Grips

[Mark Terry]

I ran across a Virginian Dragoon and managed to bring it home. It's not what anyone would call pristine. It had it's fair share of issues, not the least was a broken grip.

I was fortunate to receive some really nice eucalyptus wood from our own sOutherngunner. Eucalyptus is a hard, dense wood, I think native to Australia. It's light in color but works very well.

Been a while since I made grips so I practiced on some walnut I had on hand:



Then I made a set from the Eucalyptus. These are larger than normal, especially in the back, an idea that was planted by MB in one of his posts.









I have to deal with a little rust and some other cosmetic issues but it shoots as well as anything I have.

Thanks to sOutherngunner.

[s0therngunner]

;D Those grips turned out great Mark your fit looks perfect and the Eucalyptus is a very dense wood but it polish's up nicely did you use Tru-oil for the finish? As far as the Virginians shooting good I must agree because my 44 is amazing with any load that I have tried, needless to say I'm keeping my eyes open for one of them in a 45 Colt or whatever comes up.I am glad the wood worked out for you ,
You are welcome my Friend.

Regards, Terry

[Mark Terry]

Terry,
I did use Tru Oil on these, the walnut grips had Mr. Formby's Tung Oil.

Here's what the grips looked like before the finish:

[newrugersafan]

Those look great Mark, nice finish and photos.

Mike

[Lee Martin]

Those look really good. Nice contrast on the blue too.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com

[gsp7]

Eucalyptus ! Wow I have literaly tons of the stuff , even 100 ft tall trees I need to cut down. Never thought about useing it for pistol grips. Its twisty stuff and would not work for rifles. The railroads originaly planted Eucalyptus around here for railroad tie use , put it was to twisted when cut up

Ill have to scroung in the firewood pile for a dark figured piece to mess with

[gsp7]

Eucalyptus ! Wow I have literaly tons of the stuff , even 100 ft tall trees I need to cut down. Never thought about useing it for pistol grips. Its twisty stuff and would not work for rifles. The railroads originaly planted Eucalyptus around here for railroad tie use , put it was to twisted when cut up

Ill have to scroung in the firewood pile for a dark figured piece to mess with

[Mark Terry]

Where are you gsp7? I'd figured this wood had to be Australian. Apparently, there are several species and I never knew it was planted for railroad ties.

[brionic]

Mark, great looking grips! You really improved them.

Eucalyptus is prevalent throughout Southern California and parts of the southwest.

It has been planted there since the Spanish Colonial era as a windbreak and property marker, due to it's fast growth rate and vigor. Growing conditions are similar there to parts of Australia.

One downside to the trees is their tendency to easily combust and/or blow down under wildfire conditions, which are a seasonal concern in SoCal with the Santa Ana winds.

The leaves have a distinctive smell that you either like or hate. I love it, but our nine year-old gets a bad allergic reaction from it A walk through the eucalyptus "forrest" is just as enjoyable as time in the conifer forrest, especially with the frequent close proximity to the ocean ;D
--
Brian

[gsp7]

Feb 19, 2011 21:16:27 GMT -5 Mark Terry said:

Where are you gsp7? I'd figured this wood had to be Australian. Apparently, there are several species and I never knew it was planted for railroad ties.

Yep, So Cal.
Growing up , All the orange groves around us were perimitered with huge Eucalyptus trees. Look at any picture of So calif and there is probably a eucalyptus trees in the background somewhere.
Some new ones sprouted on my property and one morening I woke up and they were 100 ft tall !