Fishpaw on a FA 97

[potatojudge]

I ran across this auction and recognized the grip work from the thumbnails. The ad said the grips were marked "R.C.F." and looked like Rowen grips but weren't being sold as Rowen grips. Well, they were almost right. 

Aside from having a Fishpaw gap in my collection, I have an interest in making the FA97 work for the shooters who don't get along with the grip frame. I suspect these grips were an attempt at that. The front strap was straightened out like a Ruger Bisley, the grip extends about 1/4 inch below the frame, and the area behind the trigger guard was filled in. The only thing I'd change is to add more meat to the grips along the backstrap so the recoil is spread over a larger area. 

I've come to terms with the factory grips, but I think some solutions are in order to make the gun more accessible because it really is a perfect little platform otherwise. 



 

[kings6]

Roy was such an artist with wood! He was also willing to try different styles to meet a need. When Rob Rowan facilitated my purchase of Roy's old model 41 blackhawk he hunted whitetail deer with I figured the grips themselves were worth the price of admission.

[potatojudge]

Robb, I thought of your 41 from Roy when I saw this one! Minus the thumb rest and finger grooves it's the same concept.

[bigbrowndog]

I saw that 97 in the auction, glad to see someone on here got it.

Trapr

[mike454]

Very cool!

[princeout]

Here’s a Bowen modified FA97 gripframe with Fishpaw snakewood grips.

I asked Hamilton a little about what he did to the FA gripframe. I had a Power Custom two piece Colt style grip frame for a Ruger and thought it matched up pretty well. Here is his answer:

“All we did on our FA grip-frame modifications was shorten the front and back straps from the bottom up as far as we could go and stay out of the mainspring hanging slot. Made a new bottom strap and slightly re-arched the back strap and then welded up and re-finished everything. Not really an exact copy of anything but, as you also figure it, a considerable improvement over stock. ”

This gun came from Robb originally. It’s a nice one.

Tim

[500fksjr]

Jul 6, 2023 20:22:33 GMT -5 princeout said:

Here’s a Bowen modified FA97 gripframe with Fishpaw snakewood grips.

I asked Hamilton a little about what he did to the FA gripframe. I had a Power Custom two piece Colt style grip frame for a Ruger and thought it matched up pretty well. Here is his answer:

“All we did on our FA grip-frame modifications was shorten the front and back straps from the bottom up as far as we could go and stay out of the mainspring hanging slot. Made a new bottom strap and slightly re-arched the back strap and then welded up and re-finished everything. Not really an exact copy of anything but, as you also figure it, a considerable improvement over stock. ”

This gun came from Robb originally. It’s a nice one.

Tim

Very Nice!!

[mike454]

Here's a little of the "blacksmithing" that goes into the Bowen gripframe job

[bushog]

I’m just going to cry…..

[squawberryman]

I don't have to ponder any longer about who owns that one.

[kevshell]

Jul 6, 2023 20:36:19 GMT -5 mike454 said:

Here's a little of the "blacksmithing" that goes into the Bowen gripframe job

I would love to see what this one looks like put back together.