A Gripping Solution

[Pete44ru]

.

I added another airgun last week - A .177 Webley Tempest barrel-cocker spring gun that came out of a California estate.

IIRC, current models were made in Turkey, but this one's an original, from England.





It shot to my PIA @ 10yds from the very 1st shot I took with it, but since the plastic/fantastic issue grips left me cold, I decided to 'make a set from some Black Walnut I had hanging around for a few years.




The first thing I did was to make cardboard templates of the issue plastic grips, that I traced & cut out for a pattern when making the wood grips.





I simply cut the wood to match the outline, flattened what would become the inside surface of the grip panels, then shaped/sanded the outsides to my druthers.





This is how they look on the Webley:







A little application of paste wax in a few days, and this case is closed ! :p


.

[claybob86]

Very nice, Pete! The wood really adds some class to it.

[gamekeeper]

Nice job, yes those walnut grips definitely give the pistol more class....

[.45colt]

First Class work there!!! .

[Rusty]

Very nice. there's just something about blue steel and walnut that makes me feel warm all over.

[piller]

I like black walnut for grips, too. It is a pretty wood. For the paste wax application, remove the grips and heat them carefully to just a little hotter than needed to melt the wax, then start rubbing the wax on and into the wood. The heat opens the pores of the wood and lets the wax go a little deeper than just the surface for some more water resistance. For the polishing cloth, I have had good results with a microfiber cloth purchased at Wal Mart or other places in the auto parts area. It is softer than an old sock or old T shirt and shines the wood as well or better. Plus, you don't need to use a T-shirt that you might be wearing later. For heating the grips, my favorite method is to put them in a black plastic bag outside in the sun before going to work. When I get home they are hot and not scorched. I have evel put a dollop of wax right in the middle of each grip and had it melt all over the grip while the Sun heats it all up. I have done that with leather and beeswax also. It works best when the outside temperature is in the 90s, such as a mild Texas Spring/Summer/Fall day. When it reaches triple digits, the grips get a little too hot to hold. On the hot days when it gets over 110 degrees, it only takes an hour or two in the Sun. My opinion of mild or hot days is a result of living in Texas for around 20 years.

[Pete44ru]

.

Yep, I always pre-heat the wood I intend to wax - Thanks for all the positive replies, folks !

As always, I appreciate them.


.