single action grips

[Scibaer]

has anyone made thier own grips for thier single actions ?
 i'd like to make myself a nice wood set, but i'm not sure how. anyone have plans, or instructions ? are there any tips or anything as to hows its done ?
 i have a new model vaquero, with the black plastic grips, and they just aint getting it done for me in the looks dept.
glenn

[oldandslow]

Here are a couple of sets I whittled out. The first set is made out of local honey mesquite wood.  These are on a Ruger .357. The Texas Stars are just conchos from the leather supply and
 the finish is clear gloss MinWax polyurethane sprayed from a rattle can and rubbed down with fine valve grinding compound to give a really smooth, shiny finish.



The second set is made from a walnut drawer panel from an estate auction and are on my Guacho in .45 Colt. The finish is the same as the first set. I didn't add any medallions as I didn't want to hide any of the figure in the wood. The figure on the left grip is a little more pronounced. I have enough of this wood to do both my Super Blackhawks. 



I made both holsters and belts from 9 oz. leather. The floral patterns are by Al Stholman. Both holsters are lined with horsehide and are hand sewn. If you want I can post or PM you a little "how I do it" tutorial on the grips.

[Scibaer]

ok, ok lol.. we are running 2 threads on the same topic now..
slow, thats really nice work. the holsters are outside my talents but i think i can manage making some grips.
pm coming your way
glenn

[Hank08]

Oldandslow, beautiful leatherwork.

Scibaer, making grips for a single action is not too hard especially from wood, just lay your grips on the wood draw around it cut it out and file it, sand it to the shape you want.  I like stag and thought for a long time that I'd never be able to make them but saw a pr. that a friend made and said if he can do it I can do it.  If you look at your single action pics you'll see most of my singles with stags that I made.  not near as hard as it looks.  A band saw, a sander and a dremel sure helps.
H08

[Scibaer]

hank,
 yeah oldandslow is given me some tutorials on tools and techniques. i need a bandsaw, but other then that i got the tools covered and the techniques are easy enough, just some filing and sanding, its the experience and 'eye' that i lack.
i will post some pics of my accomplishments as i go.  i dont have any bone or antler material thats large enough so im going to be using wood. right now the best i have is black walnut, but while im waiting on the saw, i'll see if i can get some wood with grain and character

[44 Man]

Scibaer, when you get ready to do this, cut the top corner that fits up into the gun frame first.  Knock the pin out of the grip frame and while holding those tight into the gun, mark the pin hole.  Move out just a fraction before you drill it so the grips will be tight on the frame.  Drill the hole and fit the corner into the grip frame nice and snug.  Then you can trace the shape of the grip frame on the back side of the grip with the wood in place.  From there on it's just cut, sand, and shape, sand some more, check, shape more, check, sand more, check, ......etc until done.  Finish in your choice of finish and brag to your friends.  I know the above routine from taking stag grips from a Ruger and fitting them to my Gaucho's.
I could never my own pair of grips from scratch.  I have the patience to scrimshaw, but not enough patience to shape the wood.  I'd get out the dremmel and likely seriously mess them up from there!  44 Man

[GRIMJIM]

I like the one piece look myself. After youshape the grips and fit the grips with the pin in, cut a piece of drop off wood to fit inside the grip frame. Drill two 1/4 inch holes in it and then split it in half on a band saw, CAREFULLY. Now place one side on the frame and glue one piece of your "plug" to it. Let sit overnight and remove. Repeat fot the other side. After the other side is dried and removed, drift the pin out. I removed the grip frame and placed two layers of masking tape between the grip frame and the frame. Now cut two small 1/4 inch dowels and glue the twqo halves together on the gun. I sprayed the frame with wd-40 so the extra glue wouldn't stick. After this has set up overnight remove the grip frame and take off the tape, this should add enough tension to mate the grips up tightly.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,165255.0.html

[Scibaer]

ok, i have read the above 2 posts. i have been experimenting with the procedures. i have nothing to show for my work except mistakes, so far, 

but i think im on the right track. i had an idea for making the bottom of the grip a bit long, then adding a peice of wood in the middle of the two grips and rounding them off a bit. it would give the grips a solid one piece look and give me a bit more grip itself.

i need a bandsaw time for a tool trip

[oldandslow]

I've thought about the extend grip idea for awhile now. One manufacturer makes a single action with an extended grip and it feels good in my hand. It gives you a place to put your little finger instead of just having it waving around in the air. I can't remember the manufacturer's name though. My local gun dealer always has one in the showcase too. So much for your memory when you add on a lot of years. The gun looks a little clunky to me though with all that wood and I just haven't done it because of that.

[Hank08]

Scibaer, with wood grips, even the factory ones, it's a good idea to make a small block or a metal tube the same width or slightly less as the grip frame so that when you tighten the grip screw it doesn't pull the escutcheon thru the back of your grip especially if your making thin grips.
I've seen Rugers come right from the factory with the screw tightened to where it pulled the back side of the grip off.  I use a roll pin just large enough to accept the screw and cut to length.
H08

[Scibaer]

hank,
 i was thinking about just that thing, my thought was about using a block of wood so the grips dont colaspe inward. i guess im on the right track then.

slow,
 im not sure how much material i'd use. just enough to cover the bottom strap of the frame and still be able to contour it some. there are a few possiblities with shape, a birdshead style or rounded off like a flintlock or even flat, just a slight cresent shape. i'll mark up a pic and post it , show my idea.