Thread: What type of wood is this?

Looks like cocobolo to me. I've had lots of 1911 grips that are cocobolo, some are more orange/red, some are more brown/black. Cocobolo is a common wood for grips, because of it's natural resistance to rot and moisture.

Originally Posted by Natty Bumpo

I would say cocobolo.

Seems not to be nearly Red enough for bloodwood, and, while it is orange enough to be padauk, padauk isn't all that common in grips. Or not that I know of. Padauk also has a coarser and more porous appearance. The grain pattern on your grips also suggests cocobolo.

Cocobolo is a very common grip material, and can run a gamut of shades from very dark red to a very light orange. The orange shade would likely stay that way with a clear film finish like lacquer or varnish.

BTW, I have a set of Esmeralda's grips for my stainless J frame. Exquisite is all I can saw about them. Right up with with Craig Spegels.

You must work for the forest service...

It is very difficult to tell from the picture. While I do agree that the grain resembles Cocobolo and it could be, the color is not what i generally see. It could also be dyed. I still think that it could be Bloodwood. While it does not look like a clear piece of heartwood, I see what looks to be sapwood near the back edge of the gun (very light color band near the beavertail). The rings of the grain could come from either a couple of small branches growing from the tree or from the radius of the grip and grain banding depending on the cut of the wood. Due to the sapwood and rings and color, I still believe it could be Bloodwood. If I could see the endgrain more clearly it would be more obvious. It would be unique for either species. Regardless of species it is a beautiful piece.

That sounds about right... MorningWood...

Originally Posted by Sawz

I would say that it is either Bloodwood or Paduak

I used to make bows, and that looks like Padauk to me. Might just be a redder variant of cocobolo, though.

VERY nice.

tac

Agreed, endgrain would be more obvious (way too many hours in a lab at OSU with a handlens and wood samples). But given that cocobolo is a more common material for 1911 grips, I think its more likely that either Paduk or any of the bloodwood species. Agreed however, that it is a gorgeous set of grips.

http://www.esmeralda.cc/sn27946.jpg

These are close in color. From grips by Esmeralda.

Originally Posted by MountainBear

Grips by Esmeralda...

http://www.esmeralda.cc/latest_grips_added.htm

Never heard of anyone being disappointed by her grips.

I have a set of her Rosewood Picazzo Grips for my CBOB. Georgeous.

As for the OP's post, they look like Coco Bolo to me too.

Looks like the same wood in the grips on my S&W 686...Cherry.

Properly finnished Padauk would have no pores showing.I have several sets and they look just like that pic.It is uncommon but can be found.My first set is on my S&W 39-2 ,I liked so much that I made several set for other guns mostly old colt autos.That wood goes with either blued or stainless...Robin

Check out www.klamathriverwoodworks.com You can have the wood grips with the punisher engraved in them.

Originally Posted by Oldslabsides

Check out www.klamathriverwoodworks.com You can have the wood grips with the punisher engraved in them.

+1 on that, I am in the process of working with Keno currently on a set of grips for my Fusion CCO

Red Raspberry Dymondwood