Custom grip maker Esmeralda O'Sheehan flies below
the radar, but demanding gunsmiths and shooters across the
country rave about her handcrafted exotic wood grips.
Custom grip maker Esmeralda O'Sheehan
flies below the radar, but demanding gunsmiths and shooters
across the country rave about her handcrafted exotic wood grips.
Esmeralda grew up in California but
traveled extensively throughout Central America for most of her
adult life, learning wood work from local artisans during her
travels. Eventually, she landed a job consulting for a U.S.
firearms company in Costa Rica, teaching its employees how to
select wood and handcraft grips. On her return to the United
States, she began making custom grips of her own.
I've heard about her for years, but I
finally got around to contacting Esmeralda a few months ago. I
ordered a set of Officer's-size 1911 grips and gave her free
rein on the type of wood and design of the grips. A few months
later I received them, rare black-and-white ebony from Southeast
Asia that are easily the most beautiful set of grips I've ever
owned.
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Made from the ebony's heartwood, the wood is creamy
white with distinct black veins throughout. The wood
darkens up during the finishing process, which
results in a distinctive, rich look.
Though the creamy white has
turned a warm brownish color, little of it shows
because the grips are so highly figured. Esmeralda
left my grips smooth to show off that rich, dark
figure.
If you have a gun that
could benefit from a little beautification, a set of
handcrafted grips by Esmeralda would be tough to
beat. |
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