Custom Grip makers...Made in the USA

[Duke426]

I'm on a quest to acquire one set for S&W revolvers from each of the CURRENT custom grip makers in the USA.

So far my list includes the following:

John Culina aka "Kurac"
Keith Brown
Craig Spegel
Patrick Grashorn aka "Executioner"
Ken Driskill aka "bigmtnmn"
Don Collins
Ted Adamovich at Blu Magnum

Any others I am missing?

ONLY looking for grips currently made in the USA and made to order, one set at a time. Not interested in mass manufacturers such as Hogue or Ahrends, although I own sets from each and they are nice.

Thanks for any input.

Larry

 

[s&wchad]

Esmeralda.

 

[Maximumbob54]

So you are just looking for non CNC made grips then?

I would have thought that Jim Badger and Kim Ahrends are in the same business model.

If you aren't talking revolver only then you can add these two:

SGM

http://sgmgrips.com/

Sarges

http://shop.thefinergrain.com/

And I'm not sure if Gemini is making them or if Arizona Ironwood LLC is making them for Gemini:

http://www.geminicustoms.com/Grips/Grips.html

http://www.arizonaironwood.com/

They say made in KY so I would assume they make them from wood sourced from AZ.

 

[Moonman]

Marc Morganti (Gemini Custom grips).

Gemini Customs llc.

 

[Duke426]

So you are just looking for non CNC made grips then?

I would have thought that Jim Badger and Kim Ahrends are in the same business model.

You are correct. I don't want the CNC made grips.

I am unsure about Badger grips. I thought they are all CNC mass-manufactured but his web site says he will make custom grips on an individual basis. Perhaps I am interpreting that incorrectly...wouldn't be the first time

Edit to add: Yes, I'm only looking at S&W revolver grips.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I "custom ordered" a set of Ahrends in Maple with a tung oil finish on them but they still get the block fed into a machine for milling and I have to assume Badgers are the same way from the pair I have. But then Hogues are hand finished with carnauba wax to seal the wood and they are also machined grips so that would include them as well if you are including the others.

All that being said I would be curious what the other big names start out with and where the hand finishing really starts. Or for that same matter is there really that big of a difference in a block that is milled by CNC over a block that is milled by power tools guided by hands. Atamont grips are done by CNC but you can see on the back edges they are finished by hand and very quickly if you judge by sometimes poor fit to back of the grip frame.

 

[BADSBSNF811]

Nutmeg Sports

 

[Straightshooter2]

Esmeralda.

^^^^^^^^
What he said. Esmeralda now make J frame grips.

CW

 

[-db-]

Roy Fishpaw

 

[Bullet Bob]

Is Roy still making grips?

 

[-db-]

From what I gather elsewhere online, he is, but there's quite a wait/backlog.

 

[s&wchad]

You shouldn't overlook Herrett's either.

They custom make revolver grips in a variety of styles made to fit your hand (you must send a tracing), they offer various checkering patterns and can supply different grades of wood. They make some great stuff.

 

[Duke426]

Thanks everyone!

I had forgotten about Herrett's.

It's neat to see that Esmeralda is making J-frame stocks now. I always admired her work when I was heavy into 1911s.

I did consider Roy Fishpaw but my understanding was that he had "retired" from the grip making. I wonder if it's even possible to get on his list, however long the wait might be.

Maximumbob54, I suspect you are right about Badger being along the lines of Ahrends. You can go custom or one of a kind as far as color or finish but all the grips come out the same basic shape, unlike John Culina or Keith Brown where each pair have a very slight or unique difference from the next set he does.

 

[-db-]

Here's a couple quick and dirty photos of a set of birdseye maple Fishpaw stocks I was lucky to find on one of the auction sites a couple weeks ago. The date marked inside tells us he was still making stocks as late as July of this year.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Wow, put those on a gun that makes both the gun and the grips shine.

 

[Onomea]

Paul Persinger, for ivories:

Joe Perkins and Larry Caudill are two others of whom I have heard good reports, but do not have direct experience.

Maybe you could have a category for grips makers who are currently active, but have long waiting lists or who will no longer take orders, but whose stocks can be purchased second hand. I got these N-frame Dahl sheep horn Fishpaw's a few years back in the classifieds here:

I realize a man has to stop somewhere, but I like the idea of American custom grip makers, period. Living or dead!

Have fun and keep us posted as you make progress.