Ajax Grips out of business

[lfpiii]

Apparently Ajax Grips went out of business on Friday. I was checking ebay yesterday for grips and came upon Vaquero grips for $500.00 I emailed the dealer thinking he had made a mistake in the price. He emailed me back today. "No price is correct, Ajax out of buiness on Friday."

Another Obama success story. Or may be Hogue?

 

[45Colt_Man]

Tried their website. Says "This website is no longer available."

Dana

 

[BlkHawk73]

I was never impressed with their stuff personally. Too many others in that market so sales likely suffered. Possibly impacted by the economy somewhat too but in the end, quality sells.
How is this BO's fault?

 

[rmc25]

I agree that quality sells. I have had to return grips to them. First time the grips were cut too small and parts of the grip frame were exposed. Second time the grips were over the frame. Third time was almost right but didn't feel right in my hand. I just quit wasting my time with them. The grips are in the "don't use" box. I won't put them on any auction site because I would feel like I was cheating someone.
rmc

 

[Axehandle]

I never thought that much of the brand until I recently traded for a set of Ajax Sambar stags and Eagle Sambar stags... The Ajax grips were made from a much better piece of Sambar stag than the Eagle grips. Virtually no pith and solid as a piece of rock!..

 

[lfpiii]

I was never impressed with their stuff personally. Too many others in that market so sales likely suffered. Possibly impacted by the economy somewhat too but in the end, quality sells.
How is this BO's fault?

Yes some of their products were cheap plastic but others were first rate. Tneir bone grips could not be beat.

While there are many others making grips we must remember that the majority of custom grip makers today are one man operations. Sadly most go out of business quickly.

I do also blame the Obama factor. When Obama won many people spent large sums on guns and ammo with no money for accessories. Years ago at a SHOT Show lecture dealers were told that 1 accessory would be sold for every 10 guns. Now more people buy Glocks that do not realy use accessories.

 

[DGW1949]

The few that I've had fit perty good. And even the worst of them weren't as bad as some of the "custom" grips that I paid more money for.

Just my 02 .

DGW

 

[lfpiii]

I never thought that much of the brand until I recently traded for a set of Ajax Sambar stags and Eagle Sambar stags... The Ajax grips were made from a much better piece of Sambar stag than the Eagle grips. Virtually no pith and solid as a piece of rock!..

Most do not know that they were the main importorter of stag into the USA. They could pick and chose what they kept.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I was never impressed with their stuff personally. Too many others in that market so sales likely suffered. Possibly impacted by the economy somewhat too but in the end, quality sells.
How is this BO's fault?

You know why it's Obama's fault? Because when Bush was Prez and Nazi Pelosi got up in the morning and stubbed her toe, it was Bush's fault. He had Cheney sneak in her house and rearange the furniture. when my son went to Iraq the first time, his ship stopped to drop off supplies to the Indonishesia tsusami victims. And who was to blame for the tsunami? Bush and Tony Blair of course! Yes, I heard that from ungrateful Muslims. Seems they must of started the tidal wave with the same halliburton wave machine Bush later used at New Orleans. Obama is President. Ajax can blame it on him!!

 

[13.45]

i've always had good luck with ajax grips. sorry to see them go...

 

[rugerguy]

no issues here either, they were fine by us, sold LOTS of them over the years.....so another one bites the dust.........Jay Scotts, Letts, Ajax.......gee bet I missed a bunch of others in there too, but I stayed away from most of them.......

 

[29 Wheelgunner]

Ajax had no one to blame but themselves.
I had nothing but problems three out of four times I did business with them.

I have no idea what steps they made to keep this from happening, but customer service was not one of the issues visited.

 

[pvtschultz]

While there are many others making grips we must remember that the majority of custom grip makers today are one man operations. Sadly most go out of business quickly.

There is a lot of truth to this statement. Look at the grip makers that frequent this forum. How many of them are guys working in their basements/garages by themselves? I'm going to bet all of us. On top of that, most of us are either retired or have a full time job on top of it. If I have a month or two of very bad sales, I still have my 8-to-5 to fall back onto, and don't have to make payroll. But when a larger company has a few bad months, it is very hard to make payroll and still be able to afford your own mortgage. It is unfortunate for their employees, but that is what makes our economy so strong and robust. There will be others that will step to fill the void and risk their hard earned money at a shot of making it big(ger).

I don't think that I'll ever get rich selling grips. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I won't. It has helped to pay down medical bills and allows my wife to stay at home with our children instead of shipping them off to daycare. I'll sell grips as long as I have student loans (that will be for a quite a while yet) and then as long as it is needed to or I myself take a stab at becoming the next Hogue or Ajax. But the truth is, it is time away from my wife and kids, but financially neccessary. Making grips is a labor of love though, I am sure the others will agree. I enjoy making grips that make people happy. When you lose sight of that, then your customers will make the decision to quit for you.

 

[41 mag fan]

I have to agree with private schultz. I do make grips and checker stocks. To me it lets me buy a couple of extra guns a year or take an extra week of to go hunting. If Ihave bad sales it just means no new gun this month. However with ajax they have to cover everybodys expenses. sometimes things just have to give. Steve

 

[raven5]

I was never impressed with their stuff personally. Too many others in that market so sales likely suffered. Possibly impacted by the economy somewhat too but in the end, quality sells.
How is this BO's fault?

You know why it's Obama's fault? Because when Bush was Prez and Nazi Pelosi got up in the morning and stubbed her toe, it was Bush's fault. He had Cheney sneak in her house and rearange the furniture. when my son went to Iraq the first time, his ship stopped to drop off supplies to the Indonishesia tsusami victims. And who was to blame for the tsunami? Bush and Tony Blair of course! Yes, I heard that from ungrateful Muslims. Seems they must of started the tidal wave with the same halliburton wave machine Bush later used at New Orleans. Obama is President. Ajax can blame it on him!!

Couldn't have said it better myself.... :lol:

 

[JHRosier]

I always liked the color and feel of the Ajax fake ivories.
I will be sorry that they are gone.

Jack

 

[sack peterson]

So the guy wanted $500 for a set of Ajax grips because they went out of business? Sheesh....

I'm in Private Schultz boat. In more ways than one.

I don't think theres enough margin in grips to support a business of any size. There is some value to offer in artisian grip making - one man boutique shops. I have to imagine Eagle is a very small shop.

I add - volume perhaps more so than margin.

 

[mohavesam]

Ajax made some great stuff - unlike some of the garbage Hogue sells.

Both companies made some dogs. But Hogue has marketing.

We need MORE gun-accessories companies. Not fewer.

 

[WAYNO]

i've always had good luck with ajax grips. sorry to see them go...

Me too.

WAYNO.

 

[COR]

I have some "Pearly looking" beauties that I'd let go for half of the $500 dollar price...That's right guys, you can own a piece of grip history for $250 even and I will even pay for the shipping :lol: ....act quickly because these won't last long. I am selling my island in New York and my bridge in San Franny so If I am unavailable just leave a message.

867-5309 (ask for Jenny)