Post by jonfhp40 on Dec 15, 2020 10:18:58 GMT -5
In my continuing evaluation of BH Spring Solutions components, Mark Allen and his partner Slav wanted me to wring out several of their wood grips. Basically, their wood grips are finish variations on the same basic contour design, which incorporated a calculated combination of graduated thickness with a subtle shelving contour incorporated into the upper portion of the grip plates. Primarily walnut burl (with other occasional woods used), my understanding is that the grips are manufactured in Bulgaria, and their inletting is by CNC controlled cuts, and the exterior finishes involve significant handwork and on the higher grades involve multile coats of Damar lacquer, with additional polishing and hand finishing between each coat. More on all that in a moment.
My initial introduction to their grips was with two sets of their RDIH polymer grips designed by Leon Hubert, a former senior FN and FN High Power project engineer. He personally designs and manufactures a series of High Power and 1911 components, and I was eager to test his grips-for those of you who are new to my ongoing High Power discussions on the forum, here's a recap:
The first set was this one in black polymer:
I was impressed with them, but felt that there was some room for further refining, vis-a-vis application of some of VCD Grips owner David Barnes' VCD stippling, with which I was well familiar with, due to the late Tod Greens' touting of them, and the two previous sets he'd provided for my 1911s. Discussions with David and Mark commenced, with BH SS providing me a set of FDE RDIH grips, and David applied his technique on, resulting in this:
The end result was the best set of tactical grips I've encountered on a High Power-the combination of the VCD stippling, RDIH ergos (including vestigal shelf strakes and pronounced frontstrap finger grooves) just flat-out works, For an operational set of grips, color me done. If you've got a High Power that you carry or use in IDPA (or similar), I strongly recommend trying the RDIH/VCD combination; order a set from BH SS for about $25, send them to VCD, and they'll perform the stippling for $30-and the combined cost will be less than $60, and you'll be in possession of literally some of the best combat pistol grips available. Boom.
However, sometimes there's pleasure to be derived in a combination of design effeciencies and aesthetics. Hence the BH Spring Solutions' wood grips. To date, I've tested 4 sets: a set of their matte checkered Masters Grips, which retail for about $70;
Two sets of their higher level Legacy grips, which are smooth, subtly sculpted for fit to hand and magnificently finished, and retail for about $145:
And a set of their highest level of grips, with the same sculpting and finis as the Legacies, but with exceptional wood figuring, their Heirloom grips, selling for $170
However, as good as the design and feel was, and how they performed in actual use (all but for the Heirloom-more on that in a moment) there were problems with a four sets of these higher end wood grips.
With the matte Master Grip, it was fit-I encountered some slippage in the left grip plate when installed, it's back at BH SS awaiting a suitable replacement.
With the 2 Legacy grips, there were more significant problems: Both sets encountered cracks or breakage in actual use:
Due to my experiences with the previous Legacy grips, I had a consultation with my gunsmith Cris at C.a.R. Firearms concurrent with me receiving and installing the Heirloom grip, (which I'd installed on my High Power but not fired); he found significant gaps at the fronts, top and sides, especially aroung the top and rear grip tang areas. Later, at home in my study workshop under strong lighting against a white background, I was able to further discover the extent and depth of the gap/fit grip issue with the grips. Discussions and some detailed images were sent to Mark and Slav, and we've had some very detailed discussions since. Essentially, there appears to be a, or some compound problem(s)-some in isolation, some appearing concurrently in the grips. There apparently needs to be some further refinment in the gripmaker's CNC programming and quality control prior to shipping, and some differentiation or modifications needed to encompass grip manufacture for both forged and cast frame High Power; whether that can be achieved in a single grip model capable of fitting both, or necessitating two seperate grip lines remains to be seen, but I'm certain that we'll see a product-improved resurgance of these grips with their magnificent sculpting, wood and finishes.
Basically, BH Spring Solutions' integrity is superb and they fully and immediately stand behind any and all of their products-that's the personal and business model they're fully comitted to. What we've tentatively ascertained are the possibility of two issues-1) that there are some issues with the CNC manufacturing process and pre-shipping QC from their maker, and 2) that the grip fit model is based on forged frame High Powers, and the newer cast frame High Powers have some subtle, but critical dimensional variations from the forged ones. Analysis and redesign is being undergone as we speak.
In my experiences of owning, testing and discussing things with firearms manufactureres, what I've concluded what is critical and truly illustriative (and revealing) of a company's true business (and relational) model is how they react to set-backs, problems and adversity. BH Spring Solutions is, in my opinion exemplifying how to truly step up to the plate in my experiences with their grips as discussed and detailed here. First, they didn't shoot the messanger-when I encountered the first cracking and breakage, they immediately sent me out a replacement-and when that also had issues, they upped the ante and sent me out immediately an even nicer, higher grade of Heirloom replacement grip. That was impressive in and of itself, but even more impressive was their nimbleness in examining the isues holistically, and determine the likely true causal factors, and impliment a plan of identification, isolation, and systemic fixes.
In the meantime, if you have a forged frame High Power, the remaining stock of BH SS Legacy inventory is significantly on sale-but I'd ask Mark to check the fit before shipping. Ditto on the frame check on any Heirloom grips. If you have a cast frame, I'd strongly recommend waiting for the new and improved wood BH SS grips; they'll be worth the wait.
I continue to be a champion of BH Spring Solutions-not just for their products, but for their comittment to excellence in word and deed. Sometimes good can indeed come out of bad-and the involved synergy can create both a stronger product and a revitalized company and mission.
Best, Jon
My initial introduction to their grips was with two sets of their RDIH polymer grips designed by Leon Hubert, a former senior FN and FN High Power project engineer. He personally designs and manufactures a series of High Power and 1911 components, and I was eager to test his grips-for those of you who are new to my ongoing High Power discussions on the forum, here's a recap:
The first set was this one in black polymer:
I was impressed with them, but felt that there was some room for further refining, vis-a-vis application of some of VCD Grips owner David Barnes' VCD stippling, with which I was well familiar with, due to the late Tod Greens' touting of them, and the two previous sets he'd provided for my 1911s. Discussions with David and Mark commenced, with BH SS providing me a set of FDE RDIH grips, and David applied his technique on, resulting in this:
The end result was the best set of tactical grips I've encountered on a High Power-the combination of the VCD stippling, RDIH ergos (including vestigal shelf strakes and pronounced frontstrap finger grooves) just flat-out works, For an operational set of grips, color me done. If you've got a High Power that you carry or use in IDPA (or similar), I strongly recommend trying the RDIH/VCD combination; order a set from BH SS for about $25, send them to VCD, and they'll perform the stippling for $30-and the combined cost will be less than $60, and you'll be in possession of literally some of the best combat pistol grips available. Boom.
However, sometimes there's pleasure to be derived in a combination of design effeciencies and aesthetics. Hence the BH Spring Solutions' wood grips. To date, I've tested 4 sets: a set of their matte checkered Masters Grips, which retail for about $70;
Two sets of their higher level Legacy grips, which are smooth, subtly sculpted for fit to hand and magnificently finished, and retail for about $145:
And a set of their highest level of grips, with the same sculpting and finis as the Legacies, but with exceptional wood figuring, their Heirloom grips, selling for $170
However, as good as the design and feel was, and how they performed in actual use (all but for the Heirloom-more on that in a moment) there were problems with a four sets of these higher end wood grips.
With the matte Master Grip, it was fit-I encountered some slippage in the left grip plate when installed, it's back at BH SS awaiting a suitable replacement.
With the 2 Legacy grips, there were more significant problems: Both sets encountered cracks or breakage in actual use:
Due to my experiences with the previous Legacy grips, I had a consultation with my gunsmith Cris at C.a.R. Firearms concurrent with me receiving and installing the Heirloom grip, (which I'd installed on my High Power but not fired); he found significant gaps at the fronts, top and sides, especially aroung the top and rear grip tang areas. Later, at home in my study workshop under strong lighting against a white background, I was able to further discover the extent and depth of the gap/fit grip issue with the grips. Discussions and some detailed images were sent to Mark and Slav, and we've had some very detailed discussions since. Essentially, there appears to be a, or some compound problem(s)-some in isolation, some appearing concurrently in the grips. There apparently needs to be some further refinment in the gripmaker's CNC programming and quality control prior to shipping, and some differentiation or modifications needed to encompass grip manufacture for both forged and cast frame High Power; whether that can be achieved in a single grip model capable of fitting both, or necessitating two seperate grip lines remains to be seen, but I'm certain that we'll see a product-improved resurgance of these grips with their magnificent sculpting, wood and finishes.
Basically, BH Spring Solutions' integrity is superb and they fully and immediately stand behind any and all of their products-that's the personal and business model they're fully comitted to. What we've tentatively ascertained are the possibility of two issues-1) that there are some issues with the CNC manufacturing process and pre-shipping QC from their maker, and 2) that the grip fit model is based on forged frame High Powers, and the newer cast frame High Powers have some subtle, but critical dimensional variations from the forged ones. Analysis and redesign is being undergone as we speak.
In my experiences of owning, testing and discussing things with firearms manufactureres, what I've concluded what is critical and truly illustriative (and revealing) of a company's true business (and relational) model is how they react to set-backs, problems and adversity. BH Spring Solutions is, in my opinion exemplifying how to truly step up to the plate in my experiences with their grips as discussed and detailed here. First, they didn't shoot the messanger-when I encountered the first cracking and breakage, they immediately sent me out a replacement-and when that also had issues, they upped the ante and sent me out immediately an even nicer, higher grade of Heirloom replacement grip. That was impressive in and of itself, but even more impressive was their nimbleness in examining the isues holistically, and determine the likely true causal factors, and impliment a plan of identification, isolation, and systemic fixes.
In the meantime, if you have a forged frame High Power, the remaining stock of BH SS Legacy inventory is significantly on sale-but I'd ask Mark to check the fit before shipping. Ditto on the frame check on any Heirloom grips. If you have a cast frame, I'd strongly recommend waiting for the new and improved wood BH SS grips; they'll be worth the wait.
I continue to be a champion of BH Spring Solutions-not just for their products, but for their comittment to excellence in word and deed. Sometimes good can indeed come out of bad-and the involved synergy can create both a stronger product and a revitalized company and mission.
Best, Jon
