This is a repost from the introduction forum in case anyone didn't see it:
I recently bought a really nice Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman 4 inch. The gun had been basically a safe queen with all original finish and fired very little, however the gun had a set of those cheap black pearl plastic grips on it. As you know, original N Frame target grips are not cheap, so I waited until I found a solution. I happened to find a demilled 1970-71 Model 27-2 parts kit with 8 3/8" barrel. This gun had been laying in an amory puddle for some time before having it's frame cut in two pieces and then the whole thing was sold to me for $160. Everything is there but the frame...The grips looked ugly as sin, but they were solid and had black washers, so I bought it and commenced work to bring the stocks back to life. They looked terrible, but are solid as new. It was a real shame because the M27-2 has both a .500 target trigger and target hammer. Interior of the bore is mirror perfect too and cylinder works fine. Cutting this frame was shameful, but I didn't do it.
Well, I took my time and used 1200 and finally 3000 grit sandpaper and VERY gently sanded the black mold and tiny bit of remaining finish off the grips removing as little wood as possible....I then stained the wood back to its original color and let it air dry a week. The I started adding very thin coats of urethane with a 3000 grit rough up between drying coats. After about two weeks, they were done. They had a chemical smell as they were still off-gassing the urethane, so I put the dry grips in a tight plastic bag with large bags of activated charcoal in the bag with the grips.
In two more weeks, here's how they ended up. Not factory new, but a massive improvement for trashed 50 year old coke bottle, black washer N frame target stocks.
It was a sad day for the neglected 27-2, but then again, I didn't neglect it in the first place...Plus the Hwy. Patrolman thanked me for ridding it of the ridiculous Jay Scott plastic grips it had been saddled with previously.
I think they turned out quite presentable.
I recently bought a really nice Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman 4 inch. The gun had been basically a safe queen with all original finish and fired very little, however the gun had a set of those cheap black pearl plastic grips on it. As you know, original N Frame target grips are not cheap, so I waited until I found a solution. I happened to find a demilled 1970-71 Model 27-2 parts kit with 8 3/8" barrel. This gun had been laying in an amory puddle for some time before having it's frame cut in two pieces and then the whole thing was sold to me for $160. Everything is there but the frame...The grips looked ugly as sin, but they were solid and had black washers, so I bought it and commenced work to bring the stocks back to life. They looked terrible, but are solid as new. It was a real shame because the M27-2 has both a .500 target trigger and target hammer. Interior of the bore is mirror perfect too and cylinder works fine. Cutting this frame was shameful, but I didn't do it.
Well, I took my time and used 1200 and finally 3000 grit sandpaper and VERY gently sanded the black mold and tiny bit of remaining finish off the grips removing as little wood as possible....I then stained the wood back to its original color and let it air dry a week. The I started adding very thin coats of urethane with a 3000 grit rough up between drying coats. After about two weeks, they were done. They had a chemical smell as they were still off-gassing the urethane, so I put the dry grips in a tight plastic bag with large bags of activated charcoal in the bag with the grips.
In two more weeks, here's how they ended up. Not factory new, but a massive improvement for trashed 50 year old coke bottle, black washer N frame target stocks.
It was a sad day for the neglected 27-2, but then again, I didn't neglect it in the first place...Plus the Hwy. Patrolman thanked me for ridding it of the ridiculous Jay Scott plastic grips it had been saddled with previously.
I think they turned out quite presentable.
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