Ruger Old Model Blackhawk Project part 7

This is part 7 of the series, if you missed the others you can find them here:
parts one, two, three, four, five & six





Back to working the grip panels. Once fitted and shaped, I then moved to a 1/2 round file to begin contouring the wood

Getting close, the trick is to mimic the Ruger factory grips in shape and profile, but also making sure both sides are identical

It might be hard to tell, but progress is being made, once close I removed the tape, then I switched to sand paper and sanded the wood and metal as one

 I had to decide what to do with the bottom of the grips. I could leave them flat or chamfer them like the factory ones

 I decided to leave them flat, like the Colt's. 

Here they are done, 600 grit finish, they are not perfect, but they feel amazing in the hand

 Cleaned with acetone

I decided to try a different finish on these grips. I have heard some great things about Minwax Antique Oil Finish and decided to give it a try (especially after seeing the results some have gotten)

 

1st coat of Minwax oil finish, rubbed in hard, let it set up for 10 min, then polish with lint free cotton (old t-shirt)

The gun will be completely dis-assembled and cleaned, the sanding dust got into every nook and cranny.

I then sanded and polished all the scratches out of the brass grip frame

 

final coat, a quick and gentle rub with 0000 steel wool gets them ready for duty.

And that brings a close to this project....time to get to work on the next one