Putting (bakelite) grips in a Tokarev

[raubvogel]

Is there a trick to put bakelite grips in a Tokarev? Ideally something that does not involve a hydraulic press. Got the wraparound (factory?) grips but they do not seem to go flush in my Norinco 213.

 

[jhb]

If we are talking standard grips...make sure the cross arm lock bar deal is out of the way and insert the grip, then I use a flat head screwdriver, but I cover the end with tape to not scratch the frame if i slip on the inside and move the arm so the bar locks it into the frame. I put the one side on first and move the bar from the other side of the frame grip hole opening, then I put the other grip on and turn the gun upside down and there is that bar with the naotch and I move it from one side to the other to make sure its locked in. Sometimes those lock bars for a lack of a better term can be jammed wirh cosmoline and hard to move, so I clean 'em up and make sure I can spin the bars without much effort. Also sometimes it akes some effort to get the grip set in place as the grips can be warped a tiny bit and this complicates the job.

I'm a terrible explainer and the best advice I can give you is youtube video on disassembley. Give one a watch and you'll get it quick.

 

[raubvogel]

Thanks for the reply!

First of all I already manged to scratch the frame on one of the sides. Can't say I am very proud of myself.

When I put each of the grips it felt like the part that is sculpted to fit into the cuts in the grip did not go flush. Ok, I kinda expected some of that so its tension would keep it in place, but the bars do not clear the frame even where it has the little ramps. It just feel like the grips are a bit too big to fit those cuts.

When I forced it in, scratching the frame on one side in the process, the grips still would not go flush.

The youtube videos I saw did not seem to show this kind of issue.

 

[MikeJackmin]

You grips may just be a little large. Wrap a bit of fine sandpaper around a popsicle stick and take off some of the excess.

You can use a sharpie on the suspect surfaces, wherever the sharpie gets worn off is there the binding is happening.