I regularly work with Ebony; I would hesitate to use it for grip material due to it's propensity for chipping & cracking
as well as weight.
It does work and polish beautifully, of course.
The rosewood family ( Dalbergia) tends to be more forgiving of impact and humidity swings, which is why you see so much of it on pistol grips. Cocobolo, Palo Escrito, Morado, and Goncalo Alves are all loosely in this group.
"If I ever needed to hunt in a tuxedo, then this would be the rifle I'd take." - okie john
"Not being able to govern events, I govern myself." - Michel De Montaigne
Im still on the search for the perfect grip. I just ordered another thai set off ebay. A little redder than id like but i plan on stripping and refinishing.
My last set were thinner than id like i wanted a wood set in between pachymers and uncle mikes size wise. I liked the color of that set though
Not of which I am aware. Western Big Leaf maple tends to be a touch softer and stringier grained than the eastern varieties, but they're all hard. Just make sure it's well seasoned and has a moisture content at 6% or lower. Figured maples can be unstable and prone to movement (cupping, warping, distortion) until they're well dried.
I'd love to see what you come up with!
Last edited by Lex Luthier; 05-14-2020 at 06:27 PM.
"If I ever needed to hunt in a tuxedo, then this would be the rifle I'd take." - okie john
"Not being able to govern events, I govern myself." - Michel De Montaigne
O3RN,
Wow. Those rosewood grips are gorgeous. Grips for revolvers are one of those items that successfully merge “form and function” together. It’s what separates them from “the plastic” and makes them enduring at every level.
Working diligently to enlarge my group size.