Uberti's To Draw with

[Big T]

I really like the Uberti's here are 2 of my 73's ,45 lc  I also have a pair of Jr's in 38 spcl an 72 opentops in 45lc I made the grips for all of them Stag on the thinderer an Black Buffalo horn on the 4 3/4 they are way accurate an really dependable , enjoy

[Johnny McCrae]

Howdy Big T,

Very nice job on the grips! I'm in the process of learning how to carve my own grips. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[DarbyFett]

Great lookin stuff. I would love some stag on my 1851 RM conversion, but it seems most folks only make synthetic ivory grips.

[Big T]

Thanks Guys , I am a knifemaker by trade , it is what I do for a living in Tx. but I have loved guns all my life been shooin since I was 5 ,The grips are more of a Hobby I will try an post a pic of my opentops ,I made the grips for them out of moose antler T

[Big T]

here they are , both 45 lc

[DarbyFett]

How do you find stag large enough? Most of the pieces I see sold as "Large for gun grips" dont look like they would come close to covering the 1851 frame. The look more suitable for 1911 grips.

And I need to make them one piece. Good thing no one could see my non-PC epoxy

[Big T]

Trick is to buy a Whole Elk or moose antler an everywhere there is a big fork in it cut it off below an above the fork you should have a peace the sise of your hand or so that looks like a Y then take a bandsaw an split the fork ,be very carefull to line it up center an make sure the thing is not going to  flip over when you send it into the saw blade , hold on tight an go real slow dont let the saw bind up or force it into the blade , what I normaly do is Keep the main Shaft as somthing to hold to while I cut it then saw it off at the bottom when your through splitting it , there are many was you can do it but a big 4 in belt sander comes in handy for flattening the 2 peaces , , After that trace the outside of the original grips at least 1/8 in larger than they need to be an saw out the patterns , remember anything you need to take off to make it overall the right thickness take it off the inside I go with 1/2 in thick on the bottom an a little over a 1/4 in on the top where it meets the frame draw a pencil line an sand it to the marks at an angle on the back side , then you have 2 good places to start the final close fit on the grips , nothin to it t

[GunClick Rick]

I'll just send my Ubertis Dakotas gripframes to ya,how's that

[DarbyFett]

Thank you much!

[Big T]

Be fine with me I am currently waiting on a new batch of Big Elk antlers to get in though , I chg 150. per set to make them for most saa's Bisleys are not one the list though , I havent tried any of them just yet , I am curious to get my hand on the newer Longer frames they are reproducing now though , Here is an Old Texas marshal in 44 mag I did with elk an put a 44 mag head case in the handle with a Solid nickel primer,pin thru the handles

[Devil Anse Hatfield]

Great looking grips.
Im wondering what you use to fill marrow sections that show up in the thin sections.
Ive got a set ruffed in and ready to finish but dont like the hollow  that show from the marrow on the heal andon some of the edges.

Thanks

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

 
Howdy Big T

      I've dabbled in making gun grips, so I know what is involved, it looks to me like you got it mastered, your Elk grips are beautiful keep it up Pard, and thanks for sharing with us.

                                                        Regards


                                                   tEN wOLVES 

[Big T]

Thanks I got to admit sometimes its a pain though , I use superglue to fill in the pithy areas then sand fine bone powder into the back of them more superglue then repete untill most all the pith is filled in , if I need to I have sent them to K&G Finnishing supplies an had them professional stabelized it is a pain but I garentee its worth every penny to do it , it makes them water proof an they will not shrink over time that way , I have 7 sets I need to sendo ut now but havent done it yet , T