Gunsmithing Making a pistolgrip in walnut for my AIAX chassie.

[Vargmat]

So, last spring I finished my Remington 700 Composite project with a AX chassie from Accuracy International. The rifle shoots really good and I really like everything about the chassis, except the pistolgrip. The pistolgrip is as some of you guys know, very very small. At least for my size 10 mechanics hands.

I contacted Accuracy International about this, wondering if there are or will be bigger "backstraps" available for the chassie. At the time I was told that they are considering it, but it wont be out until 2014 probably later still.

So, to remedy that, I started working on my own. And while things are moving slowly, it is acctually starting to look like a pistolgrip.
This is what it looks like at the moment. Countless more hours of work will follow.

Oh, and I definitely have a newfound respect for gunstock makers.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

I've got a few boards from a walnut tree, that was struck by lightning, from my grandfathers farm. My dad was born on that farm, I played as a kid there, and I owned it for a few years also.

I hope to make some 1911 grips from one of them one day. Please keep us posted, interested in your project.

 

[Vargmat]

That is awesome. Grip plates with a true heritage. You should absolutely start making them.

The piece of walnut I started out with carries no such provenance. I got it sent to me as a gift for this project from another guy at another forum.

Ill update as the work continues.

 

[Deej]

Very nice. What you planning on finishing with?

 

[Vargmat]

Deej; Im not sure. Maybe linseed oil. Any suggestions?

 

[bunsen27]

Looks good! I've refinished stocks with Tru-Oil (boiled linseed oil & varnish) and pure Tung oil. My preference is Tung oil, but it does take awhile to dry fully and does need some heat and sunlight to help with the polymerization.

Tung Oil:



Tru-Oil:



The Tung oil is a touch darker and has more of a matte finish whereas the Tru-Oil tends to be lighter and has a high gloss finish. The Tung oil will also wear quicker over time as it is an oil finish without a varnish component. Both were applied in the same manner of multiple coats. Starting with wet sanding a 1:4 mix of oil to mineral spirits with 400 grit paper for 3 coats. Then progressing through ~10 coats with out sanding, just increasing the oil ratio until it was 4:1 for the Tung and straight Tru-Oil. The Tru-Oil can be finished further with pumice and rotten stone.

Gunsmithing - How to Polish the Finish on a Riflestock Presented by Larry Potterfield of MidwayUSA - YouTube

Oil finishes are GREAT, but labor intensive.