Hogue Grips ......problem with a custom grip ....let down....update

[protoolsnerd]

Hello everyone ,
I'm usually one to rant but I have a buyer beware warning for all who buy any wood grip from hogue .

A couple months ago i placed a special order with them directly for a , what could have been, a really nice grip for my colt python . Rosewood, checkering , hardwood buttcap etc.

Apart from it only supposed to be taking 90 days to finish and it took 2 months. I get the grip and it's not fit well. The interior of the two halves were not combined evenly and certainly not fixe after they were. The wood on the inside was rough and obviously not paid attention to at all. Not even a corse sanding , nothing . Rough grains all over the place .

Ok fine, i email them, and they agree to send me a new one , and take the original one back at no charge . So what happens when i get the new one .IT"S WORSE THEN THE FIRST .

Even more poorly assembled with an even bigger lip caused by the two halves not being the same size.

I'm so incredibly let down , and this grip could have been amazing on my nickel python.

Their rubber grips are just fine, just don't go anywhere near anything else they make . It's cheap crap that they take no pride in whatsoever . To have this happen 2x after bringing it their attention is ridiculous . That means no one there , from the customer service rep, to the workman, to whomever does qc , just didn't care .

I've emailed them back for a refund. For a grip that costs $100 , this is , as i said , pathetic.

[jdg30]

That is bad. I've had real good luck with Badger grips for my s&w's and Rugers. He makes them for these brands and Colts also. The grips come to about $85 shipped but are high quality and worth it. They look real nice and he (Jim Badger) has great customer service. Good luck on returning those grips and check out Badger grips for your gun. I considered hogue wood grips before but didn't feel right about getting them. Glad I didn't after seeing the kind of workmanship they allow to be sent out for people's hard earned money.

[protoolsnerd]

Thanks Jdg30 , i actually checked out badger grips an hour ago . I was considering getting one from them . Do you think he'd checker one for me ? It's on the site as being checkered , but that's what you hope for with a custom grip.

Spread the word , hopefully it'll change their business practices....and they're here in Cali too.....sad sad times

[shooting4life]

Spend your money with Kurac, though I'm not sure if he can help with colt grips. They only run a little more than the set you purchased. Plus he is a local calgunner.

[SURVIVOR619]

Yeah, wow! That looks janky indeed... I agree it's one thing for maybe a "one off"... But returning a poorly crafted item only to receive another just as bad or worse is certainly the signs of a vendor who does not care! Disappointing! Sorry bro! Sux waiting for everything gun-related in CA... Then for it be to a letdown, twice... Damn!!


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[protoolsnerd]

Beautiful grips there ! I'll have to inquire with him

It really sucks to have a cali company to be so boneheaded . They've been making grips for decades.....BOOOOOO

[MrExel17]

OP that sucks, sorry you had to experience that. I had my share of wack products that lacked the quality control. Thanks for the heads up!

[redcliff]

Thats too bad, I have some custom Hogue grips from the 1980's that are almost as nice as some of my Nill grips. It looks like Hogue is outsourcing to India now like a lot of other girp manufacturers.

[Divernhunter]

Sorry to hear your trouble. I got a set of grips for my 454 SRH from them and they were/are really nice with excellent fit/finish. They were super helpfull as I went down to them and they fitted on several sets before I found a model I liked the feel of.

[FalconLair]

you waited 2 months for the first pair, yet, you received the second pair right away?

[cudakidd]

I have lots of hogue exotic hardwoods, never had any problems with fit or finish. Just a bad run on the particular model I'm guessing. They are made here in Cali, you can actually go there and pick them out (call first).

And I don't care about interior finish as long as they fit and look good on the outside...who checks the inside when you show of your new toy?

You never mentioned if they actually fit. And how about a pic of them on the gun showing exterior finish?

[Army]

Lots and lots of international competitors rely on, and swear by, their Hogue grips.

Without having YOUR Python to hand fit them to, you simply have to rely on them being as close as possible. The inside finish means nothing, as long as they are cut to dimension. I've never had a problem with any of my stocks or grips doing a tiny bit of fitting myself, or even taking a little sandpaper to make them "mine".

Hogue is a stand-up company. Founded in Morro Bay, original family still runs it, and they remain in California despite the political climate and economy.

[gunsmoke50]

90 days is longer than two months. Sounds like you got them ahead of schedule.

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[protoolsnerd]

Sorry about that it took i misstyped 3 months.

As the fit goes, i wasn't worried about my python fitting into the grip. I've never had issues with that . My python is currently at the colt custom shop getting a once over.

As the interior of the grip goes, i didn't need it to be as nice as the exterior , but when you pay 100 bucks plus for a special order grip you don't expect it to show up in that condition.

As for fitting the 2 halves together , seems pretty simple to me to make sure they mate together correctly .

The second grip took 2 weeks to get , which i appreciated , but remember this was their F'up in the first place .

If i paid 40 bucks for the stock i would be willing to accept some flaws because you get what you pay for , but i guarantee a Herrett stock wouldn't show up like that . Which is who i'm going to get the stock for now . For the same price its custom fit to your hand and attention to detail is fantastic. I wish i had known more about them before , but like so many I had used and trusted Hogue .

I have no idea where they're made and honestly i don't care. For 2 custom grips to both have the same issue of not being combined correctly is inexcusable . It shows a lack of pride and a lack of respect for their customer. I wasn't all bent out of shape on the first one as I always give people the benefit of the doubt . But to have the second show up even more mis matched ? c'mon now .

I never once questioned the quality of the exterior . It was beautiful . But if the 2 halves don't combine right and the lip of grip where the frame sits isn't flat and not contoured for the curve of the frame , you're going to have a gap and possibly some play . Also allows for crap to get into the frame and springs that are contained within. If there were no issues I wouldn't written anything and I would have kept the first , but for something like this , it's just sad . Hell i have a hogue rubber grip on there as we speak , i've had a hogue wooden grip before that wasn't a special order that was fine , but on the smooth side . That's why i went with the version i did .....and they botched it .

Order from them, don't , that's your choice. I'm just telling my story and if someone thinks twice or inquires to them about it , maybe some things will change over there .

[protoolsnerd]

Lots and lots of international competitors rely on, and swear by, their Hogue grips.

Without having YOUR Python to hand fit them to, you simply have to rely on them being as close as possible. The inside finish means nothing, as long as they are cut to dimension. I've never had a problem with any of my stocks or grips doing a tiny bit of fitting myself, or even taking a little sandpaper to make them "mine".

Hogue is a stand-up company. Founded in Morro Bay, original family still runs it, and they remain in California despite the political climate and economy.

I understand your point , and i could have taken my dremmel and smoothed the lip out and i could have sanded all the interior wood, but that isn't my point . I'm not making this grip , it was a special order , took 3 months to get and for that price i shouldn't be fitting or fixing anything . They should be held to a higher standard of product .