1911 grips

For conversation sake, what are everyone's favorite 1911 grips? I know we all have a number we've used and then either disliked, or replaced with ones we later found to be better. I personally have a beautiful pair of Rink grips I waited 3 months for just to decide they weren't for me after 50 rounds. I have been using the black diamond Herretts and seem to really like them.

I like slabs. I briefly tried ergos on a 1911, didn't feel right. most of my 1911s wear various VZ flavors, but I have sharkskins and some wood slabs too.

VZ Diamond Back slabs, 5DPI so minimal slip with sweaty hands.
https://vzgrips.com/products/diamond-back-full-size-1911-grips.html

https://www.amazon.com/DURAGRIPS-Tactical-Sandpaper-Texture-MAGWELL/dp/B07HLPKFN6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ZYTQ6IA3OPCX&keywords=1911+grips+sandpaper&qid=1645625493&sprefix=1911+grips+sandpaper%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-2

Full Size 1911 Tactical Sandpaper Texture Grips

Slabs, tried other types, back to slabs.

DA/SA wrote:Slabs, tried other types, back to slabs.

But which slabs

G-10 or similar from a Remington R-1. Plenty grippy.

Slabs all the way. 

Best value and grip is Sharkskin. On my nicest custom wad pistols I use the VZ G10 Simonich Gunner grips, I think its their most aggressive grip, still not as grippy as the Sharkskin grips but better looking and still have some good bite. Some really sharp cut wood slabs like the ones on my LB are pretty good but not as good as the others above, the crappy checkered grips most mfg's use are pretty much trash in my book.

Definitely slabs.
Always smooth and usually nicely figured walnut appeals to my eye.  All my 1911s have checkering or stippling to the front strap and mainspring housing.  I've found textured grips do not enhance my ability to manage recoil.  So I have pretty grips... LOL.

+1 for sharkskins.  I add CMM spacers to mine because I have large hands.

So this is an elusive topic because everyone has different preferences.  More upright grip or more angled grip, textured vs no textured, checkered vs stippled and the roughness thereof. I will speak for myself - 

I like slightly more angled grip than the 1911 has to offer.  This means that in order to even start liking slabs I have to use arched or V mainspring housing. I don't like arched because it puts too much arch on the heel and not enough support at the palm, making it feel awkward.  I have in stock, but have not tried using V msh yet. Below is then predicated on using grips with flat MSH. 

Like I said above - I like more angled grip than the regular 1911. I also like thumb support and bottom shelf, so:

1) regular slabs are not comfortable for me
2) slabs with thumb support don't fit the model as they have no angle or shelf, and also the thumb support is usually much lower than I want it to be.
3) Herrett Nationals actually feel great.  If I did not want the additional angle I would stipple them and use them all the time. At the price point they are a great value meets performance. 
4) Herrett Target just feel unfinished. They are great in their own right, but dare I say bland.
5) Rinks are great! I would gladly own them.  They provide arch on the back that angles the grip to a comfortable for me position. Only flaw I found is that they do not provide enough support where one would get callouses on hands right past fingers.  That part of Rinks is lowered / less as compared to Nills and Hortons.  However, one can get Rinks with a wrap around palm shelf.  Also note the shelf on Rinks does NOT adjust up or down. 
6) Hortons - I want to try, but I don't know anyone who has them. They seem bulkier than the rest and from what I can tell Dick tries to lower the grip to have your trigger finger perfectly perpendicular to the trigger.  This, however, lowers the grip and raises bore axis.  Dicks grips also seem to retain 1911 angle and I want it more angled.  
7) Fung - I never tried them.  From what I can see they are essentially like Herrett Nationals with a palm shelf. I know someone that did not like them, but I have no own opinion on them besides that they don't look all that comfortable. 
Nill - YES! They hit all the checkmarks.  They are comfortable and well made.  They have adjustable shelf.  They are well stippled, well cut on all angles and feel like an old well fitted glove. Nills are cut more aggressively than Rinks everywhere.  This means 2 things - if they fit your model of hand then they are great, but also means they take risk of fitting your model of hand.  Rinks take less risk and that may be why many prefer them to be more comfortable, because they are more generically cut.  This is easily seen even in photos as they have less angles and angles don't go as deep as Nills.  Nills promote gripping high up so that the bore axis is lower.  I like them and will continue using them on my guns. 

Can you get used to any of these grips? - Yes, sure.  But if you are talking about grips fitting like a glove and giving you a firm handshake, then I found none better that Nills with Rink close second.

I started with nils. Great grips. And beautiful too.

Then I went to the jhook

Then I did the rinks. Now I'm just using the black diamond Herretts. Thinking about trying a g10 set.

Sharkskins.

I have the Horton grips on my SARO .45 wad gun, Mod. 41 and Mod 52-2.  I'm happy with them.

I have not tried my Hortons yet. Until I do I would have to go with Nills / Sig. 

Sharkskins are the best!!

I have Sharkskin slabs on mine.

swissyhawk wrote:+1 for sharkskins.  I add CMM spacers to mine because I have large hands.

Been wanting to try spacers. I also have large hands, but like a shorter trigger. I always feel like the grip is too small, though I feel like thicker front to back would be ideal. Which thickness spacers did you get?

Sharkskins on all my target 1911’s, nothing else works as well for me, and I’ve tried a few others. CMM spacer on right side of wadgun only, to get trigger finger to sit correctly on trigger.

Jwhelan939 wrote:

swissyhawk wrote:+1 for sharkskins.  I add CMM spacers to mine because I have large hands.

Been wanting to try spacers. I also have large hands, but like a shorter trigger. I always feel like the grip is too small, though I feel like thicker front to back would be ideal. Which thickness spacers did you get?

I bought and tried both the .06 and .03 spacers.  I ended up going with .06 on the right and .03 on the left side - I’m right handed.  I would recommend trying both to see which fit you the best.

I've been using the ERGO grips, I got them at Brownell's, they are pretty comfortable and non-slip.

Triceratops from Amazon. Unfinished, smooth, in walnut, maple, or cherry. $20. Sometimes they need very minor sanding around the edges, but the hole pattern is spot on. Stain and poly them, then I cover them with skateboard tape.

Quick, easy and inexpensive spacers to experiment. 
I'm sure most of you are handy and probably have a belt sander in your workshop.  My 36 grit sanding belt is .063" thick and the 80 grit is .035".
They are Norton aluminum oxide belts from Home Depot.  You can try a different thickness on each side or keep them the same.  Trace your grip outline onto the smooth side of the sandpaper and trim off with a scissor.  I use a paper hole puncher tor the screw hole.  Of course use the rough side of sandpaper against the grip and not against the frame.  One belt will allow 5 pairs of spacers.