USFA Walnut grips

Virginia Gentleman · February 05, 2008, 12:22:49 PM

What type of finish does the USFA custom shop put on their walnut grips? Is it a hand rubbed oil finish without stain or do they use stain and then some kind of varnish?

Banjoman · February 07, 2008, 10:58:06 AM

VG,
We just use oil. If we get a very light piece of walnut, it will be darkened with stain but that's the exception.
Banjoman

Virginia Gentleman · February 07, 2008, 02:52:41 PM

Banjoman: I have noticed on all the older Colts with wood grips that it looked like they used very little if any stain and it is put on before a nice linseed oil or tung oil finish. USFA grips look like they have this kind of finish and glad to get the confirmation from the source.

Deadeye Don · February 08, 2008, 08:00:42 AM

My Ainsworth SAA has a nicely oiled grip. I really prefer that to the shiny lacquered coat of the Ubertis.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t283/Psychman/AinsworthUSFA.jpg

Digger · February 20, 2008, 10:23:07 PM

Hi All,

I'm new. I ordered a pair of Single Actions last week and picked the checkered wood grips option. So, this thread caught my eye. Can anybody tell me what wood is used for these grips, and if they're two piece or one piece?

Thanks

Capt. John Fitzgerald · February 20, 2008, 10:43:16 PM

Greetings Rroddy, and welcome to the forum!
USFA uses walnut and they offer two grades, standard and a select grade. You can get either one piece or two piece grips. I have one with the select grade walnut, no checkering, one piece. They are nice but so are their standard walnut grips and I personally don't think that the extra money for the select wood is all that worth it.
If you just placed your order you might want to contact either USFA or the dealer you are going through and specify which grips, one piece or two piece, that you want.

Digger · February 20, 2008, 11:21:15 PM

Hi Capt Fitzgerald,

I ordered off the USFA site, and their options are pushbuttons, so picking one excluded the others. I tried to pick one piece walnut plus checkering but I could only specify the one option. Since I plan to use them for CAS, checkering was the higher priority. My hands are smooth and I'm not the most dexterous guy around to begin with. I really didn't care for the black rubber, though. I'm hoping they're walnut. I can't believe they'd put so much care into the rest of the gun and then cut corners on the grips.

Thanks

Capt. John Fitzgerald · February 20, 2008, 11:47:27 PM

Rroddy,
They definitely will be walnut, and quality walnut to boot! Unlike some other manufacturers, you don't see any substandard grade wood being used by USFA.
I would give them a call and ask about checkered one piece grips if that is what you want. They might just do it for you, even if it is not listed on their web site. Doesn't hurt to ask - USFA customer service is great and they are very accommodating.
CJF

Deadeye Don · February 21, 2008, 06:49:36 AM

RRoddy,

With a gun as expensive as you are ordering, I would ALWAYS call Gary Granger directly so you know what you are getting. He will be very helpful making your choices. Basically, USFA can do anything to your gun that you want. There may well be choices and combinations of features that you can get besides what the website will allow you to do. Regards. Deadeye.

Digger · February 21, 2008, 02:12:12 PM

Hi All,

I don't know whether USFA picked up on this thread or I popped up on their production cycle, but I got a call from USFA this afternoon about the grips. They needed to know which grade of walnut I wanted. It appears I'm the first to pick that combination ordering off the website, and they weren't aware of the pushbuttons problem. They're going to get that fixed.

We also discussed the merits/demerits of one-piece, two-piece grips in combination with checkering.

The long and the short of it is, I'll be getting two-piece walnut with checkering.

Very personable customer service. I was impressed.

rroddy