[stickman]

I've been thinking of trying to make some custom pistol grips if anybody has any input I would like to hear it

things like type of wood and any tips would be great.

[eyegouge]

What type of pistol are you making grips for? A semi-auto Would be considerably easer than most revolvers. Years ago I made a custom grip for a .357 mag. Used Cocobolo and was very happy with it. I didn't do any detail carving just finger grooves. So I can't speak for how well the Cocobolo would take detail.

Good luck

matt

[Tom H]

Micheal, Have made walnut grips for several semi auto, 45's, and one 22. Only thing I can pass on is that I roughed out the grips on my bench. Attached the grips for all final carving and sanding. If you attach the grips and still have any work to do on them, bet sure to cover ALL exposed metal. A simple slip of sand paper will take blueing off. I duct tapes all the metal before I attached the grips for final work.

Tom H

[stickman]

Matt ,I making grips for a smith & wesson mod 29 and a colt 45 acp

I was thinking of roughing out the grips for the mod 29 and then sawing right down the middle and then doing the inside work ( fitting the grips to the gun)

cocobola sounds nice

If they come out nice I was going to make some for my brothers and friends

[eyegouge]

I started with my stock cut in two and then used a router to do my rough out. I used the factory grips to set the depth of the bit. Also I used some hogue grips a mode.

Here is a link to some grips that I thought were pretty cool
http://www.grips4guns.com/revolver/s...on/nround.html

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

matt

[Ashbys]

Micheal ,

If you need a pattern for the 45 let me know , I will send you a cut pattern we use.

On the 45 if you carve them remember the recoil, carving inprints can hurt. If your doing hand checkering be careful of heavy lines , again recoil issue.

Custom grips are nice but fit is extreamly important, oversize the gun feels bulky, undersize they can crack. Make sure your wood is well seasoned , and normalized. Nothing more upsetting than making a set of grips , and seeing a crack open and ruin the work.


Garry

[stickman]

Tom, thanks for the tip your right sand paper and blueing don't get along very well.

Matt thanks for the link and I like the router technique that sounds like a better approach .What kind of router bits did you use?

Garry, thanks for the recoil reminder .I was going to use the old grips that I presently have on unless there is a reason to use a pattern I think I'll be ok.

My idea was to make more of a target grip the one with the thumb rest if you have a pattern for that I would be interested for sure.

hopefully I will get a chance to at least get the wood and rough out this weekend.I'll post pictures on my progress.


thats what I like about this board .I almost didn't post this question but I glad I did there always someone thats had some experiance and valuable insite to pass along .you guys are awsome as always

[Ashbys]

Micheal ,

No I don't the ones we usally do are for service weapons. But if you check e-bay there is a pair of wooden target grips for a 45 acp on auction. 15.00 right now not the same as carving a set , but for the price hard to miss.

Garry

[stickman]

Garry, thanks for the ebay tip

[mark yundt]

Yup,,,made bullseye grips for a Ruger, a Smith &Wesson 22,,45's and a Dan Wesson 357 mag. Looks like they were moulded from clay to fit my hand and had the beaver tails for the palm rests.Did them out of cherry.

I also made a really neat ( I think) carrying case that held my pistols in a clamping/sliding tray and had an integral spotting scope and it too had a moulded handle as well. Did it out of Mahogany and Birch.
I posted pics of the handles at one time,,I'll repost them if you like,,,let me know.