Customizing My Ruger

[toolslinger]

So I have recently been able to join the Ruger Old Army Club. Absolutely love the gun... but hate the grip I got the big hands and little bitty grips that let my pinky hang off work my nerves.
I really wanted to install an old model Super Blackhawk grip frame but after several weeks of hunting I ain't found hide nor hair of one. So I figured I would just make me a set of oversized grips for her.
Here is the last couple days o progress;

 

[rodwha]

Pretty cool!

I've been thinking about checkering mine as they become a bit slippery after a while.

 

[toolslinger]

Dang bubba that is ambitious. I would like to see how that turns out. I don't have the stones to try checkering.

 

[rodwha]

Oh no! Not myself! I'd have to have that done. I've been meaning to ask a local BP gunsmith if he can do it while I have him drill and set the front sight Ruger sent me for use with conicals.

 

[kituwa]

That can be made to work the way you are doing it but you will need two screws to keep the grip in place without the locator pin. I used to do a lot of custom gun smithing work on Rugers and putting a super blackhawk grip frame on a reg blackhawk was something i did a lot. The gunshow that i worked through ordered all my parts and he was always able to get me whatever frames i needed except birdsheads that i did myself by cutting and re welding them. My favorite grip frame conversion was to put bisley grip frames and hammers on a blackhawk. That can be done to a ROA too but the hammer would have to have a lot of changes made to it to work on a ROA. May even be easier to cut off the ROA hammer spur and weld on a new one and shape it.Anyway, the bisley grip frame is much better for larger hand than the super blackhawk

 

[woodnbow]

I think he's using the locator pin

just making a two piece set of grips similar to the Smith and Wesson "Magna" target grips.

 

[toolslinger]

Yep

 

[limpingbear]

where did you get the wood for the grips?

 

[Black Butte]

I see the screw hole, but it also looks like you glued the grip panels to the frame. Did you use glue, and if so, what kind?

 

[toolslinger]

Limping bear I am using Red Oak for the grips just because I live far from exotic wood stores. You can get red oak at Home Depot. I have made long bows out of it.
Black Butte it is not glue as such, it is Acraglas. It's an epoxy stock bedding compound.

 

[adaptandovercome]

I like it!!!

 

[toolslinger]

Thanks y'all. Here are the grips sanded down to 220 grit.



My dang escutcheon screws ain't coming till Monday and I have to go back on the road Sunday so I don't know when I will get to install the screws.
The plan is to get her finish sanded down to 600 grit today, pop the grips of and start applying finish then strip the grip frame tomorrow.

 

[kituwa]

Toolslinger, i sent you a package this morning. Guess what?,,,i put 5 sets of grip screws and the escutcheons,lol. I also put a set of faux ivory grips and a new aluminum grip frame so you could shape the wood without messing the blue on yours. I cant remember if a blue ROA has a steel grip frame or aluminum like a blackhawk but if its alum. you can just change out the grip frame and you will be good to go. Matt

 

[kituwa]

My wife sent the box priority mail so you should get it saturday, that way you can still work on your grips this weekend and wont have to wait till next week for the ones you ordered. There is one set of used alum.escusions i removed from a old set of used Ruger grips and 4 sets of new brass ones with stainless screws.The new sets use a screw with a smaller head than Ruger used so you wouldnt have to drill as big of a hole in the grips to set the escusions.Usually to set them you just tighten the screw up and it will draw the escusions into the grips to seat them. The screws are extra long so you will of coarse need to cut them to length but that way they will be right in case your new grips are thinner or thicker than stock grips. The Ruger medalions you will have to figure out how to inset. If you know how to grind drill bits then you could use one the dia. of the medalion and grind that bit with less of a point so it would drill a shallow hole.

 

[toolslinger]

Umm.. Holy God I am humbled. I am most thankful for you Kituwa.
I am a traveling construction dude and have just returned home after 3+ months on the road with the last 1.5 months with no days off.
I was whining and crying cause my next schedule requires me to leave Sunday ,drive 11 hours and then do a month changing cities every 2-4 days...
Poor Me.
Then someone like you comes along and puts me in a much better place.
So I got a job, (a lot o folk don't) I got a good girl (married 17 years) but I am still so put upon...and then some dude I ain't never met sends me several nifty things just cause I posted pics on a website.
Life is a good thing... there are good folk out there.

 

[kituwa]

LoL, i am glad it helps you out. I am native american and that is sort of a custom of ours to pass things on. People have helped me out before many times. Now just watch for the chance and you will find someone else to pass a favour on to.

 

[davepool]

That's got to be one the the coolest things i've ever read on a gun forum. Kituwa, you are truly an inspiring man, bless your soul.


Toolslinger, you may have just inspired me to pull out the wood working tools and build a set of grips for one of my ROAs, nice work, from another construction dude , thank god i don't have to travel out of state...i'm just stuck here in hell

 

[toolslinger]

Hey I will definitely pay it forward. Here is the grips down to 400 grit and the grip frame stripped

 

[wap41]

Nice work,going to look great!

 

[BHP FAN]

Black powder folk are some of the the best in the world!

 

[AJumbo]

Am i the only one who thinks that folks like Kituwa are the best reason to hang around this site?

 

[j1]

My guns all came with grips, but those are GRIPS. Nice job. Now you gotta make a set in ivory. LOL.

 

[pardiniman]

A set of stag would be nice also

 

[toolslinger]

Hey thanks all y'all. I got my box o goodies today so I am in the process of getting the screws and Ruger emblems inset and sanding with 600 grit.
Jaymo I will be getting your box o toys in the mail first thing Monday.(stupid no mail delivery on Saturday)

 

[toolslinger]

Got the Ruger Blackhawks inlaid... dang I need more practice...