Like most classic metal-frame pistols, 1911s have always relied on external grip panels (or stocks) to provide a useful grip surface for the shooter’s hands. Grip panels on 1911 pistols also cover the interior of the grip portion of the handgun’s frame and shield it from the elements. Because it’s so easy to swap between different panels, 1911 owners enjoy a wide variety of stocks made from different materials, colors, designs etc. Stocks for 1911 can vary from the extremely basic, like the brown plastic ones that were standard on military M1911A1s, to the extremely exotic. The latter tend to be made from fine woods or precious metals, blurring the line between works of art versus functional gun parts.
Wilson Combat Desert Ironwood With Sterling Silver Medallions (MSRP: $344.95)
Like many other businesses that deal in 1911s, Wilson Combat offers a myriad of 1911 stocks. The Desert Ironwood stocks it offers are crafted from a relatively rare wood with a unique and attractive wood burl pattern. As accent touches, both stocks include sterling silver Wilson Combat medallions. This set is polished smoothly by hand to a 2,000-grit finish and finished with a glossy topcoat. The end result is something that would look proper on any bespoke BBQ gun.
Magpul MOE TSP (MSRP: $19.95)
Contrasting the fancy Desert Ironwood “showpiece” quality stocks above, Magpul offers some extremely utilitarian 1911 that would feel right at home on any serious working 1911 pistol, and it does so at around 20 bucks, about the same what an AR-15 pistol grip typically costs. Made from the reinforced polymer compound for which Magpul is famous, the MOE 1911 TSP stocks are also textured with miniature “Trapezoidal Surface Projections.” This texture prevents slippage and twisting in the shooter’s hand. Magpul MOE TSPs also include an extremely generous magazine-release cut-out.
Lok Grips Brass 1911 GridLok Palm Swell (MSRP: $120)
Lok Grips is well-known among performance and competitive shooters for manufacturing all manner of grips and accessories. Lok Grips’ machined brass GridLok series are perhaps some of the company’s best sellers. Brass GridLoks add both aggressive texturing, gentle contouring and extra weight to counter felt recoil to any handgun. 1911 GridLok stocks have a gentle “coke bottle” profile in addition to their geometric and grippy texture and adds approximately 8.37 ounces of extra mass to your 1911 pistol.
VZ Grips 1911 Frag (MSRP: $65)
VZ Grips is another well-known company that offers modern grips and stocks. Their signature medium is arguably G10, an extremely resistant fiberglass laminate material. G10 can be dyed and cut into a wide variety of shapes and contours, which makes it a popular option for serious outdoor gear like pistol stocks or knife handles. VZ Grips Frag stocks are a popular option consisting of a widely spaced checkered pattern that provides ample traction for the shooter’s hand. Besides giving the gun a unique look, the Frag pattern is based on 1911 gunsmith Ned Christiansen’s pistol frontstrap texture treatments. The pattern works so well that it also lends itself well to stocks.
Pachmayr GM-45 ($32)
It would feel wrong to omit a 1911 stock round-up without acknowledging the classic Pachmayr GM-45 rubber wraparound grip. It’s not too expensive, still works relatively well, even after all these years, it still adds a seriously rugged demeanor to any 1911 pistol. Take a look at any genuine US Marine Corps MEU-SOC 1911 pistol (or clones thereof). The Pachmayr GM-45 wraparound dates back to a simpler time before the industry sold sophisticated panels machined from brass or G10. Back in the day, GM-45s not only replaced standard factory or USGI 1911 stocks, but by virtue of their design, they also provided third-party texturing over the frontstrap area. There’s a strip of diamond textured rubber that connects both panels. Once in place, it stretches over the frontstrap and instantly adds a layer of grip and texturing.
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