Tombstone Gun Grips

[LoneGoose]

I wanted (fake) ivory grips for my Uberti 1873, but couldn't justify the prices some places charge. I went to Tombstone Gun Grips and ordered a 90% finished kit. I finished and installed the grip today, and am very pleased with the result. Just as Dave says, it is a better fit than factory grips. And they look great. I took the wet sanding to 800 grit and then applied a coat of paste wax. It has a nice, satin sheen to it. I will be ordering grips for another of my guns. After that, maybe more.

(Photo upload didn't work well, I have added a good photo farther down the thread, post #6.)

 

[bannockburn]

LoneGoose

Yeah I know what you mean as I looked at Uberti's faux ivory grips for my Beretta Stampede but they wanted way too much for them. I have read through Tombstone's fitting and assembly instructions but have never worked with these materials (polyurethane epoxy resin), before. How was it on a scale of 1 to 10 to fit and finish the grips and how long did it take you?

P.S.-Your grips look great! Nice job!

 

[alexander45]

I have been intressted in their stuff for quite a while definitely a +1 on how hard was it to fit and finish? As for the rotation you would have to do that befor uploading that to your photo hosting service

 

[LoneGoose]

Thanks. I'll try to figure the photo problem out in a little while.

Tombstone's polyurethane is solid and rigid, but surprisingly easy to sand. In fact, I discovered that I needed to use less pressure on the sandpaper than I normally do. Otherwise, the paper cuts too aggressively and loads up with the plastic. I kept a small, brass-bristle brush handy to occasionally "card" the paper. I used hardly any pressure at all when wet sanding.

Take Dave's advice on checking the fit often. I can see how the edges can be cut too far before you know it.

With 1 being easy and 10 being difficult, I'd say it was a 4. It took me a total of about five hours over several periods of work. I didn't work for very long during each period (about an hour) because I was afraid of getting sloppy with my work. My next set of grips will be a 3 because I know what I'm doing now.

 

[StrawHat]

Good looking fit.

When I make grips for a revolver, I use a piece of carpet tape to protect the grip frame during initial sanding. Once I am hitting the tape, I remove the grips and the tape and then go back to slow and steady. Makes it a bit easier to rough fit.

Do not use a belt sander for this!

Kevin

 

[LoneGoose]

Photo:

 

[ROAshooter]

fake ivory

Lonegoose...those look great....did a good job finishing.

Years ago..one of my ROAs came with a pair of Ruger fake ivory....and the stark white of the grips just seemed too fake....did some googleing...and read some threads about dipping the grips in hot....steeped...tea.....took the white shine off the panels....and grips started to have that aged appearance of older yellowing ivory....

 

[Panzerschwein]

Awesome! Looking forward to the pics. So you had to sand the grips to fit? That sounds like a good idea, I'd rather do that than have ill-fitting "finished" grips from the factory.

Someday soon I'll have an Uberti "old model" P in .45 colt, and I'll be on the lookout for some "ivory" grips for it. I'll keep this option in mind! Thanks!

 

[LoneGoose]

Yeah, ROAshooter, I waffled back & forth on his "natural ivory" and "antique ivory". I opted for the natural. It isn't quite as stark as the photo makes it, and I decided that I wanted a good contrast to the pure black of the holster. This vendor even has a John Wayne" yellow that would reproduce really old ivory.

Thanks for the compliments, everyone.