Has anyone recently communicated with Vernon Austin or another grip maker?

[Drdan]

I need to find a woodworker who has experience carving grips for Crosmans,and will carve a block of wood that I supply.  I don't mind a long wait time.

Being that I was unable to trck down Turkish Walnet while in Istanbul, I will try to track down some exhibition grade Snakewood.  Bell Forest has a size that would be ideal, but it's A grade. Exhibition grade would look spectacular for grips.

Bell Forest Snakewood blanks

Thanks!

[Drdan]

I contacted Steve Corcoran, and asked if he'd be willing to carve me grips in exotic wood that I will send directly to him.  I also sent inquiries to an exporter dealing exclusively in Snakewood in Suriname and a Thuya burl wood specialist in Essaouira, Morocco for the size blocks and grades that I need.

Many suppliers and wood specialist companies have created their own grading vernacular such as "museum grade", "exhibition grade", and the like.  I asked for AAAA grade wood based on the commonly accepted A-AAAA scale, but that is oftentimes also quite subjective.    I know what the "ne plus ultra" examples of some woods look like, and I like to refer to them as exhibition grade. 

Some other forums mentioned in early 2023 that Vernon Austin is "low key" and frequently does not anwer e-mails.  Others said that he was considering retiring, so maybe he did.  If anyone has information as to whether VA still is taking orders, please let me know.

Thanks!    

[Drdan]

Vernon Austin goes by the handle mystryman_1 on e-bay, so I wrote him a friendly message on that platform inquiring if he can make me a pair of grips.  Hopefully I will receive a response. 

[mr007s]

Just forget all the fancy names of all these woods and go to this site. I have a couple sets of grips from Keith and all are beautiful and get plenty of admiration

http://airgunartisans.com/AA%20Keiths%20Grips.htm

[Drdan]

Just forget all the fancy names of all these woods and go to this site. I have a couple sets of grips from Keith and all are beautiful and get plenty of admiration

http://airgunartisans.com/AA%20Keiths%20Grips.htm

Thanks mr007s. I will contact him.   

[Drdan]

I like these two that Keith offers; one in Rosewood, and one in Zebrawood.

http://airgunartisans.com/images/Keith%20Grips/IMG_0622a.jpg

[Drdan]

Just received an e-mail from Steve Corcoran, and he informed me that he no longer sends out internationally.   

[Drdan]

From the website showcasing Keith's Grips, his e-mail is: k.eisler@shaw.ca  The e-mail was sent back to me as being undeliverable.     If any one has information as to how he can be contacted, please post it here.

Thank you.

[Drdan]

I need to learn to love the OEM plastic grips on the 2300S 

Just checked out D.B. Webb's right hand Zebrawood grips and saw this:

https://store.dbwebbinc.com/index.php?route=checkout/cart

 

[marflow]

the fact is Vernon is not making grips any more i have been waiting for grips that i have paid for well over 6 months ago and he keeps kicking the can down the road and it is time that i send him another email

[Drdan]

the fact is Vernon is not making grips any more i have been waiting for grips that i have paid for well over 6 months ago and he keeps kicking the can down the road and it is time that i send him another email

Not cool on his part.    Be very nice and diplomatic in your e-mail, saying that you can't wait to show off your upgraded pistol on CAPOF. You can also add that a guy on the forum (yours truly) is interested in knowing if he's taking orders...    

[Drdan]

DB Webb offers grips, and I sent an inquiry asking if they can make me a custom one using wood which I supply.  If not I asked when their right hand Target model in Zebrawood would be in stock. They look nice online, and would be a lot better than the walnt grips I purchased on e-Bay.

I guess I could ask Steve Corcoran if he could make me a pair of grips and send them to a relative in the USA.  He said he no longer ships internationally because, "Shipping has just become too difficult to deal with due to the current political climate when it comes to any kind of gun-airguns included".  I'm not going to debate his reasoning even though it would be interesting for me to do so.  He's one of the very best, so I prefer not to burn a proverbial bridge. 

[marflow]

VA and i go back a long time i have 20 of his grips
the grip making business was not paying the bills and he had to take a job that made it impossible to continue
if you own VA grips you know they are as nice as grips made
stuff happens and if someday he gets back in business buy his grips
but now there is no one making grips for other then 2240 frame and i know SC makes other stuff but not for mk1-11 or S&W  78-79g or Diana 5g-6g-6m or 600 and many more
we have had two grip makers for a long time Ralph Brown and Vernon Austin and now we have a large void to fix or do without
and i never got that email sent but i did get one from Vernon my grip will be here soon and what were they for Daisy 7-7 another grip no one makes

[Drdan]

If you ever want to sell a pair of VA grips for a 2400 do let me know. I'm happy for you that you'll soon be receiving your grips.    

[Drdan]

I did send Steve Corcoran an e-mail letting him know that I could have any grips he'd be making sent to a relative.  He's willing to do that, and I will let him pick out the
best wood he has for my specific build.

He did send a lengthy explanation about why he sends out orders  only domestically, and if I were in his place, I'd do the same and understand his reasons.

Anyway, veni, vidi, vici.  Steve Corcoran's grips will be the proverbial cherry on top of my Crosman cake.