checkering a pistol grip

[bothenook]

i have a Lyman 50 cal percussion, and it is pretty accurate out to 50 yards, which is what i almost always shoot at. Accurate as long as i can hold on, that is. i was cursed with paws instead of hands, so it's kind of hard to hold that smooth, rounded grip while shooting. kind of like trying to hold on to a greased snake. i've been toying with the idea of checkering the darned thing. problem is, i haven't seen a decent job done on this kind of rounded surface. 1911 grip panels, no problem. anybody have a similar pistol grip that has been checkered, with pictures?

 

[rae]

I did my 54 and yes it is dificult, I did three diamond patterns one on each side of the grip and one on the rear, 3.5-1 pitch,16 lpi, sorry no photo's, the hardest part is where the grip turns in by the trigger guard it likes to skip a line there. I'm going to do my 50 next, Good luck.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Google "English dueling pistols" and in particular look at the website called "Flintlock Collection". On that website click on the tab for dueling pistols. English duelers made after 1780 often had checkering. You can see how the checkering evolved from coarse large smooth-topped diamonds to smaller rough checkering and then to small diamonds with smooth tops.

dave

 

[rafterob]

A thin leather glove can solve the problem.

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Here is on that I did...with a triangle file and a veiner.

Here is one done by a real gunsmith with full blown checkering tools.

 

[bothenook]

hardly have enough hand as it is... sticking a mitt on would just make the problem worse, i'm thinking.

and doc, that's a neat and clean job. kind of liking the completely covered one. that looks like it would work, but also looks like an excellent way to mess up a grip if you let your attention wander....oh look, a duck

 

[Mattole]

If you Google English dueling pistols and then click on "Images" in the left side of the results page you will come up with many photos that may be of help to you.

I also am thinking of checking the grip on my Plains pistol, and hope someone posts images of theirs that they did their magic on..

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Another option is to simply flatten the sides of the grip such as on these pistols.

dave

 

[mazo kid]

Doc, that is a right smart piece of work! :thumbsup:

 

[bothenook]

now that looks like it is doable without the expense of purchasing checkering files. but what might be better for my paws is to flatten the sides, THEN checker the flats. wonder what that would look like :idunno:

 

[Zonie]

I'm thinking it would look like checkered flats. :grin:

If someone tries to checker without using a checkering spacing tool, make real sure the spacing is exactly the same on all grooves.

Just a tiny error will stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Go to the website flintlockcollection.net, click on the tab for dueling pistols, go to the bottom of the page and click "more" to get to page 2 and then click on the John Manton pistols (Ref 75). John Twigg also used flattened grips with checkering.

dave