Single Action Revolver Grips

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dek785

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I'm planning to buy a new Ruger Blackhawk in .357 magnum.

I see numerous websites for replacement hardwood grips. I assume that these grips will not fit properly without a bit of fine woodworking. I'm just wondering how extensive this might be, whether it is within the capabilities of the average person, and are some grips available online that would require less fitting work than others ?

I notice that Ruger offers some hardwood grips as an extra. Would they fit without any modifications ?
 
The answer is a qualified yes--to the Ruger products fitting without a lot of additional work. While it is true that Colt and clones can often vary (more), and therefore most custom makers want you to ship your gripframe for exact fitting--my experience has been pretty straightforward fitment with most major Ruger gripmakers without having to do that. They have jigs in the most popular gripframes--Blackhawk (large frame Vaquero) and New Vaquero (same as the new Flattops) etc, which should make them pretty close. The "qualified" part is that it is still not guaranteed to fit right out of the box, since grips/gripframes *can* vary.

What I've found is on a certain small percentage--at most the locating pin can be off just a skosh from one gun to another (ie vary from the gripmakers' jigs) and so you may need to epoxy the existing hole in the panel(s) and slightly relocate (re-drill) the hole on your new grips. On others you may just need to ream out the hole in your panel(s) very slightly (talking 00ths or 000ths) if they don't quite want to fit perfectly. (Warning: don't force the issue.too much, risking cracking your grip). If it just won't fit with some modest tunkering, see above re the locating holes--or in the worst case, return the grips.

A few top custom makers for Rugers are Carl "Private" Schultz www.privatescustomgrips.com and Cary Chapman www.clccustomgrips.com .

In the www.shopruger.com site, there are a few which will work (which are probably the ones you mention). IIRC, the non checkered Rosewoods listed for the Blackhawk/Vaquero (XR3-Red) are actually laminates. Mine fit perfectly. Also, the "black" (actually gray and black) laminates listed for Single Six with square triggerguard and 10" barrel only, are mislabeled (gun/limitation described doesn't exist in a SS) and actually are for any regular XR3 Red (large frame Blackhawk, Vaquero, short barreled SBH, and Single Six). Also a good fit in my experience. Contact the Ruger New Hampshire office directly to verify this information re current accuracy.

One last note, yes, on a small percentage, some sanding and re Tru Oil'ing (etc) may be required if the grips are proud of the metal--"wood proud" (not a whole lot you can do if they're "metal proud"--grips too small)
However it can be deceiving... on many grips, initial fit even if the locating holes seem ok, may be off and though not requiring any work on the grip panels themselves, you may need to play with them and reposition several times..again not necessarily requiring any alteration work to the grips themselves. Sometimes--actually often--there's more positioning, loosening and retightening of these than you might think there will be.
 
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TennJed said:
" +1 for private shultz. His grips have fit like a glove with no additional work. I have 3 pair."

++1 I've got four pair that are "just so." Have heard the same about CLC. Sack Peterson is another. I've got a set of elks from Sack that are great. I've heard great things about Paul Grashorn as well. Do a search on the Ruger Forum ( www.rugerforum.com ) and you'll see a lot of reference to these and several other highly recommended makers.
If you go custom but have a timeframe you need, that may determine who you select. Some may have extra off-the-shelf stock, but most wll take awhile.

One thing you might run into with some makers--including Ruger itself--is a description of "with" or "without" lock...referring to the security lock in the gripframe on some newer Rugers (that can be actuated so that the gun can't be fired, but few do). The theory goes that on the large frame guns (regular XR3 Red Blackhawks, same frame Vaqueros etc, and SBHs) it should not be an issue as the gripframes on these are wider than the XR3 (no Red) frames on the new (2005+) Flattops and New Vaqueros and clear the lock. On the former, larger guns, any locks installed fall within the frame. On the latter, thinner gripframe style guns the grips have to be hollowed out (a little) on the inside to clear the lock mechanism. SO, again in theory, any grips fitting the older design XR3 Red w/o lock should fit newer XR3 Red WITH lock. But don't assume and always make this part of the discussion with your gripmaker/supplier.
 
I don't know who made them but I got these off ebay for my single six. Not 100% perfect wood to metal but if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't notice it.

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I bought a set of Houge hard wood grips for my Blackhawk. I had to ream the hole a tiny bit to get them to fit. I did not have to do any sanding at all to the edges. Just about twenty seconds on each with a drill bit slightly larger than the hole that was drilled in them. They then fit like well tailored suit.:cool:
 
You might want to pull up the website for Altamont grips. I have a pair of their Bonded Ivory grips for both my 50th Anniversary 357 and my 44 Sp, midframe flattop Rugers. They are beautiful and were only $28 each plus shipping. They also have very nice looking wood grips. Check them out.
 
Unless you send your grip frame out to the maker, there's bound to be some variances in how the grips fit. A set of grips can vary it fitment from one grip frame to the next. Remember mass production doesn't equate to perfection of dimension. ;) The better makers will gladly hand fit new grips fro you provided you ship them the grip frame.
 
Hawg, you're grips are made by Altamont. altamontco.com They are very good grips. Altamont also makes the Spanish checkered pattern wood grips sold on shopruger.com the only difference is the ones from Ruger have the logo medals (actually plastic!) in them too. I just bought two pair for my New Vaquero. (I bought two for when I get a matching one.) IMHO they are probably the best wood single action grips for under $100 a pair. Mine required no fitting at all. They are slightly thicker than the plastic factory ones but not too thick.
 
EdInk, I was thinking that Hawg's grips were probably Altamont. I was very pleased with the Bonded Ivory pair I got and they fit like a glove. I just had to make sure they understood that my guns had the safety lock in the grip as the grips have to allow for this.

They really have some very pretty wood grip styles in an assortment of wood types. Also, they shipped quickly.
 
Thanks guys, that's good to know. They're a little thicker than the walnut that came on it and they do have the cutout for the lock but the hole for the key isn't drilled. I didn't have to do any fitting and they fit pretty good. I really like them.
 
Hawg, I learned about Altamont from participating on this and other forums. I wanted something a little fancier than the black checkered grips that came on my Rugers but didn't know where to look. I felt the stock checkered ones were too thin and wanted something a little thicker. I also wanted fake ivory but didn't want them to be stark white. Both these questions were asked by others on some forum and I learned that the Altamont grips were thicker and then someone posted a picture of the Bonded Ivory grips against a piece of white copy paper which did a great job of showing the cream colored hue of the fake ivory. Based on this info, I ordered 2 sets and was totally pleased.

This is just one example of how helpful these forums can be in sharing needed information between members!
 
This is just one example of how helpful these forums can be in sharing needed information between members!
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Yep, I agree with that. Mine were new in the package but I don't remember it having a makers name on it. It may have and I just don't remember. :confused:
 
I use Eagle grips on my Rugers and they come with a perfect fit and if they don't dend them back and they will replace them.
 
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