Restoring S&W revolver grips

[salt8]

Is there a defined process for restoring revolver grips? With the price of these so high; I can't help wonder if someone has figured out a decent way to restore them. Thoughts or experience?

 

[Nlmadog]

Swaprat on the Colt forum restored a set of gen 2 Colts for me. He is does a lot of grip restoration. Those grips are worth about $ 400.00

 

[thadheth]

Not quite sure if there is a "defined process" for restoring grips. I have done some modest refinishing of wooden grips and have used suggestions on this forum ---- specifically, strip them in acetone, let them dry, fill any chips/cracks with a quality wood filler, stain selectively to blend imperfections, sand lightly with bronze wool (including very gentle cleaning of the medallions), and finish with tung oil or polyurethane. Others recut the checkering - I'm not at that skill level, but what I have done is turned some worn grips into rather decent "shooter grade" specimens.

 

[chief38]

It also depends on exactly what the specific grips are and what shape they are in.. If they are 80's or 90's plain checkered Factory wood grips it is usually less expensive to just buy a replacement set on fleebay or GB rather than to have them professionally restored. If they are in descent condition but just need a new finish, then yes soak them in Acetone, scrub them with a toothbrush, and apply the finish of your choice after they dry. I like Tung Oil personally, but that's a personal preference.

That said, there ARE grips worthy of restoration! I have a few guns that to replace the grips with another factory grip would cost well over $400 bucks - those are well worth the investment. Some fellas like the idea of having the ORIGINAL numbered grips on their guns and so they might also deem a restoration rather than replacement.

Restoration is usually not a hard job, only requires simply hand tools and inexpensive materials but does require some common sense, skill and patience. Recutting checkering is also a relatively easy task since the original checkering is already there and you are just going over it to freshen it up. You are NOT checkering a new piece of wood and do not need the same skill level to chase the existing lines.

 

[tlay]

I agree with the others on stripping the grips. I too use acetone. I put the grips in a sealed container with the acetone. You don't want this stuff in your house because it is highly flammable. I let them soak for a couple of hours. Take them out and use a stiff bristle toothbrush to clean the checkering. Let them dry overnight.
If you have dents or gouges you can do it 2 ways. You can take a wet T shirt and hot iron and steam the dents out or if they are bad use a good filler. Lightly sand with bronze 0000 wool. Do not get carried away sanding them especially Magna grips that are fitted to the gun.
Clean it off with a soft cloth and you are ready for the sealer. I too use tung oil but when you put it on the checkering I like to thin it in half with mineral spirits. This keeps the checkering from filling in.
When done use a good wax such as Renaissance wax.

 

[salt8]

Great information. Thanks for everyone's response. I definitely have a direction now.

 

[chief38]

For what it's worth, I have tried steaming dents out more than once with no improvements at all, so I have pretty much given up on "the steam the dents out" method as viable. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I've not even had a drop of success at it.

 

[tlay]

The way I do dents is: wet the dent with a small sponge, take a cotton old T shirt or rag and fold it until it is around 1/4" thick. Wet the rag and put it over the dent. Use an iron on high. Move the iron around to avoid burning the rag. When the rag starts to dry out remove the iron and check the dent. You may have to do this again.
When done lightly sand with 400 grit sandpaper or use 0000 bronze wool. Good luck.