Grips/Stocks

The 1911s shipped from Colt, Springfield, and Remington UMC were all fitted with walnut stocks. Each stock had a large diamond shaped un-checkered area around each of  the 2 screw holes, and stocks were otherwise fully checkered.  Colt stocks had 15 rows of checkering between the large diamonds. Remington UMC had 13 rows of checkering between the diamonds. Springfield had 11 rows between the diamonds. Transition (1924) pistols were generally shipped with fully checkered walnut stocks.  Some Transition pistols have been examined with the double diamond stocks, although these may have been changed. Colts Commercial Government Models were generally shipped with double diamond stocks through the late 1920s.  Thereafter (until the end of WWII) they were shipped with fully checkered stocks. See table below for examples!

Walnut stocks where gradually phased out around serial #730,000. Plastic stocks were introduced in April of 1940 but where not in wide spread use until March of 1941. The earliest plastic stocks were very brittle and have been referred to as “ColtRock” stocks.  Whether the brittleness was due to improper composition, temperature, cure time or some other variable is not known.  Few of the early stocks remain as many probably cracked and were replaced.  Following these earliest Coltrock stocks are the “Coltwood” plastic stocks.  These stocks seem to be much tougher and less brittle than the earlier stocks.  The first Stocks made of “Coltwood” were physically similar to the earlier stocks and had: smooth dished out Hollow backs with no reinforcing ribs, checkering with a pitch to match the full checkered walnut stocks, and concave bushings around the screw holes.  The composition of the plastic is not known, but it is believed to be a form of formaldehyde resin with sawdust filler.  At around serial #803000 Colts changed the molds for the plastic stocks and a few stocks are found with transition characteristics.  The new type stocks had larger (flat on top) rings around the screw holes as well as reinforcing ribs in the hollow backs.  The Colt stocks continued to be made from the Coltwood composition throughout the rest of the war. Reference Charles Clawsons “Collectors Guide to Colt .45 Service pistols” page 38. Click on images below for larger version.
               


Springfield 1911
(11 rows of checkering between Diamonds)
Remington UMC 1911
(13 rows of checkering between Diamonds)
Colt 1911
(15 rows of checkering between Diamonds)

1920s-30s Colt 1911A1
(28 rows between the screw holes). Also used on SA National Match pistols
Keyes Fiber grips used on early Remington Rands and Ithacas
(No reinforcement rings)
Keyes grips have the "K" in a star on inside of grip.**/*
Remington Rand, US&S and Ithaca grips.
Made by Keyes Fiber (With Reinforcement rings)

Colt 1911A1
(Large flat rings around screws) see image at left.


Coltwood plastic grips with large ring and reinforcement ribs.**
Coltrock Plastic with mold numbers. no reinforcement ribs. **
During the Korean War Keyes was contracted to manufacture replacement grips. These grips can be identified by the part number on the inside. Left grip part number is 5560462, right part number is 5564063. These grips also have a higher fiber content then the ones manufactured during the 1940s.
Front and back of Korean War era manufactured Keyes grips
Close-up of part number and Keyes star.

Notes:
* Notice rounded cavities on Colt reinforcement ribs vs. the style Keyes uses.
**Reuse of some images on this page from Charles Clawson's book was granted by Mr. Clawson. Permission for further distribution is not permitted. Do not copy.

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