foolzrushn
New member
One of my Colt 1851 Piettas has a grip made to simulate ivory. Unfortunately, the white Italian plastic ( which may be 30 years old ), is not only soft, but cracking. That would seem to be a contradiction, however it is true.
The grip is almost, if not, soft enough to be gouged with a thumbnail. It is easily scratched and then the scratches attract dirt and whatnot, and are very visible. On the inside of the grip in one of the machined corners, the plastic has begun to split apart. I imagine that both the scratching and cracking are due to the plastic drying out from age and losing it's polymers. I would be interested to know what others have done, or suggest, to fix a cracked grip.
This old plastic grip has me thinking about making a replacement Colt wooden grip. It would be more difficult than making Remington grips. I don't have a wood shop and would need to improvise. I thought perhaps to make it in three pieces and then fasten them together in lieu of a one-piece grip.
I did find an interesting link about making Walnut stocks and forestocks for long guns. I have been interested in how the angle of the wood cut affects the appearance of the finished stock or grip, and there is some interesting information about how to cut the wood.
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=66491.0
Any comments for a fix, or about making a grip, are solicited.
Thanks, frn
The grip is almost, if not, soft enough to be gouged with a thumbnail. It is easily scratched and then the scratches attract dirt and whatnot, and are very visible. On the inside of the grip in one of the machined corners, the plastic has begun to split apart. I imagine that both the scratching and cracking are due to the plastic drying out from age and losing it's polymers. I would be interested to know what others have done, or suggest, to fix a cracked grip.
This old plastic grip has me thinking about making a replacement Colt wooden grip. It would be more difficult than making Remington grips. I don't have a wood shop and would need to improvise. I thought perhaps to make it in three pieces and then fasten them together in lieu of a one-piece grip.
I did find an interesting link about making Walnut stocks and forestocks for long guns. I have been interested in how the angle of the wood cut affects the appearance of the finished stock or grip, and there is some interesting information about how to cut the wood.
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=66491.0
Any comments for a fix, or about making a grip, are solicited.
Thanks, frn
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