Unfinished Walnut 1911 Grips – Full Size with Checkering, Rough Texturing & Black Colt Medallion

Unfinished walnut 1911 grips in full-size kiln-dried walnut, sanded to 220 grit, featuring machined checkering and rough texturing separated by a swooping curved detail and a black-enameled Colt medallion centered on each panel. Shipped raw — no clear coat, no stain, no dye — so the buyer applies whatever finish their Colt 1911 build calls for.

The dual-texture surface (checkering on one zone, rough texturing on the other, divided by a carved curve) delivers two distinct grip feels in one panel. Checkering anchors the trigger-finger side for index control; rough texturing on the strong-side palm zone improves recoil retention. The black Colt medallion ties the build aesthetically to Colt Government and Commander models specifically, though the panels themselves are universal across the full-size 1911 platform.

Why unfinished walnut grips give you more control?

Unfinished panels let the buyer apply the finish that matches the build. Common applications for unfinished walnut include hand staining for color matching, oil finishing for low-sheen patina, lacquer or polyurethane for high-gloss protection, manual or laser engraving, wood burning, hydrographic dipping, hide wrapping, and inlay work. The bare walnut absorbs stain and finish evenly because the surface hasn’t been sealed at the factory.

Walnut on the 1911 — a brief history

Colt has shipped checkered walnut 1911 grips since 1912, with silver medallions standard in the mid-1950s through late 1960s and gold and black medallion options appearing afterward. The black-medallion-on-checkered-walnut combination is part of that ongoing Colt grip lineage — a recognizable, traditional 1911 build that suits both restoration projects and modern custom work.

Construction and fitment

Each panel is CNC-machined from kiln-dried walnut blanks with the carved texture detail cut directly into the wood face. The black medallion is inlaid flush from the back, with raised lettering on enamel. Ambi safety cut included.

These grips fit standard full-size 1911 frames with 3-1/16″ screw spacing. Drop-in for Colt Government, Colt Commander, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Remington R1, Ruger SR1911, S&W SW1911, Sig 1911, Rock Island Armory, Tisas, Taurus 1911, and GSG 1911 Government-model clones. Do not fit double-stack 2011 frames or compact/Officer 1911s.

Most sets ship with installation screws, check your specific listing for hardware details. Backed by a 30-day fit guarantee from a shop with 50,000+ pistol grips sold to American shooters. See more in the 1911 full-size grips collection or browse other wood gun grips.