Important Buying Tips When Purchasing Aftermarket 1911 Grips

Aftermarket 1911 grips Valkyrie Dynamics Cobra Skeleton Grips — These aggressively machined grips are dramatic and rather unique: The holes go all the way through to the magazine well. The lower edges are beveled to aid concealability, and the grips are available with or without the ambidextrous safety cut. Valkyrie Dynamics’ grips are CNC-machined from a billet 6061-T6 aluminum and other radical options are available.

Aftermarket 1911 grips Magpul 1911 MOE Grip Panels — Magpul offers these very straightforward grips in matte black, Flat Dark Earth, foliage green, stealth gray, OD green and bright pink. A generous relief is formed in the left grip so you can manipulate the magazine release more easily with your shooting hand, and the grips feature a diamond-shaped cross-section to prevent twisting in your hand.

Aftermarket 1911 grips Nighthawk Cocobolo Finger Groove Pin Point — To go with its high-end custom pistols, Nighthawk has developed a full line of custom grips that incorporate cocobolo hardwood, aluminum and G10 materials to fit the full range of 1911 frames. The designs reflect a range of styles—some with thumb scoops for reaching the mag release more easily, others with various textures. The Cocobolo Finger Groove Pin Point grips have checkering that corresponds to your fingers and smooth surfaces elsewhere.

Aftermarket additions to your 1911 should not be an afterthought. Slides, barrels — might want to look at KKM Barrels — and other parts can make a big difference; those “other parts” include grip panels. The grip panels on your 1911 pistol provide that crucial connection point between your hands and your firearm. When looking at options for aftermarket 1911 grips, there are multiple factors that need to be considered.

Material Matters

Consider the grip material, and what you expect your gun to do for you. For backcountry, all-weather use with bare hands, a synthetic grip with a tacky texture might be just your ticket.

If you carry openly, especially if you have a public image (as a business owner, community leader, law enforcement officer, etc.), look for grips that balance checkering and texture with style, so your piece makes a statement on your hip but stays firmly in hand when firing.

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And remember, wood is beautiful, historic and tough, but it can be ruined by solvents and destroyed by harsher environments. Synthetic grips might not always be the prettiest, but they’re generally immune to the environment and can offer a high-traction surface without abrasive stippling.

Aftermarket 1911 Grips: Style & Size

Be sure to specify the style and detail of your gun when you order, as there are round-butt and square-butt frames, full-sized and Commander-style frames, even micro 1911 models. There are plenty of grips for each—just be sure to specify what your gun needs.

Do note that finger grooves can be great for those with medium to large hands. If you have smaller hands or wear gloves often while carrying, there might be better options. And if a 1911 is almost too big for your hand, check out the slimmer grips available. Likewise, you can fill a larger hand with thicker or even contoured grips.

There were interchangeable grip panels on 1911s long before interchangeable backstraps on polymer guns.