grips for 72 open top

[saddleburr]

Just got one of each navy grip and army grip open tops. I would like to change the grips what fits these? Do I just use cap and ball 1860 grips for the army and 1851 grips for the navy or are these strictly custom propositions?

[Major 2]

They will need fitting, as with any 1860 Army or 51 Navy grip frame.
Cimarron carries one piece grips for the OT's Army & Navies.
You might try Gripmaker  http://www.gripmaker.com/
I've seen Faux Ivory by him both carved and smooth.

I bought a set of one piece flux Ivory Buffalo Bros for my 2 Gen. 1860.
I like the grips color  , I'm not crazy about their fit ( slight under-size on the right panel right out of the package )
I don't think I'd buy them again.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Folks, there are a veritable myriad of grip sizes by different makers. An Uberti made in 1975 may be different than one made today. If I remember correctly, Larry the Gripmaker told me once that he had counted 7 or 8 different sized '60 Army styles. It really doesn't matter as one piece grips are not "bolt on". They need to be professionally fitted & sometimes that requires removing metal to get that perfect fit. The factories fit the grips before final finishing & you will have to as well, unless you want it to look like a Ruger grip.    Pick the style you want & pay a pro to do it. Luckily, I have a friend who does superb work show me how to fit one piece grips & it takes time & patience. Aftermarket grips add a personal touch to any revolver IMHO.

[saddleburr]

Could any of you recomend a feller who could fit them to my gun. Or are there any grip makers out there who will fit grips to your gun for a fee? Sorry I have a lot of dumb questions. As a former Ruger owner I have never had to deal with any thing like this before.

Those Gripmaker grips look awesome I think they'll look great on my guns.   

[Long Johns Wolf]

Saddleburr - Fitted > 10 sculpted PU ivory gripmaker grips to my Ubertis (SAA's, R+M Army, OT, Lightning), ASP (Army 1860) and AWA (SAA) and I am pretty happy with them in the esthetics and function department. However, I & Larry the Gripmaker learnt the hard way THE lesson: The key issue is ordering them sufficiently oversized as the specs of the same model gun by the same maker differ significantly in all kinds of aspects. To give you an example last fall I did a pair of consecutively numbered Uberti SAA's from September 05 production, where the grips were not interchangable. To avoid frustration you may want to consider sending Larry your factory grips for proper sizing.
I know you will love those gripmaker grips as they sure would be eyecatchers on your pistols, they enhance the elegance of the OT's.
Bootsie

[saddleburr]

Thanks Bootsie, that is a great idea. I agree with you I think those grips would do justice to those OT revolvers. Guess I have always had a thing for good lookin grips 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Here is my OT with gripmaker grips. One summer weekend work of carving, sanding and a couple of beers.
Bootsie

[Cannon Fodder]

Bootsie

Beautiful open top with those great mexican eagle grips! Is that a charcoal blue finish on the ot? I wanted some mexican eagle grips for my uberti colt walker.However, gripmaker said I was only the second request in seven years that he had  for this! I guess I will just start with the three beers and skip the sanding ,fitting, and polishing!

CF

[Long Johns Wolf]

CF: Standard "black" Uberti finish. Must be the German sun!
Bootsie

[Nine Toe Jim]

I had the same trouble trying to figure out if Larry's (Gripmaker) would fit my 1872 open top. I ended up sending him a cardboard cutout of the grip frame and he send the proper sized ones. They still had to be fitted but with a little patience it can be done.

[saddleburr]

Those grips look great!!  I guess I need to just write the check.

[Gripmaker]

Saddlebur,  Them boys ain't a joshin' Ya neither. If Ya want to get them right the first time send along an outline tracing of your gripframe. Remove your old grips and replace the backstrap. Then place a 3X5 card into the corner where backstrap meets the mainframe and trace around the gripframe as close to the frame as possible and use a fine point pen for best results. Send them along with your order and pray that yours isn't the newest size to come down the pike.  As Bootsie and Jim have said, it may take a little bit of work but we have as yet to fail to supply (finally) the proper size. When that happens, I'm sellin' out.

God Bless and shoot safe.
Larry Little aka Gripmaker

PS,  Check out the website to insure the design you want is available for your gun.