Coming to grips......

by Otony, Sunday, March 06, 2016, 20:18 (3187 days ago)
edited by Otony, Sunday, March 06, 2016, 20:52

Today, for whatever reason, I decided to fool around with various revolvers and different grips, but one little project turned out quite satisfying.

I have a 2" S&W Model 10 that is in pretty decent shape but has fairly chewed up grips. In my box o' parts I found a set of repro black slabs that were molded from an original set of hard rubber Smith grips, the pre-Magna style. I figured they would look pretty spiffy on my snubby, but was dismayed to discover that these are a smidge small and leave a sliver of the grip straps showing along the front. They were on the thin side as well.

I was all set to toss them and start looking for something different when I got an odd (not Tony!) idea. Further searching through the shop turned up a sheet of the fiber material knifemakers use for spacers, and as liners under scales. I have two sheets of the stuff left over from knife projects I worked on years ago, one black and one a dark red.

Since I was going in a new direction anyway, I chose the red stuff, and very carefully cut out a set of liners that fit under the grips. I made these to fit the frame, figuring if I had to have a small reveal at the front of the grips, I would turn it into an accent line.

I could have easily hidden everything if I had used the black liner, but this was a prototype set so I figured what the heck. I have to say, it turned out rather nicely. From the front, back, and bottom you see the same sort of red line spacer found on many full tang knives. From the sides you see a slight red line at the leading edge of the grips. Plus that little bit of added thickness more or less duplicates the width of the old Magnas it originally wore.

I'm going to see if I can find one of the old Pachmayr grip adapters, which come to think of it, will probably cover the reveal at the front anyway. Still, I had fun, and it does look kind of cool in an odd sort of way. I will get some pictures tomorrow when the light is better.

Otony