I am finally going to order my first set of grips from Ahrend's.

While at the NRA show in St. Louis, I visited the Smith & Wesson display and lo and behold, they had a set of the Ahrend's Tactical Grips on one of their display guns. Finally, I was able to handle a set and they should be a good match for my 629-4.

My final decision is to decide on a wood. Many of you have shown pictures of the Maple grips and I like the contrast, but I have seen a few pictures of Osage Orange grips and they too are beautiful.

So, to those of you who own either one, or perhaps both, could you show me a few pictures of this grips on a stainless steel gun? I did search, but I found very few Osage Orange photos.

What made you choose one over the other?

Thank you in advance.

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Benefactor Member, NRA

I really love there maple and will be ordering a set for my 629 soon. I dont have any pics of the two you requested but I will give a +1 to there grips, I have 3 pair now and they wont be my last.

I love Osage especially with some character. I blacksmith/bladesmith for hobby/passion...tippit

I tried to order Osage Orange from Ahrends last year some time and he did not have any blanks to work with. He was having issues finding a reliable supply that was of any quality, if I remember. If you find out otherwise, I would like to know.

Here are two in Cocobolo with the oil finish. Color varies with each species and these have both darkened up a bit since these photos were taken.

While Ahrends doesn't offer any sort of special ordering the wood as far as quality, he doesn't seem to ever suffer from a lack of quality either. So if he says he doesn't have any osage orange then it would be worth the wait. I have one of his maple grips with the oil finish and it does look very good for the price paid.

I find the maple to be *very* unattractive.

Orange Osage isn't listed on his website as an option, fwtw.

They have Osage Orange, at least at this time. I called last week to confirm. When I placed my order, I am going to beg them to look through their stock and give me whatever contrasty wood they have. I will have them do the tung oil finish well. The lady I spoke to was quoting 6-7 weeks...

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Benefactor Member, NRA

I have a set of Ahrends maple grips on my Outdoorsman and the grain shows up so much better than in this picture. I recently ordered something different though for my 649 and that is a set of grips in Bubinga which I thought looked kind of promising. I wanted to try something a little different. I have never had anything in the osage though, maybe next time.

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Vaya con Dios

I just bought a new Talo 3-5-7 7" barrel 686plus. I want an Ahrends Retro grip to support my left hand better. I learned with a Cattleman birds head revolver , that a fastback shaped grip is for more supporting to the hand. I will order an Ahrends Retro grip in Osage Orange , unfinished maple second choice. Their web sight says , that they have a new supplier on Osage Orange.

Osage is a beautiful wood. As it ages, it will go from a bright yellow to a chocolate color. The rays in the wood will also provide some nice paterns.

FWIW...... I like light grips on my blued guns (see Dave's gun 3 posts up) and med-dark walnut/Palo ferro (sp) ( still able to see grain) on stainless guns.......

I've got a couple of blued guns (586/19) with "birdseye maple" (Spegel's) that are just WOW!!!!.........

in the end it's what you like......

Maple.

Osage (bois d' arc on my side of the Mason Dixon) through brutally hard and strong, is prone to chipping.

The late wood (grows in fall) is the really strong wood. The early wood that grows in spring is not.

Indians & others making Osage bows have to make sure the back of the bow (facing away from shooter) is composed of a single growth ring that is all late wood.

Heaven forbid you ever drop your gun on a hard surface, but if you do, maple will get dinged, Osage will lose a chunk.

I ordered a set with goncalo alves wood.
Asked for contrast in the grain.
After about 5 months the grips arrived.
Looked like the grips S&W made with pallet wood from the loading dock when the good stuff ran out.
If you really want a selection, the only way to go is "gripseller" on eBay.
You will see the exact product you will receive and in about 3 days it will arrive.
Costs the same as direct, too.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

If it's quilted, birds eye, spalted, or ambrosia maple it can look spectacular.

I think that Osage Orange (or Hedge, as it's known in Kansas) would look great on a blue gun if you find a piece with a good grain. I agree with others that after it dries it becomes very hard. Hedge is still popular for fence posts because it weathers so well and is incredibly resistant to rot.

One positive using Osage Orange for grips, if you lose your revolver outdoors, the grips will still be there after the steel rusts away!

I just ordered a set of red-stained maple stocks for my new Colt Defender in 9mm. I've been doing business with "gripseller" for a couple of years now, and it's always a pleasure to do business with her.

I'm a sap for maple, especially spalted.

I talked to Kim Ahrends on the phone a year, or so ago. I accused him of sneaking into my house and tracing my hand while I was asleep. His combat and target stocks fit like they were custom built. I have about a half-dozen of his stocks made of cocobolo. A pity that it's no longer imported.

I wonder what the OP got back in 2012 when this thread began?

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Oh no!



Why to people keep bringing them back?