OT - vacation project (new grips)

[Ysabel Kid]

I was off on vacation the last two weeks and decided I needed to get off my rear and spend a couple hours in the garage. It's been several months since I was able to stand for any length of time, and it's been driving me crazy.

I purchased a Heritage Arms "Rough Rider Big Bore" in .45 Colt a few years back. It had a set of wood grips on it that I didn't think were very good looking. So, I decided to replace them with a set of "ivory" polymer grips. I purchased a set of Ajax grips - got lucky to get them since they are now out of business. These came in "oversized - requires fitting". Boy, they weren't kidding. I decided to do them as "one piece" grips, using the filler block which I epoxied to the grip panels. Not bad for my first attempt - just wish the pictures looked a little better.

Here is the work in process:




And the finished product:

[AJMD429]

Cool.

The only problem I see is your gun is defective - the blueing is peeling off even in the first picture, as you can see there is hardly any on the upper receiver and barrel. By the time you got the grips finished, all the blueing was worn off.

If you send the gun to me immediately, I think I can salvage it, however. It may take a few months.





...oh yeah - send a case or two of ammo, if you don't mind. I'll need to function-test it before returning it - for your safety, of course.

[Alan Wood]

Nicely done.

[pokey]

well now,

that's a worthy hobby.

nice job, but where's the slippers?

[JerryB]

A real fine finish job, you done good.

[DixieBoy]

Hey, nice. How's the finished product feel ? Can you do a Border Roll now ? - DixieBoy

[Alan Wood]

well now,

that's a worthy hobby.

nice job, but where's the slippers?

Hm now that you mention it He can't be 100% recovered can he. No slippers is slipping for him.

[TedH]

Nice!

[RIHMFIRE]

Very nice job!

[dr walker]

They look great, good job.

[Borregos]

That looks great

[gamekeeper]

Nice! Now you can go to the BBQ

[rjohns94]

Jay,

You must be really loved by the group with all the kidding you get. Nice jobs on the grips and I hope your recovery is coming along nicely.

mike

[BenT]

Looks Good!

[Nath]

Thats neat YK I am impressed

It wasn't all them snaps of your foot whare that hurt your back was it?

Nath

[J Miller]

Ysabel Kid,

I like the looks of them. The stainless and white seem to work together.

I have a question though. From the finished pic it looks like you left them a bit thicker than stock. Am I seeing right, and if so how do they feel compared to the stock contours?

Joe

[Ysabel Kid]

Ysabel Kid,

I like the looks of them. The stainless and white seem to work together.

I have a question though. From the finished pic it looks like you left them a bit thicker than stock. Am I seeing right, and if so how do they feel compared to the stock contours?

Joe

Joe - you've got a good eye. I did leave them just a tad bit bigger than the standard Colt SAA grips, though I shaped them in the same way. Hard to tell with the poor quality pictures I take, and the grips, being white, kind of wash out the effect. I have long fingers, and like my grips a little on the large side, so it was just my preference. I thought the stainless and white went well together too!

Wasn't wearing slippers those days guys - too darn cold down here for that, even with the heater running in my garage! I did get a new pair from Mrs. YK for Christmas though!

Bless you AJ - you're always looking out for me!

[Rustolium]

I have a question, how do the grips attach without a screw? I keep seeing "one piece" but I'm lost as to how they are done. Is it glue?

[RKrodle]

Nice job and I'm glad to hear your able to get around better. Just don't over do it and set yourself back or we'll get together and come out there and tie you down.

[Ysabel Kid]

I have a question, how do the grips attach without a screw? I keep seeing "one piece" but I'm lost as to how they are done. Is it glue?

On true "one-piece" grips the wood is carved so there is a piece between the panels, as wide as the grip straps, that holds the grip against the rear of the strap. The front edges are held in place against the frame by the strap itself where it is screwed into the frame.

These grips came with five pieces - a left and right panel, a filler block, the grip screw and escutchon (sp? - "nut"). I sanded down the filler block so it was exactly the width of the strap, and would fit the inside profile of the strap without interfering with the mainspring. I then epoxied the one panel to it, and then the other. You can remove the grips by unscrewing the strap at the top on either side of the hammer (same on most SAA's) and the screw on the bottom of the grip strap, then just pull rearward.

[Ysabel Kid]

Nice job and I'm glad to hear your able to get around better. Just don't over do it and set yourself back or we'll get together and come out there and tie you down.

Thanks Ricky! Still may need it - going to take a while to get back up to what I was before surgery. I'm off in a minute to my physical therapy appointment - wish me luck (I think she may be a sadist! )...