[leicanthrope]

I've heard of issues with 80+ year old plastic on some of my other guns, but I haven't really heard much regarding the durability of old GI 1911A1 grips. Should I take any special precautions with them?

 

[Michael W Cuber]

For as many that are still in use, I get the impression that they are extremely durable. Folks have been buying the USGI grips and putting them on Tisas, and Springfield guns to look more authentic to the USGI pistols, and those Old Stock grips generally look like new even when they’re 50-60 years old!

 

[leicanthrope]

For as many that are still in use, I get the impression that they are extremely durable. Folks have been buying the USGI grips and putting them on Tisas, and Springfield guns to look more authentic to the USGI pistols, and those Old Stock grips generally look like new even when they’re 50-60 years old!

Good to know. As a P.38 owner, I've had a certain degree of bakelite based paranoia drilled into me.

 

[Bogeyman]

It is basically an extremely dense platic, designed to withstand impact, heat, and cold. I have seen a few battle field "returns", in collectors' groups, with a chip here or there, but none with any bad damage or splits. Most of the collectors I've met with combat originals either keep them on the firearm and make it a "Safe Queen", or they secure the grips somewhere and change them out for something more comfortable for the range.

 

[mkk41]

Keyes fibre grip panels were nowhere near as fragile as true Bakelite, Coltrock or Coltwood.

 

[dsk]

I've never had a problem with WW2-era 1911 grips deteriorating with age. 1960's Colt commercial grips are another story.

 

[mkk41]

I've never had a problem with WW2-era 1911 grips deteriorating with age. 1960's Colt commercial grips are another story.

I seem to recall something about the Keyes grips being made from linen-reinforced phenolic. I've machined and made lots of stuff from LRP, and it is some very tough & stable stuff. Stinks like heck if it gets too hot!

 

[USARV72]

Replaced the original to my CMP 1911A-1 with some NOS original ones in my spare parts box. The original ones were worn to the point I though Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder works at CMP, LOL

 

[leicanthrope]

Replaced the original to my CMP 1911A-1 with some NOS original ones in my spare parts box. The original ones were worn to the point I though Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder works at CMP, LOL

That sounds like it'd be on the Army, unless you ordered something other than a "pistol requires minor work to return to issuable condition but is functional" Rack grade.

 

[USARV72]

After being in an Ord. unit we would have never let a 1911A-1 go with grips worn like these. Happy I had a NOS set to replace them with.

 

[leicanthrope]

It'd be interesting to know what all the CMP considers "minor work" for the purposes of designating a pistol rack grade, and what sort of issues would be too severe for that classification.

 

[mkk41]

After being in an Ord. unit we would have never let a 1911A-1 go with grips worn like these. Happy I had a NOS set to replace them with.

The late 70s ~ early 80s replacement grips were molded nylon. Diamonds were sharp. Ya can still find them on Ebay under $10/pr

 

[4110mm]

I only know that the brown colt grips need to stay on the gun, if not they shrink quite quickly and cant be put back on

 

[USARV72]

Good friend ordered a “ rack grade” in second round, his was MUCH better than mine and a reason I ordered a rack grade. Interesting to see how rack grades look now.

 

[Rob S]

leicanthrope:
I have a pair of Keyes grips identical to yours that came on a WW2 surplus 1911 that my dad bought in 1955. It was his bedside and truck gun for decades--not a safe queen, the pistol often was on the floor of his truck under the seat when "trucks were really trucks." Now I have the frame fitted with an old .22 LR Colt conversion unit and shoot it frequently.
The grips are still in good shape, although with some light to mild wear and smoothing of the surfaces.
My thoughts--keep using them.
Rob

 

[cadillacmike]

I get Esmeralda grips for all my M1911s & M1911A1s.

 

[drail]

I think it was likely that the grips were not even considered for "useful life" but for "unit cost" in a wartime materiel control situation during WW ll. They built them out of any cheap material they could procure.

 

[leicanthrope]

I think it was likely that the grips were not even considered for "useful life" but for "unit cost" in a wartime materiel control situation during WW ll. They built them out of any cheap material they could procure.

Undoubtedly. The Germans were mixing sawdust into the grips on some of their guns. I'm familiar with the fragility of the grips they made before they started taking shortcuts, hence my caution.

 

[drail]

Sawdust? Mein Gott! That's better than anything you could make up.

 

[leicanthrope]

Sawdust? Mein Gott! That's better than anything you could make up.

This one is a pretty good example.