Custom making handgun grips

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Am tentatively thinking about starting to manufacture custom wood handgun grips as serious hobby/part time income. Anybody know of resources? What kind of equipment necessary? How to book?

Thanx in advance.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'm teetering on the brink of it myself, although I can't imagine I'll make a business of it.

I've got a wonderful Browning Medalist from the late 1960s I can't shoot bullseye with because I can't hang onto it. No one's made stocks for it in decades, and I can't legally send the gun to Randall Fung in the People's Republic of California for a set of his stocks—if I could talk him into making them.

I've been able to modify stocks extensively with a Dremel tool and assorted cutters, and soon discovered the proverbial "hard way" it's necessary to wear a mask and work outdoors: wood dust is truly nasty stuff when inhaled, and doesn't do one's eyes any more good.

I'm going to have to buy a router in the near future. I doubt one would be needed for model 1911 stocks, but any time stocks wrap around the grip frame, there's a great deal of wood to be removed. I could probably do most of it with a Dremel tool, but have a hunch I'd end up with too much wood removed here, not enough there, et cetera.

I'm planning to start with soft, inexpensive wood. I may even use white pine just to figure out the shape(s) I want and how to put together the assorted parts.

I've already discovered the single most important tool is patience.

Best of success, eh?

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Been there and done that. It takes forever. But your thoughts lead me to the following, viz., a router table.

It's a table to which you attach the router from underneath. You'd need a jig for the correct gun frame.

Two other items: a bandsaw (to precisely cut the wood so as not to mess with the grain) and a drill press.

Interesting. You've put me to thinking.

 

[JNewell]

I've been making grips for myself, purely as a hobby. You're probably a lot better at this than I am, but I gotta say that if I were trying to actually make money, after considering the cost of machinery and materials, plus my time at some 3rd world hourly rate, I would be losing money for decades...heck, I think that'd be true even just figuring time and materials.

I certainly wish you better luck, greater efficiency and genuine profitability!