1858 Remington Grip Strip

I really like my new Pietta Remington except for the muddy looking stained red walnut grips. I used some spray Quick Strip that removed it all off in one coat. Then washed them in acetone. This is how they look after light sanding and only one coat so far of True Oil. I like them much better now.

Very nice job; I have the same gun. After seeing the improvement you have made, I intend to do the same tomorrow.

My grips were so sloppy done that the brass ferrules were even stained red with the finish. I think they just spray it on and be done as is. I like walnut to be oil finished natural unless trying to hide sapwood.

VAN said:

My grips were so sloppy done that the brass ferrules were even stained red with the finish. I like walnut oil finished natural unless trying to hide sapwood.

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Yes, mine too! A needlessly sloppy finish on an otherwise fine gun. Is yours a Pietta like mine? I have been toying with the idea of getting aftermarket white grips, but after seeing your good job I think I'll do same as you.

Yes its a Pietta. I was going to make some better fancy walnut grips but after the strip turned out nice I will wait a while. White Ivory imitation grips can look great if done with quality material.

Good work.

Excellent job, Van. Those look fantastic.

Looks good. Uberti is even worse using a thick reddish plastic type finish that takes several stripper applications to remove. I have seen reported as original finish grips and they looked VERY dark having a glossy to semi glossy varnish finish. The dark color is probably due to age.

I have stripped and refinished a bunch of long gun stocks and handgun grips over the years. After trying most available products I have the best results with the Kwik Strip Spray. It foams up and lifts even the thick plastic finishes which I hate so much. One coat usually does it with a rub down using 0000 steel wool and acetone. I then wash with warm soapy water to get all the stuff off.

Nice job, Van, big improvement. It's hard to believe they would cover up a nice piece of walnut like that.

VAN said:

I really like my new Pietta Remington except for the muddy looking stained red walnut grips. I used some spray Quick Strip that removed it all off in one coat. Then washed them in acetone. This is how they look after light sanding and only one coat so far of True Oil. I like them much better now.

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It's really fun for me, too, to do a simple task like this, while personalizing something! Good job!
!

VAN said:

I really like my new Pietta Remington except for the muddy looking stained red walnut grips. I used some spray Quick Strip that removed it all off in one coat. Then washed them in acetone. This is how they look after light sanding and only one coat so far of True Oil. I like them much better now.

Click to expand...

Nice job, looks great. Wonder how one of these would look with moose antler grips. I made a set for a model 29 S&W that turned out really nice but come to think of it I don't think I have ever seen a percussion gun with Stag grips.

I would guess someone even in the old days made some antler grips on a percussion revolver. I have some old legal ivory bought from Boone Trading many years ago that I used on some knife handles. It was just not enough to make two revolver scales, or I would use that. I can't believe so many manufactures hide beautiful walnut under bad finishes. I had to use the same stripper on my M29 that came with a thick high gloss tinted plastic finish. Here is the result on just the grips after the stripper shed the stuff off in large sheets of plastic. It did not look like real wood before. I did make some better walnut grips from some really old wood on my Colt Pocket Model in this picture. The original walnut was very pale and plain and I'm not sure if it was actually Walnut.

I have these grips from NC Ordnance.

Say, those look pretty snazzy on your gun. The veining will give a better grip as well to the hand.

M. De Land said:

Say, those look pretty snazzy on your gun. The veining will give a better grip as well to the hand.

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Thanks. Yes they look really sharp and get great compliments at the gun range. These grips do provide superior grab and support.

M. De Land said:

Nice job, looks great. Wonder how one of these would look with moose antler grips. I made a set for a model 29 S&W that turned out really nice but come to think of it I don't think I have ever seen a percussion gun with Stag grips.

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Go for it, they can't help but look great!