I have some work to do...

[Joe S.]

Got a package from Ronnie yesterday. Looks like I have some work to do.

Thanks Ronnie. These things are beautiful!!

[jringo8769]

looks incredible....
great package to get for sure...
can not wait to see pics of them installed....
thank you for sharing it with us
God Bless,John

[rhino]

Ronnie builds some awesome frames, I'm partial to brass myself.

[dhd]

Pardon my asking, bit how close are his grips fitted to the frames? They look to be very close. I'm not a grip maker even in my dreams, but I'm not a bad trim carpenter and have made many cabinets. I've been eyeballing his frames since he first posted and knowing he would eventually have the grips available too has made me wait on ordering. That wood is nice for sure!

[leftysixgun]

Wow, those look great!

[Encore64]

That kind of work is worth the effort. Looks great and look forward to the finished product.

[Joe S.]

Oct 7, 2020 17:22:13 GMT -5 dhd said:

Pardon my asking, bit how close are his grips fitted to the frames? They look to be very close. I'm not a grip maker even in my dreams, but I'm not a bad trim carpenter and have made many cabinets. I've been eyeballing his frames since he first posted and knowing he would eventually have the grips available too has made me wait on ordering. That wood is nice for sure!

These are fitted pretty much exact to his brass frames. I cannot speak as to how close they will be to a factory frame though. I’ll pull the ones off the Hunter frame and lay it on my Super dragoon to get you a comparison.

[RDW]

Oct 7, 2020 17:22:13 GMT -5 dhd said:

Pardon my asking, bit how close are his grips fitted to the frames? They look to be very close. I'm not a grip maker even in my dreams, but I'm not a bad trim carpenter and have made many cabinets. I've been eyeballing his frames since he first posted and knowing he would eventually have the grips available too has made me wait on ordering. That wood is nice for sure!

No pardon needed podna. Great question.
They are all cut on and with the exact geometry i made the frame with.
They are dead nutz with the gripframe. However the frame of course will need to be tickled in to fit perfectly with your main frame and in the process sand the panels to either a round contour with your grip frame or leave it flat.
That is up to you. These are not for Ruger factory Frames. They are for mine. The super black hawk panel will fit but they will be a little proud because the factory Ruger frames have been fit and rounded.
Mine are as smidge proud so that you can make it your own. My standard bisley frame has been modified, ( pin relocated .010 thou upwards) so that ruger bisley panels that would normally be loose will be tight on my Grip Frame. 
All of the Ruger factory Frames are going to vary a slight amount over the years.
These will always be the same because they are machined, not cast.
If you have any questions dhd, it would be my pleasure to answer them Bud. Im sure potato judge and bradshaw will pipe in as well.
Any of you fellas with panels please pipe in. Your feedback is crucial to the perfection of this process.
Thanks Guys
R

[dhd]

Not trying to trash Joe's thread. I was not enquiring about a set of grips for any other frame than yours Ronnie. I could see that they looked better fitting than a set of rough finished grips had any right to. I have no need for another grip frame or grips, so I will call you as soon as I get a chance about getting some. I'm not a crackhead or even an alcoholic so I have to have something to be addicted to.

Sorry again Joe for the OT ramble, but seeing that pair you have ain't helping folks like me. Brass or aluminum on a SS RBH?

[maxcactus]

Those look fantastic! Can't wait to see them fitted, finished and mounted, hopefully to a blued revolver. Great job, Mr. Wells!

[paul105]

Oct 7, 2020 13:30:37 GMT -5 Joe S. said:

Got a package from Ronnie yesterday. Looks like I have some work to do.

Thanks Ronnie. These things are beautiful!!

I can't get this picture out of my head - I just keep coming back to it - very, very nice!

Paul

[RDW]

Thankyou paul.
Man these are so much fun to make because you just never know what surprises are in this wood.
The one on the left is Bocote, a style of Xiricote for central america. And of course the right is some super nice Claro Walnut.
Im getting a better grip on how to judge the wood grain. Just takes practise. But ive cut some mundane looking american and had it just explode with detail when i darkened it a little.
fun fun fun!

[Joe S.]

Thanks guys. They are so pretty I’m not sure I even want to attempt it myself. Seriously thinking about sending it to a smith for fitting and finishing.

[potatojudge]

Oct 7, 2020 17:22:13 GMT -5 dhd said:

Pardon my asking, bit how close are his grips fitted to the frames? They look to be very close. I'm not a grip maker even in my dreams, but I'm not a bad trim carpenter and have made many cabinets. I've been eyeballing his frames since he first posted and knowing he would eventually have the grips available too has made me wait on ordering. That wood is nice for sure!

They’re extremely close. Ridges from milling respond to sandpaper with a firm backing to flatten them out. 150 grit for fast shaping then 220 will get you there with walnut, for harder exotic woods I think there’s benefit to higher grits. The perimeter fitting of the wood is less than the sanding needed to polish out the frame. The fit is akin to custom grips, better in some respects because the frames are perfect and decked.

You will be impressed, and if you’ve built cabinets you’ll have no problem finishing these out. Of the sets I have, ebony and cocobolo are my favorites so far.

[Ramar]

Walnut and brass...such a pretty combo. Final results will be worth waiting for.