Stag grips for a Schofield?

[ammodave]

I have a 5 1/2" Schofield (Uberti) that needs to be prettier and easier to hold on to.  I'm considering either checkered walnut or real stag.  Found the Sack Peterson website and he offers elk stag grips for a a little over $200.  Seems reasonable but I don't know Sack Peterson from Adam.  Anybody with any experience with his grips?  Anybody tried checkered walnut?

[Drydock]

I've got the plain checkered Maple from this guy:  https://www.lsgrips.com/collections/wood-uberti-schofield-grips

Look and feel great.  He has walnut and other woods in several patterns.

[ammodave]

He seems to be the only supplier of checkered wood grips for the Schofield.

[Abilene]

If you like the general shape of your factory grips other than wanting checkering, you can send them to a laser engraver.

[Buckaroo Lou]

I have a couple sets of Sack Peterson's elk grips. Both are for my USFA revolvers. One set is excellent. The other set fit when I originally received them but have since shrunk and now they are under sized. I waited a long time to get the last set. In fact I first ordered Ram Horn grips but after a long wait when they showed up they were Elk and not the ram horn I had ordered. I contacted Sack about it and he offered to take them back and make the ram horn but I had waited so long I didn't want to wait longer. Since they have shrunk I wish I had sent them back and waited for the ram horn.

[ammodave]

Is stag shrinkage a regular problem?

[Abilene]

I was wondering the same thing, as I've never heard of that.  Certainly have heard of wood shrinking, but even that takes a long time.  Maybe the material was too "fresh" ?

[Baltimore Ed]

Just a thought but I added a little bit of holly to my ASM Schofield grips to thicken them up a tad. But you might be able to add a slice of something under your stags to make them fit your guns grip frame better. Make a better looking transition from the frame to the stags. I found out that I don't like the open top conversion. Too barrel heavy which puts my middle finger's knuckle right against the guard, ouch, plus it's hard for me to shoot duelist.

[Buckaroo Lou]

Is stag shrinkage a regular problem?

To my knowledge it is not. I have never seen or heard of this before either, but mine have definitely shrunk some. I do know horns have a drying time before they can be scored for record books so maybe the horn used on the grips was too "fresh". 

[ammodave]

Stag shrinkage has me worried, going for unfinished checkered walnut so I can stain them a little darker.

[matt45]

Shrinkage depends on how 'green' the antler is.  There is a fine point between too green and too brittle.  Different species have different properties, as well. Tis a shame we can't get India Stag anymore.

[1961MJS]

I've got the plain checkered Maple from this guy:  https://www.lsgrips.com/collections/wood-uberti-schofield-grips

Look and feel great.  He has walnut and other woods in several patterns.

Hi
I have two Schofields, both with Lance Schofield's Walnut Checkered grips on them.  They fit without sanding, both sets.
Later

[Professor Marvel]

I have a couple sets of Sack Peterson's elk grips. Both are for my USFA revolvers. One set is excellent. The other set fit when I originally received them but have since shrunk and now they are under sized. I waited a long time to get the last set. In fact I first ordered Ram Horn grips but after a long wait when they showed up they were Elk and not the ram horn I had ordered. I contacted Sack about it and he offered to take them back and make the ram horn but I had waited so long I didn't want to wait longer. Since they have shrunk I wish I had sent them back and waited for the ram horn.

Greetings my good Lou
As an amateur knifemaker, I have found that  domestic stag (both deer and elk) has a tendency to shrink with dry humidity,
far more than India Sambar Stag, which is now very hard to get.

I have always followed this advice for stag handles and grips:

" "Immerse in mineral oil (or neutral, non vegetable oil) for 24 hours every year." - Jerry Fisk

Jerry pointed out that waxes only penetrate the surface. You need an oil to penetrate and "treat" the whole stag slab. He recommended food grade mineral oil and that's what I use. Even on my traditional folders, as the steel & pivot can benefit from a mineral oil bath every year. After immersion in mineral oil for 24 hours the stag will seem darker but that's because it is "renewed". Over the next few weeks it will assume it's natural color again. In other words, it won't dye the stag.

then leave it out to dry for a day or two and wipe off any excess

Been using this technique for 20 years with no regrets."

but mineral oil doesn't dry...

"Absolutely correct, I misspoke above when I mentioned laying them out to dry, really what happens is after wiping well, the leftover mineral oil continues to absorb - slowly - and after a day or two no longer looks or feels slick. Then I put the knives away.

I'm not saying this is the only way to maintain natural covers. When I got my first Jerry Fisk knife he told me this is what he does, and I've been following this process ever since."

Jerry Fisk is a professional knifemaker.

If an antler  knife grip has shrunk somewhat from the guard or tang, soaking in mineral oil will  cause the antler to rehydrate and
swell up and fit tightly again.

The problem with pistol grips, is that if one removes them from the gun and soaks them, they may not quite fit correctly again!

I really cannot imagine that soaking a revolver in light mineral oil would cause any harm tyo the gun....
However, I do not know what issues or problems might occur as such fitment is somewhat different on a knife vs a revovler.
So I would be inclined to keep them on the revolver and soak the whole gripframe in "light mineral oil" or baby oil (same thing)

hope this helps

[Professor Marvel]

AHa .. I found a link from the knife collector guys:

http://www.knifecollectors.org/care/stag-handles/

and from american handgunner

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/baby-oil-and-easy-bake-ovens/

[matt45]

That is some good to know s***

[Buckaroo Lou]

Professor Marvel, you de man!  As matt45 said, that is some good stuff to know! Thanks for taking the time to post.

[Old No7]

I have a 5 1/2" Schofield (Uberti) that needs to be prettier and easier to hold on to.  I'm considering either checkered walnut or real stag.  Found the Sack Peterson website and he offers elk stag grips for a a little over $200.  Seems reasonable but I don't know Sack Peterson from Adam.  Anybody with any experience with his grips.....

Late to the party, but Sack made this pair for my Schofield and I'm really pleased with them.

Now please excuse me while I have to go and soak these in mineral oil...

Old No7

[Old No7]

Sack didn't make these...

But these will have to be soaked too! 

Old No7

[King Medallion]

I soak my Elk stag in coffee overnite, then let dry for 3 days. gives them a nice aged look. Also they feel rough for a bit, usage smooths them up nicely.

[Tascosa Joe]

When I got my Ivories from Nutmeg, they recommended olive oil every so often.