Colt: 1911

The 1911 Government model is the classic American automatic pistol. First introduced in 1911, it served as the U.S. Armed Forces sidearm most of the last century. Identified with the .45 Auto cartridge, this pistol remains the mainstay of competitive shooting in this country and a first choice of custom gunsmiths. Many companies produce this pistol: Colt, Kimber, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, Auto Ordinance and others.

The various full sized models all use the same frame and grips, while the Compact or Officers Model uses a smaller grip. With a beveled base and a slim cylindrical shape, it fits the hand well. Altamont makes the Classic Panel in the following materials: Bonded Ivory (similar to genuine ivory, especially in aging); Pearl (synthetic and of course tougher than real peal); African Rosewood (a natural wood with vivid colors that finishes and checkers well); Super woods (with pressurized phenolic that are very attractive, durable and extremely popular); Replica Black (Black paper micarta); and G-10 (high tech material that is similar in texture to carbon fiber and is indestructible).

These grips are offered with a variety of checkering and textures ranging from the traditional double diamond cut checkering to stippling (please see the accompanying pictures). We also offer all of these grips with the ambidextrous safety cuts, as well as with the extended safety. Please make sure that this is specified when ordering.

These are our special grips for the 1911. They are built from selected figured, fancy woods, with careful detailed machining and hand rubbed high gloss finish. They are offered in the following woods: Black Rosewood, which is like ebony but with a touch of rosewood grain; African Snakewood, with its patterned grain that resembles snakeskin; African Rosewood, which is a dense patterned rosewood; Zebrawood, which is tan with black stripes; Bocote, which is golden rosewood from Central American; Fancy American Black Walnut; and the very beautiful and exotic Maple Burl.

Besides the smooth high gloss surface, we offer bordered double diamond checkering for the Fancy Walnut, Black Rosewood, and African Rosewood. We also offer lasered snakeskin, oak leaf, and stipple on selected Super Rosewood, Silverblack, Super Walnut, African Rosewood, and Fancy Walnut. Please see pictures below for details.

Scrimshaw is a particularly American art form. It started with whalers engraving whale ivory on long voyages, but soon was adapted to etch and enhance pistol grips for special guns. Scrimshaw is cut into the grip and then the cuts are inked. This wears well. Usually only the right side of the grips is scrimshawed – especially if the other side will be in the holster – but both sides can be done if desired.

These designs are extensive in the 1911, as illustrated here. However, these designs could also be scrimshawed on other bonded ivory grips that are shown in this website. When ordering, please specify whether the design should be in color or in black and white.

Oval inlay grips give the .45 Auto a special appearance. Rich tones of the surrounding wood contrast nicely with the Boned Ivory oval and its scrmshaw design. To truly tailor a grip to the owner's identity, we suggest the use of an individual's initials or logo, which stand out well against the white. Altamont ovals are put into any Super Wood Classic Panels, as well as the Finger Grooves, usually on the right hand panel. However, if requested, both sides can be inlayed with ovals.

Similar to the scrimshaw designs, the ovals can be put into most of the Super Wood grips that are shown in this website.

The Altamont Finger Grooves grip adds control to this pistol; fingers do not shift with recoil. This very popular style is available in our Super Woods, Bonded Ivory, and Camo.

Altamont's Ultima Panel is a high point in our grips design. Our exclusive design provides memory fitting of the hand. Its contours and palm swells show off the beauty of the highly polished wood. This elegant, precision grip is available in our Super Woods. We offer a Ultima version of our Finger Grooves grip, as well.

For our Ultima Target grip, we use the design features of our Ultima Panel, and then we add a supporting thumb rest and a heel rest along with the finger grooves. This target style, made in the three Super Woods, provides superior control and beauty in the same target grip.