Brass grip frames by Ronnie Wells

[HadesMN]

Good morning all!  I wanted to share my project and hopefully get some advice and recommendations.  

When I first heard about RW grip frames I checked them out and said $350 for a grip frame?  That's crazy! lol Even considering the fact that they're as nice as they are and all the different options Ronnie is offering.  Well as I picked up my early 90s 44 Vaquero that had been sitting in the safe feeling neglected this summer I was instantly reminded how much o enjoyed shooting it. 


EXCEPT for the nasty habit it has of biting my middle finger knuckle.  I was reminded of that really quick shooting magnum loads.  I've always just dealt with it and with the apparent lack of common sense or someone to suggest a different grip hold have in the past been trying to hold it Higher to prevent this.  Hopefully this provides a good laugh from those of you with big hands who have figured this out long before I did. 


Well I finally got sick of my finger hurting every time I got out this gun that I started seeing what my google fu could uncover in the way of big hands and grip holds. Read about one guy/s saying he holds it with his pinky Under the grip frame and this moves his hand down far enough that he has clearance between his knuckle and the rear if the trigger guard which eliminated any painful knuckle tagging.  

Tried it and it felt pretty awkward but it Worked!  No more knuckle bite and I could shoot this gun all day now. (or my 41 mag blackhawk which I had bought by this time).

Only problem is that my pinky gets pinched a little and it's just not a natural feeling grip for me and not one I can do quickly and confidently while deer hunting.  


So, I'm back to researching again and have seen some of the Huntington grip extension's and modifications which all look amazing.  I them found myself back on RW grip frames website and seen the discount brass section.  I told myself I better just buy one of the +0.300 grip frames and see how I like it.  So about a month ago I did!  He had I believe a gen 4(3?)  XR3red +0.300 with a bisley trigger guard which sounded amazing after reading about how it positions the trigger guard a little more forward and is bigger for a gloved hand.  


I decided I didn't need to try and make a set of panels for it although this is something I've always wanted to try and bought some walnut ones from Ronnie to come with the frame. 

I called him to ask that he did not bevel the bottom of the grip for as much grip length as possible and he immediately responded, "you mean that bevel that Ruger does on their stick grips?  Yes.  Ohhhh, hell no I hate that shit!"  Lol

Had a very informative conversation following that where he gave me some good tips to fit the grip frame and then quickly made me feel like and idiot by the vast amount of knowledge that he was able to converse about.  Here I am casting bullets and reloading, like many of you,  thinking I'm a little special and this guy built all sorts of crazy guns before I even knew what a Ruger single action was...


So to make a long story even longer I very impatiently waited, checking my email multiple times a day for a ship notification, for my grip frame to arrive.  It finally did this week and I immediately tore down my 41 mag which will get the honour of hosting this beautiful work of functional art.  

Attachments:

[x101airborne]

I think the brass / blue looks great!

[HadesMN]

The two pictures above is what I took out of the box and how it looked on the Ruger as is.  


It was proud everywhere it mated so I knew I could make a really nice fit if I took my time and filed slowly and check often.  I don't have a belt sander so a vice and file is what I'm using.  


The sides of the bottom and the sides of the ears are pretty straightforward and I was confident I could get them to fit nicely.  

My first challenge was how the ears lined up.






I was originally thinking I would file like the line shows.  But then realized that would look a little funny and tried just knocking them down and then keeping the rounded shape.  







This is how far I've gotten on them.  

[HadesMN]

I've got the panels so perfectly flush from following some of the advice I've read here about fitting the panels on the grip frame.  

So now that I'm down to the final little bits of final fitment I have some questions. 

1.  Do I leave the grip frame the tiniest bit proud and bring it up to flush with sandpaper and a sheet of glass?  Or file it to fit and then polish.  I'm not sure how much brass will get removed smoothing out any small file marks that are left on the frame. 

2.  I don't think I'm really a fan of the highly polished look and would've left it all looking 'bead blasted' like it was sent to me except obviously where I filed is now really shiny.  

What's the best way to achieve the more mature bead blasted look?


3.  I have no idea what I'd like or how to begin shaping the grips to fit MY hand.  They fit the grip frame perfectly now but other than that I left them the same thickness and rough shape that they came to me as.  

I am open to any advice and would appreciate any suggestions on how to finish up this project and make it fit my hand beautifully.  


My orginal thoughts is to finish the last tiny bit of grip frame fitting and the ears and then just start shooting it and see how it feels. 

[HadesMN]

The scratches on the cylinder frame were there when I bought the gun by the way!

[2 Dogs]

Oct 10, 2022 14:18:10 GMT -5 needsmostuff said:

I pondered the rightness and wrongness of brass on stainless then just shut up and did it.
More than happy with how it came out.




Pretty Blingy when polished but I scuffed it back to brushed . i like it better that way.

I’m in love with this one. Every time I talk to Ronnie I’m like a broken record….I wanna…. I wanna…. I wanna.…..

[needsmostuff]

Nov 19, 2022 11:18:13 GMT -5 HadesMN said:

#1 , Do I leave the grip frame the tiniest bit proud and bring it up to flush with sandpaper and a sheet of glass?



#2 , What's the best way to achieve the more mature bead blasted look?



#3 , My original thoughts is to finish the last tiny bit of grip frame fitting and the ears and then just start shooting it and see how it feels.

#1, Yup , a little proud and sand to final grade. With file work there is ALWAYS a few annoying deeper that the rest scratches that take more work than the rest of it. I swear, all my files have one tooth taller than the rest.

#2, I like grey Scotch-Brite pads . I use them a lot fixing stainless brushed finish stuff. Added plus, super easy touch up as the gun ages and gets used. Polished finish means repolishing every time a scratch appears, and they will.

#3, Good plan, go slow , you have a long time to get it right.

[pleadthe2nd]

HadesMN, you are getting very close, I leave a tiny bit proud, then sand down to final fit, the ears usually need a little contouring when aligned, like your straight line shows, you could polish out , then let it patina naturally , usually doesn't take too long, especially if you use it, or polish out, then lightly use a scotchbright pad to take out the shine, and get a nice satin finish. I like mine high polished, and keep them that way, but that's me, most people seem to like the satin finish.

[needsmostuff]

Nov 19, 2022 11:34:28 GMT -5 2 Dogs said:

]
I’m in love with this one. Every time I talk to Ronnie I’m like a broken record….I wanna…. I wanna…. I wanna.…..

Thanks Boss, praise from THE master file bender.
And broken record ? Yeah, ain't we all.
Ronnie makes us the parts dreams are made of.

Anyone still unsure about the brass on stainless thing should consider how many knives are done that away.

[bradshaw]

HadesMN.... as needsmostuff advises, time to quit the file and finish with sandpaper. Wet/dry paper with water to flush works fast. And, since wet paper doesn’t clog, the paper lasts much longer. I don’t go any finer than 400 grit. Since you haven’t settled on final contour of panels, shoot the revolver and take your time. I shot the Ruger 03 regularly while working on Ronnie’s brass Bradshaw Bisley, carried and shot the gun afield, all of which influened what I think is this particular grip’s final contour. Rounded across the backstrap helps cushion base of thumb, making recoil more comfortable.

The revolver static in your hand may feel fine, but comfort and shot placement can only be tested under recoil.

As for the bead blast look, that is a manufacturers way to conceal surface flaws. Brushed look is handsome.
David Bradshaw

[HadesMN]

Thanks for the advice all. Date night tonight but I hope you be able to work on it Sunday and get it back together. Maybe even put some rounds down range.


Bradshaw, can you post a picture of what you mean by 'rounded across the backstrap'?

And yes, I probably meant brushed vs bead blasted. I'm handy but definitely not a metal worker by trade except for some arc welding from time to time. I know I don't have all the terminology down.

[bradshaw]

"Bradshaw, can you post a picture of what you mean by 'rounded across the backstrap’?”
----HadesMN

*****

Gallery section, DB Photos Vol. 116. Photos toward end show rounded backstop shoulders.
David Bradshaw

[HadesMN]

I know everyone is probably just besides themselves wondering how badly HadesMN messed up his gun and/or grip frame.

With Thanksgiving coming up before I started this project it was a couple weeks of an hour or two at night working on this. Got her close enough for now...(I just couldn't sand and reassemble any more... started to get annoyed and frustrated so decided to stop. Ears and one side is close or perfec. The other side needs a little bit more yet), and put it all back together so I could go shoot this project that's been in pieces for weeks on end.

Annnnd, I had 4 light strikes out of a full cylinder my first outing. (Think that was Thanksgiving Day). I had opted for a SBH hammer and after copious amounts or swearing and cursing my bad luck I eyeballed the firing pin and made some comparisons between my stock blackhawk hammer and the stainless SBH I got new from midway. I determined that that first pad that hits the frame was just to long and not allowing the second step to contact the transfer bar enough.

Whelp, back apart the gun came after only living gloriously for a few short days sporting it's new grip frame and a not so enjoyable abbreviated shooting session.


Filing that hammer down was probably more tedious that filing in the grip frame. With such a small square it was more difficult that I had thought it would be to file nice clean SQUARE strokes off it. This probably took me over a week of after kids were in bed messing around in my shop. Little bit of filing and reassemble. Ehh, not enough, so back into the vise for a few more strokes.

Finally got it to where I think it'll be good but with work getting crazy before year end, and it starting to get full on winter here I haven't had the time to test it yet..

Pics coming soon.

[bisleyfan41]

The newer guns (2009ish to current) use a thicker transfer bar with a distinct "bump" on the end that the hammer hits. Thats what the new hammers you can buy new from Midway and others are built to work with.

Yours must be an older NM.

Installing one of these thicker transfer bars would have gotten you there, without all the filing on the hammer (which as you know is harder than kryptonite). Ask me how I know.....

[HadesMN]

Dec 27, 2022 19:12:16 GMT -5 bisleyfan41 said:

The newer guns (2009ish to current) use a thicker transfer bar with a distinct "bump" on the end that the hammer hits. Thats what the new hammers you can buy new from Midway and others are built to work with.

Yours must be an older NM.

Installing one of these thicker transfer bars would have gotten you there, without all the filing on the hammer (which as you know is harder than kryptonite). Ask me how I know.....


This gun is definitely newer than 2009.  I forget the manufacturer date, (or ship date??), but I believe its 2020.  
Aways wanted a 41 mag and finally found one for a 'decent price' so I acted.  

i didn't think the hammer was all that hard just that small pad was really weird for me to file and keep squared up.  I figured out a good method that worked for me though so eventually got it done.