GB Diamond Grips began as a one-off set of custom grips for my 1911. After initially dismissing the idea of producing them for sale based on the time it took, I set out to design and build a production system that would make them available to other shooters at a reasonable price. Combining traditional woodworking techniques with machinists' methods  for layout and setup, I've attained an extremely high level of accuracy and set-to-set consistency, providing the superb fit and finish you’d expect from a custom-built set of grips at a price that’s within the reach of many shooters and collectors of the 1911.                     

     I’ve worked to create a unique look in the 1911 world with the patent pending inlay design of my trademark diamond grips. I feel that it works with - and enhances - the lines of the pistol, one of the great-looking firearms of modern times. It's available as a single inlay or as a double inlay with accent band. I also offer a line of plain (non-inlaid) grips made from a wide range of hardwoods. Some of the sets incorporate a thin layer of a contrasting wood epoxy-laminated to the back of the grip panel. It's a standout  look, with the liner adding a dynamic color band between the body of the grip and the frame of the gun.

     The materials I use range from classic gun woods like Claro Walnut, Curly Maple, Cocobolo and Ebony to less-traditional choices like Bocote (Cordia), Ziricote, Wenge, Bloodwood, Macassar Ebony, and several species of burl woods, to name a few. Each piece is carefully chosen for outstanding color and grain characteristics, as well as for strength, hardness and durability. Everything is custom re-sawn to obtain the grain orientation that shows the best color and figure, and provides maximum strength and stability. I use woods that look “right” on the 1911, including blued, matte black, and stainless (or hard chromed) finishes, two-tone guns, and the modern colored coatings.
     All materials are in their natural color state – nothing is ever dyed or stained. The completed grips are hand sanded to 400 grit, and given a minimum of 3-4 coats of a tung-oil based finish with synthetic resin additives. The low-gloss, satin-finish appearance is what you see on fine rifle stocks with a hand-rubbed oil finish.  It enhances the natural beauty of the woods, while protecting them from damage due to handling and exposure. The finish is very simple to maintain, and is designed to last throughout the lifetime of a working set of pistol grips. Complete care instructions are included with each set.      

     The grip sets aren’t cranked out by CNC machines in a factory. They're essentially hand-built, using a semi-production system. While modern power-tooling is used, all the processes are guided by hand, sometimes assisted by jigs or fixtures of my own design and construction. I build the grips in small runs of 5-10 sets at a time. Before final sanding and finishing, each set is hand-fitted to a 1911 frame to ensure a perfect fit.
     I see the grip panels as two of the gun’s parts, no less precise in their manufacture than the frame or the slide. I build them to very tight tolerances, achieving a smooth, snug fit to the grip screw bushings, support to the bottom and side of the plunger tube, and a close, accurate fit around the magazine release. They come just flush with the bottom of the grip frame, and the s-curve shape at the top of the left side panel is designed to provide adequate clearance for a variety of thumb safety styles.   

     My current product line includes grip sets for 1911-style pistols built on the original Colt M1911 frame configuration for the Standard Government and Commander size guns. Following is a detailed description of the standard design, with several options to meet a variety of shooters’ needs and preferences.

  Standard Grips are about .265” thick at the center, tapering down to .050” at the edge. The radius of the grip’s face flows naturally into the curves of the frontstrap and the mainspring housing, and provides a very comfortable hold for (men’s) medium-to-large size hands. The design covers the retaining pin for the mainspring housing, with a shallow relief hole on the back side of both panels to accommodate the pin being inserted from either side. Many shooters seem to prefer this full-coverage style, with no edges of the pin cutout to dig into the heel of the hand. The bottom of the grips have a moderate 25-degree bevel, which tapers down to meet the bottom at the same .050” as the other edges. All edges and corners are slightly rounded for comfort and to reduce snagging on clothing or holsters. The standard right-side panel has no cutout for an ambidextrous safety, giving a clean, tight look.

Options Available at No Additional  Charge:

• Thin Grips for Smaller Hands. About .200” at the center, tapered down thinner at the edges. Still supports side of plunger tube, with same shape of left-side panel as standard grips.
• Flat-Bottom Style. Looks better on guns with extended/added-on magazine wells, or for shooters who prefer this look to the beveled bottom.
• Ambidextrous Safety cutout on right-side panel.

Options Available for Additional Charge:

• Traditional Cutout Around Mainspring Housing Retaining Pin. Available for either Beveled or Flat-Bottom Style, as well as for Thin Sets. $10 Additional Charge for extra cutting and finishing steps.          
• Thin-Line bushing and screw sets to convert guns with standard bushings to Thin Style Grips. Screws have hex  recess, available in blued or stainless.   $10 Additional Charge for set of (4) bushings with screws.

Any or all of these options can be added to any grip set ordered. Please specify on order form.