I recently shared a 1932 vintage 5” .38/44 Outdoorsman wearing Franzite plastic grips. Got lucky enough and picked up a pair of circa 1938 pre-war magnas from weatherby with just the right amount of character to match the gun.
Weatherby’s pre-war N-frame diamond magnas find a good home

But the factory letter confirms what I already knew that it shipped with service stocks with the large silver medallion. My wood box only had one pair . . . a much-neglected pair of 1937 Brazilian Model 1917 that needed some major help.

To bring them back to life I sent them to the man I knew could resurrect them if anyone could. . . DWFAN. The before pictures are below and the after pictures in the next post.

Russ

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Here they are after Paul (DWFAN) worked his magic:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...5&d=1481749325

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachm...6&d=1481749361

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Awesome. What else is there to say?

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Eccentric old coot

Not bad for an old, blind in one eye white guy.

DW

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"NUTS"

I'd be interested in "how in the world did you do that" method
They look fantastic.

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Patriots Forever!!

Years and years of practice. In the mid 70's I started doing furniture repair and it escalated to antique furniture and clocks. It takes a lot of room and space to do that and I saw the need for doing S&W stocks so here we are. Learning how to do furniture repair, veneering and having the patience of God. Turning a sows ear into a silk purse can be daunting if you don't know how.

DW

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"NUTS"

I've been trying my hand at refinishing some of my stocks. Was feeling pretty good about it too. At least till now. Amazing.

That pretty much sums it up.

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Keep on Chooglin'

I am quite happy to see there are STILL some great Craftsman out there who take pride in their work! Excellent job DWFAN!

An expert of the highest order !

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wanna do right-- not right now

That's real nice of you to say so but I'm no expert. Fair to middlin maybe.

DW

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"NUTS"

Seriously? One eye? Me too! My eye doctor actually encouraged my interest in shooting sports, service rifle matches specifically. He said it helped my "eye-hand-mind" coordination. Great guy.

A sample of DWFAN's preservation handiwork:

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I've served one apprenticeship with my father to learn the pipe trade. I'd love to serve another under DWFAN to learn that kind of restoration. Bringing back those classic stocks is such honorable work, bravo!

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Join the NRA today

WOW - GREAT WORK!

DWFAN restored a set of stocks for me, they were perfect. He is the best,IMO.

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Who are those guys?

Paul, as a half assed carpenter I have to say that is simply amazing.

I am still trying to comprehend how you did the repairs. Did you add wood or did you remove wood to make the chips at the bottom of the stocks disappear?

PS: In looking again at your post #6, it appears that you added material. In that case, what glue do you use to hold those pieces on?

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James Redfield
LM #497

I got some magic dust from Santa and Tinker Bell playing poker one Christmas night. They are both terrible poker players once you get some Tequila in them.
Seriously, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Right now I keep it as my little secret. I do inlays, grafts and veneers when I can. When not applicable, the magic dust. Removing wood is never an option. I have matching stocks for just about everything S&W, N, K and I frame, pre and post war and use these as a model for repairs.
Plus the guns to fit them on.


Paul

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"NUTS"

DWFAN does a really nice job on those grip restorations. Impressed everytime I see them.

My Grandpa often said; a dose of MODESTY, makes a person's EXPERTISE, all the more evident !
(Grandpa was a right smart man !)

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wanna do right-- not right now

That is amazing work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had Paul work his magic in a set of stocks that were pretty far gone and I almost didn't recognize them when they came back. Don't let his modesty fool you, his work is top notch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Outstanding-what else can I say !!

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John

His skills are amazing. These were literally beat to shineola.

The picture isn't showing for me??

DW

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"NUTS"

DW just did a set for me off of my Model 58. Repaired a fairly large missing chip, cleaned up the checkering and cleaned and refinished the pair. Not cheap but my god are they BEAUTIFUL. I couldn't see the repair if I didn't know where to look, and even then I am not sure I can see it.

The restored stocks are embarrassed because they are on a rusty old gun ! ! !

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S&WHF 366

Verrrry nice work there, DW. I've done that for myself on some family antiques and got a good result after too many hours of try very carefully, maybe redo, then redo again, sneaking up on the desired result, but to know what to do, on other people's stuff, and go right at it and get your level of results, matching the appropriate oxidized, aged look is the mark of a real artist!
Thanks for sharing your pics.

I know it is tough to give an exact amount without seeing the stocks but just for ha ha's, what is the range of pricing for stock repairs like those shown above?????

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James Redfield
LM #497

You know what they say Jim. "If you have to ask".
Seriously though I've only gone over $200 a few times and I earned every penny.

This pair of early K22 18 lpi stocks come to mind. They were just plain worn out. Had to replace both back straps with a walnut veneer, sweating them into place then blending them in. Plus a whole lot of other repairs.


Stocks like these that need amputations are also tough to do. Gotta find that perfect piece of wood for the repair.

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"NUTS"

Kudos to you! You've invented a new craft! I've seen stocks repaired by other folks. Yours are a couple of cuts above. From the looks of your restorations, I'm sure you prolly have more time invested in restoration than some of the high dollar grip manufacturers in making new ones.

I hope you have an apprentice. I'd hate to see this craft vanish!

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NRA Benefactor

Uhhh you forgot GRUMPY!!
Your the BEST!!

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

These are the non relived stocks on the right finished. They could have come out just a bit better. I'm a detail freak and I hate it when I miss something.

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"NUTS"

You have no idea how true that is.

Paul

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"NUTS"

I will have to definitely keep you in mind, my 19-2 has some pretty scraggly stocks on it that I have been wanting to fix up.

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Paul do you also repair the black hard rubber stocks?

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James Redfield
LM #497

I wish I could help you but I think the info you received on the other thread was your best bet. Sorry buddy.

Paul

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"NUTS"

I've never had a gun with stocks so worn as to need that attention, but have sure seen some. It's good to know this service is available.

Impressive work!

In cases like the stock shown here with a large piece that needed replacement, will the restored stock withstand .44 Magnum recoil without cracking loose?

I think he posts the pictures to make us all think that's how he does it. Personally, I lean towards the magic dust & maybe a couple of waves of a magic wand...

In cases like the stock shown here with a large piece that needed replacement, will the restored stock withstand .44 Magnum recoil without cracking loose?[/QUOTE]

Maybe. My repairs are fairly strong but I don't recommend using them for shooting at all. They broke for a reason. That area isn't structurally strong enough to with stand the constant recoil of the .44 Magnum. The tail end of the butt breaks for the same reason. The torque of the recoil pushes the tail of the butt up into the bottom of the frame and pushes the trigger shroud into the the guard itself. The wood isn't strong enough to sustain that.

DW

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"NUTS"

You forgot the Tequila.

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"NUTS"

Maybe. My repairs are fairly strong but I don't recommend using them for shooting at all. They broke for a reason. That area isn't structurally strong enough to with stand the constant recoil of the .44 Magnum. The tail end of the butt breaks for the same reason. The torque of the recoil pushes the tail of the butt up into the bottom of the frame and pushes the trigger shroud into the the guard itself. The wood isn't strong enough to sustain that.

DW[/QUOTE]

Good enough for me! My M29 / M629 revolvers are shooters. The wood stocks are identified and stored safely in a drawer. The rubber Hogues aren't pretty, don't crack, and are far more comfortable to shoot.

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S&WHF 366

Paul,

Beautiful work as usual. I am glad that you are back at the work bench. I like others here have tried to do some repair work on stocks, but succeeded in only making more work for you!

I really appreciate that great skill and artistry that you have.

Gary

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GARY
SWCA #2897, SWHF #436

Now I've got to dig out the ratty wood scraps that came on a beautiful ~1946 M&P. Will definitely send them to you Paul (provided I didn't use them for kindling ). I'll have to post pics of the pistol and the grips - it does not seem possible for a pistol that pretty to have grips that bad. How do I contact you? Just made my day!
Cheers,
George J.

OUTSTANDING, work !

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

Not cheap. Not to knock your statement at all. Just adding some perspective. When you look at what some grips are worth and what matching grips add to a gun, throw in what must sometimes be hours of very careful work, its actually cheap for what your getting. Oh and of course you have to add in all the time and effort it took him to get to the point he can do something like that, Now there is some real value.

Wow thanks for posting before and after pictures that is some workmanship linde and thanks for shareing some of your other work with us DWFAN .Impressive very impressive .