Oil vs Varnish Grips

Fredcdobbs · January 28, 2014, 06:25:40 PM

I mounted a 1860 Army grip on my 1861 Navy .36 Uberti. I refinished the grips with Plinkingtons oil and spirit stain after stripping.
I personally like the warmer matte oil finish as compared to the Uberti or Pietta "varnish" finish. Just me. Take your pick.

Hoof Hearted · January 28, 2014, 07:18:29 PM

I personally like the "OIL" finish and always do this on my personal revolvers (but with leather dye).

Is Uberti no longer offering the Civilian version or "London" model of the 1861?

HH

Fredcdobbs · January 28, 2014, 10:41:25 PM

Yes they do. This is what it looks like now. I got it for Christmas from Dixie.

Seth Hawkins · January 29, 2014, 05:37:55 AM

That doesn't look like an 1861 Navy to me.

Fredcdobbs · January 29, 2014, 11:08:42 AM

Quote from: Seth Hawkins on January 29, 2014, 05:37:55 AM
That doesn't look like an 1861 Navy to me.

Nope but it's the only Navy London model I can find for sale.

Fox Creek Kid · February 06, 2014, 12:56:02 PM

Know however that historically Colt sold varnished grip revolvers to civilians and oiled to the Military. I've found that 4 -5 coats of Truoil, after stripping the polyurethane, gives a better feeling grip that as well appears like a varnish finish. As HH stated, you can "adjust" the color to your liking with dyes/stains after stripping.

Seth Hawkins · February 17, 2014, 05:54:00 AM

I love the oil finish, too. When Persinger was fitting the ivory grips to my 1872's I also had him re-finish the original grips to the smaller Colt profile and strip the varnish and stain them a nice dark walnut and oil them. They look and feel great. But once you have ivory grips - real ivory - on a gun, even really nice wood grips just don't make it.

As a side note - if anyone has ever wondered (and I was one of those who did) if checkered grips make a difference when your hands or the grips get wet, they do. This past Saturday I shot in a cold, windy rain with nine other die-hard guys. My checkered ivory's never moved in my hands. Everyone else was struggling to hold on to theirs.

Coffinmaker · February 18, 2014, 02:08:10 PM

Not that I'm opinionated

. My Pietta Cap Guns all have some form of "oil" finish that I really like. All my Uberti cartridge guns had a varnish finish (correct color too) that I really like. ALL my competition cartridge guns have my own design grips with a satin varnish without stain that I really, really, really like. So There!!

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Coffinmaker