Changed Up My 51 Navy Conversion A Bit

[Rube Burrows]

Well, this revolver started off as a Cimarron 1851 RM Conversion with a 7.5" barrel and the stock reddish wood grips.

I knew I wanted a change so I had some Giraffe Bone checkered grips made for it. The grip feels great in the hand but then I found a couple 5.5" Conversion barrels so I picked them up and put one on this one. (Dont have a photo of the bone grip with the shorter barrel).

Then I decided I wanted something different, again.

I liked the Devil Anse SAA gun but I am partial to the open tops. I decided after seeing someone else do it that I liked the look so I went ahead and stained my grips black. I like the look of it......for now and plan to do one of my others so I have a pair in the longer barrels and a pair in the shorter barrels.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Those look good. I especially like the dark grips. They go great with the brass grip frames. What did you use to darken them? Dye or vinegaroon?

To complete the set, you need a pair with Confederate barrels (Leech & Rigdon).

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Nice!  Love the grips/!  I want to do that to my pair of Richards, too!

[Rube Burrows]

Those look good. I especially like the dark grips. They go great with the brass grip frames. What did you use to darken them? Dye or vinegaroon?

To complete the set, you need a pair with Confederate barrels (Leech & Rigdon).

Varathane Classic Black Wood Stain is what I used.

I'd love to get a Leech & Rigdon and also a pair of Dance Bros

[Rube Burrows]

Nice!  Love the grips/!  I want to do that to my pair of Richards, too!

Thanks. Go for it. I like the darker look.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Great, Thanks for the info. What did you use to strip the old finish off?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Varathane Classic Black Wood Stain is what I used.

I'd love to get a Leech & Rigdon and also a pair of Dance Bros

Thanks, I wondered about that. It looks good.

[Rube Burrows]

Great, Thanks for the info. What did you use to strip the old finish off?

I went to Home Depot and got a spray bottle of Klean Strip Green Paint and Varnish Stripper. There may be a better stripper out there but this does the job. It's safe for indoor use and has no harsh smell. That red Uberti grip stain and gloss finish is on there pretty good. I let the stripper soak on there for several hours and then use a steel wool to get the stuff off. I tried the recommended 120 150 and 220 grit sand paper blocks but they just would not get the stuff off. A steel wool did the job well though. Then I used the higher up sandpapers to sand smooth.

[Rube Burrows]

Thanks, I wondered about that. It looks good.

I did also. I looked at the Ebony stain from the same company but it did not look as dark.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Thank you!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I went to Home Depot and got a spray bottle of Klean Strip Green Paint and Varnish Stripper. There may be a better stripper out there but this does the job. It's safe for indoor use and has no harsh smell. That red Uberti grip stain and gloss finish is on there pretty good. I let the stripper soak on there for several hours and then use a steel wool to get the stuff off. I tried the recommended 120 150 and 220 grit sand paper blocks but they just would not get the stuff off. A steel wool did the job well though. Then I used the higher up sandpapers to sand smooth.

I've had good luck with Jasco paint stripper. It takes a few minutes and a couple applications but it does cut that plastic-ish finish. Rinses off with water. 0000 Steel wool afterwards gets it ready for a new finish.

[DeaconKC]

My Missus is very sensitive to strong odors so I use CitriStrip. It does a good job for me on removing just about any finish.

[Rube Burrows]

My Missus is very sensitive to strong odors so I use CitriStrip. It does a good job for me on removing just about any finish.

The stuff I used don't have any odor that I can smell.

[Rube Burrows]

Finished up my other grip so that I now have a pair with the darker grips and 5.5" barrels. I also have a pair of 51 Conversions that I picked up off a cowboy on the wire a while back. They have no modifications other than each one has a small brass pin or medalion installed with 4-4 ingraved on the medalion. He could not remember why or what they mean. I have not decided yet if I will keep those grips that way or do something different. (They can be seen in the last photo)

The second grip turned out a little darker than the first one but I think I am okay with it, for now.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I think those look good. So one is a little darker. No two pieces of wood are the same and they sometimes take dye differently. I've had one side get darker than the other. The dye doesn't penetrate very deep into the walnut so often you can lighten the grips by rubbing them lightly with 0000 steel wool.

[Rube Burrows]

I think those look good. So one is a little darker. No two pieces of wood are the same and they sometimes take dye differently. I've had one side get darker than the other. The dye doesn't penetrate very deep into the walnut so often you can lighten the grips by rubbing them lightly with 0000 steel wool.

Exactly. Overall I am happy with the way they turned out. Its crazy how changing something on a gun makes you get that new gun feeling. 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Changing the grips is like getting a new pair of boots. It becomes a whole new look.