Come Into Bawanna's Famous Grip Emporium

[Bawanna]

First, let me say that you do beautiful work, Bawanna. Now for the questions. Can you do slender grips that are about half the thickness of regular grips? Also, do you only work with certain woods or could I choose a wood and you order some?

I can do slender, I'm not very slender but I can make thin grips. See Old Lincolns grips very first post for which he started this thread. I'm dazzled how big and how many people have looked at this thread. I'm promoting him to advertising and media specialist.

Your new SIS probably has standard grip bushings which limit how thin we can go but you could install slim line bushings and go much thinner.
You can absolutely pick whatever wood you find appealing. Certain woods can be good or bad. Generally hard wood is good especially from a checkering standpoint. Some woods with alot of pattern or figure (not to be confused with slim or thin) lose that look when checkered, some work just fine so that's a factor.
Stabilized wood which I have limited access too but getting better thanks to other members here is good stuff. Very durable. Still experimenting with the checkering but it's suppose to checker nice.
Feel free to run possible wood favorites. I've played with many but of course not nearly all. Still discovering new wood all the time.

[melissa5]

Yes, Old Lincoln's grips are very thin. That's what I need for my small hands. So far, the woods I am thinking about are

Spalted Maple



Maple Burl



Amboyna Burl



Have you used those or have any on hand?

[Willieboy]

I think I have some of those Amboyna Burl grips on my Makarov. A beautiful wood to be sure.

[melissa5]

That certainly looks like it, Willieboy. I don't want them checkered all over, but something like yours.

[Bawanna]

I have some spalted maple which came from my advertising and media specialist once again Old Lincoln and hes says he doesn't have a purpose. It needs to be sent to get stabilized.

I have some Box Elder Burl stabilized that looks similar to the Maple Burl. You can look at JohnH's grips to see that.

I have it on my Cbob a clone of Johns only his is a 10mm and mine is 45. I have enough for one more set and I think I can get more without problem.

[melissa5]

Yep, John's grips look awesome. Sending you a PM.

[Kahrson]

I think they also call this ambrosia maple. I have a peppermill made out this. It is a simply gorgeous wood. Grips would look very nice made out of this I'm certain of that.

[Bawanna]

Heres some pics to continue to practice my newfound picture posting skills.
Perhaps entitled what I did on the Rapture Weekend.

These are for Melissa. Spalted Maple stabilized. First time checkering on stabilized wood and it went fairly well. I'm somewhat concerned with the quality of the stabilization. It acts a little like the first stuff I had that I found to be brittle and not treated all the way through. It does seem to be flexible so I'm hoping I'm wrong and it works fine.
Thought I'd share them with all since I wanted Melissa to see em anyhow.

Got into some Micarata for MW Surveyor too. Not very far. Weird stuff but if it works I think it's gonna be a great new medium. The dust is fine and brutal and gets everywhere. A vacuum system is gonna be an absolute must.

[jocko]

nice wrok bawanna, really is, ur very talented.. Now don't fall outta ur chair because ol jocko gave u a rare compliment either. Bank it for it might be your last one from me!!

[melissa5]

Bawanna! Those are going to look great on my Colt! That's just enough checkering so that they shouldn't be slippery and the wood pattern is still visible. You're the man!

[Bawanna]

Actually this is one of the woods apparently where the grain pattern shows right thru the checkering.

I do like the pattern and as you suggested went below the trigger guard. I've done similar ones going corner to corner.

I'll go take another look and see if these are ready for the mailbox or need a little more attention.

[Bawanna]

nice wrok bawanna, really is, ur very talented.. Now don't fall outta ur chair because ol jocko gave u a rare compliment either. Bank it for it might be your last one from me!!

Filling out a deposit slip as we speak.

[Kahrson]

Awesome looking grips Bawanna! Have you had any luck solving the issue for the K9 grips?

[TheTman]

Great job Bawanna, those are really nice.

[Bawanna]

Awesome looking grips Bawanna! Have you had any luck solving the issue for the K9 grips?

No sir. If anything I'm more confused than before. It seems the K9 is like the MK in that they aren't all exactly the same.
I have your name written down on my man cave bench. I'd really like to get a solid answer and more importantly a gun to fit too. I think there are a few folks that would like K's and Mk grips.

They area bit challenging but I like that once in awhile.

I like those Emereldas Tucson. Have a certain pazaazzz. I'm working on checkering some of that Box Elder Burl, the ultra thin ones I posted pics of not long ago. So far they are taking checkering very well.