hkcavalier
US Veteran
Got the last Mayan Bloodwood N RB boot grips on eBay from gripseller. Something to put on my 624 3" so I can bag up the factory combats and keep them pristine.
Ahrends Grips declaring bankruptcy
- Thread starter Rangerone
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jbtrucker
Member
ContinentalOp
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Sad news, indeed. I had a set for my 3" 65. Cocobolo boot grips with the tung oil finish. Excellent grips.
That was the best picture I could find of the grips. Unfortunately, I have neither the gun, the grips, nor the holster.
I wonder how many people knew he also used to do custom 1911 work. The first time I read about Ahrends was in a gun magazine article back in the 90s. IIRC, it was a cover story with a picture of a two-tone Commander he built on the cover. It was a very nice pistol. One of the things that really caught my eye was the grips, which was in a pattern I'd never seen before, but seemed very practical. A diagonal line separating a checkered front portion for traction when gripping the gun and a smooth rear portion that wouldn't grab on cover garments, and made from cocobolo. Here's an example picture from his website, with a different type of wood:
That was the best picture I could find of the grips. Unfortunately, I have neither the gun, the grips, nor the holster.
I wonder how many people knew he also used to do custom 1911 work. The first time I read about Ahrends was in a gun magazine article back in the 90s. IIRC, it was a cover story with a picture of a two-tone Commander he built on the cover. It was a very nice pistol. One of the things that really caught my eye was the grips, which was in a pattern I'd never seen before, but seemed very practical. A diagonal line separating a checkered front portion for traction when gripping the gun and a smooth rear portion that wouldn't grab on cover garments, and made from cocobolo. Here's an example picture from his website, with a different type of wood:
Here is another pair of mine. They are Ahrends Tactical Finger Groove Combat Moradillo N Frame Square Butt Grips. The thing I like about these is the grain. They are perfectly bookend matched on the bottom.
Larry
Larry
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Not according to his website, which is still up and confirms the closure.
Is there a reason you think he might be?
At the same price point? Would like to hear some names.
Lou_the_welder
Member
Ebay has about 7 grips right now.
Sometimes, private sellers , sell theirs cheap.
I recently got some 329 takeoffs that were good.
You can post an ad in the "Want to Buy" subforum here, and check eBay.
I was surprised to find several recent "sold" listings on eBay well over what they once cost new. Supply and demand, I guess.
What were you looking for specifically?
Tytan01
Member
And I thought 2020 sucked. This year ain't shaping up to be any better.
Ahrends never made a specifically Roper-style stock; closest was their take on the S&W target stocks called Retro Target Stock. It was actually a touch slimmer than the factory version.
You might wasn't to look over their site -- it's still up so you can see what Ahrends offered, and consider if something might work for you: Ahrends Grips : Home
Alternately, two businesses with good reputations still making stocks and offering a Roper-style are Herretts (who will craft theirs to your specific hand based on a tracing you send in) and Blu Magnum.
Gun stocks by Herrett's Stocks, Inc.
Explore BluMagnum - Custom Pistol and Handgun Grips
hemiram
Member
I'm sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you might realize. Medical costs are, IMHO, insane. A friend had bypass surgery recently and the bill, including a 4 day hospital stay, was pennies short of $500,000. I asked him if he was worth that, and he had to admit, "Nope". He owes about $32,000 of that, and he is paying $1000 a month. Pity is, that $1000/mo. puts he and his wife's home sale and purchase in another city out of the picture for about 3 years. He tried to sell the house before and nobody wants it, it's a tiny house that's been added on to several times, and it wasn't done well, looks wise at all. The realtors have all suggested that it be totally resided, to make it look "all the same", but he's refused to do it, so the house never sold. The plan was to rent it to his nephew, but that's out the window, for now.
Another friend had cancer and after all was done to him, he still died less than a year later, and his widow basically lost everything and is now living on SS with their daughter and her family. It's not an ideal situation at all. as she needs to be in assisted living at this point and it's not going to happen for a while, so the daughter and grandaughter are stuck taking care of mom, while mom is trying to get everything paid off.
Another friend had cancer and after all was done to him, he still died less than a year later, and his widow basically lost everything and is now living on SS with their daughter and her family. It's not an ideal situation at all. as she needs to be in assisted living at this point and it's not going to happen for a while, so the daughter and grandaughter are stuck taking care of mom, while mom is trying to get everything paid off.
M2MikeGolf
US Veteran
I found out about this only yesterday. Really sad to hear about it, I was a big fan of his grips, particularly the K/L finger grooved combat grips. I found a set on eBay going for about twice I paid for them before, would like another set. Really sad to hear about Kim going into bankruptcy.
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badguybuster
Member
Well poop. I was literally in the process of writing a check to order some new sets and saw his website notice. I am truly heartbroken. Ive probably got 10 or 12 sets of his grips.
Some piles of poop have a silver lining... your 10~12 sets of used grips are now worth $1500~$2000 altogether... as compared to my two sets, that just became orphans, unless some reasonably priced siblings or nephews show up on ebay.
DHart
Member
I've been fairly disengaged from my firearms passion for several years and I'm just now beginning to get re-engaged. Very sad to hear about Judy passing and what has happened to Kim since her loss. He asked me to photograph a great many of his awesome grips back "in the day", which I gladly did, and in lieu of paying me for the work, Kim asked me to keep the grips.
Very sad for Kim and I only hope that he has been able to find some peace and stability in the next chapter of his life.
Very sad for Kim and I only hope that he has been able to find some peace and stability in the next chapter of his life.
