burl? Absolutely beautiful!

Thank you. Just about all amboyna, with the last exception of the back row top right block. As I can remember it is Afzelia burl. Originally I had purchased with illusions of buying the machines and giving it a go myself. Even with the best plans, sometimes life gets in the way. I've abandoned that idea and the wood hasn't really seen too much light but is completely dry according to my gauge and ready to be carved. I've known Brian for several years now and he's a superb wood artisan, I may contract with him to do one last small project I have in mind. I still have a few pairs he carved for me and does superb work.

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:
a small block of highly figured amboyna burl

So that is what they heck this wood is called, on my VV custom:



Oh Yeah, some 1911's:

quote:

Originally posted by just1tym:


Thank you. Just about all amboyna, with the last exception of the back row top right block. As I can remember it is Afzelia burl.

"3D" Afzelia Xylay grips on a Dan Wesson CBOB:

^^^^ Beautiful, Afzelia burl is one of my all time favorites! ^^^^

Interesting story. I originally started my wood fetish when looking at all the beautiful figured woods by the major grip dealers, Esmeralda, Larry Davidson, Sarges, Brian Challis and others. I contracted Brian to carve a book matched set of Desert Ironwoods and purchased a 25-30lb block of freshly cut Desert Ironwood cut from a downed tree out west from an online dealer. I had it directly sent to Brian to work his magic. Being a novice, it arrived at Brian"s door and he informed me that first off, it needed to be further dried, and secondly, he would have to find the best way to carve the block to find what I had in mind. Some finely figured wood with some sap to give it a 2-tone appearance..easier said than done I learned. Brian would give me a valuable education and try to get me what I desired, in addition to his main work schedule as a wood artisan contracted by various customers to craft and design wood artwork for their homes and businesses. Grip making was not his main work and afterwards his grips became best sellers and gained notoriety. He had to chop a lot of my Ironwood block just to get a few good pairs to work with, in addition to yielding good book matched pairs...no easy task either, you certainly need to know your way around wood. In the end, he finally managed finding what I requested and crafted this great pair of figured Desert Ironwood grips for me. Since, Brian has carved a few more for me whenever I found some rather unique wood for him to create his magic. I snapped off a photo, which doesn't really do them justice, but I like them...