Spalted wood for Python

mrray13 · April 5, 2016, 10:32 AM

So, had to do an Honor Guard for a fallen department Corrections Officer, and got to thinking my nylon duty gear is not so pretty, and didn't really fit the Class A uniforms. So I want to do a high gloss Honor Guard rig, and I want to use my 4" Python as my carry piece. It's Royal Blue and about 85-90%, with mostly muzzle wear. But the grips, not factory, are hideous.

That said, I thought about bone or ivory, maybe stag. Yet, I'm not sure if I'd like any of those. Then I thought about a blonde colored spalted combat stock, man, that would be sweet. So I start my google-fu...and nothing. Lots of ivory/bone/stag/combat, but nothing spalted.

Anyone know of anything like that? Or other suggestions/help? Thanks!!

Don P · April 5, 2016, 11:43 AM

Try sarge at the finer grain. He may be able to help. www.thefinergrain.com

BBarn · April 5, 2016, 03:01 PM

Spalting, caused by fungus, generally weakens wood. That could be a reason it isn't very commonly seen on firearms, especially higher powered ones. It is often quite attractive, if not bold.

BigJimP · April 5, 2016, 04:49 PM

Spalted wood needs to be stabilized by CA glue or something ....because it tends to be "punky" soft in spots.

I'd suggest you look for something in a burl instead..it'll still give you some different grain patterns and color variety that you probably like in the spalted.

Rob228 · April 5, 2016, 05:54 PM

Esmeralda is my go-to for grips, but it doesn't look like she makes any for the Python. She's got some great burled 1911 and J-frame grips though.

Model12Win · April 5, 2016, 06:01 PM

A maple burl would look NOICE on a Python!!

And be stronger than spalted wood... which is pretty uncommon for handgun grips.

603Country · April 5, 2016, 07:18 PM

I've got some spalted Pecan, which is almost white. And some spalted ash, which is attractive, but not as white as the pecan. I made a small stool of the spalted pecan a couple of years ago. The wood seemed quite stable. And, if you varnish it with the water based Minwax varnish, the color will stay white. If you use an oil based varnish, the wood will yellow somewhat. The water based varnish holds up real well, and has been the coating on my spalted ash workbench for maybe 10 years.

I'm a woodworker, so I have woods of all sorts. Most of it is more normal (walnut, cherry, white and red oak, hackberry, gum, sassafras, mesquite, and such as that).

I suppose I can send you some wood of your choice. Won't cost much.

As an alternate, look online at Woodcraft. They have all sorts of exotic woods. Bocote looks nice as grips. I made some for a buddy's revolver a while back.

mrray13 · April 6, 2016, 10:22 AM

Don P, Sarge couldn't help, but super fast response and a nice guy!

603Country, anyway of getting pics of the spalted wood you have? Could you inbox a price for some shipped to 62964? Or even quote me a price for a set of grips? And you can stabilize the wood with epoxy resin, correct? Thanks ahead of time for your time and info!

603Country · April 6, 2016, 07:17 PM

I'll just get my wife to move her Zero Turn mower so I can get to the Pecan, and I'll see if it's hard or solid enough. I'll cut you some with good spalting and send it to you. You can reimburse me for shipping if you like.

I should have some that's an inch thick, in the rough, and I think I have some that's thicker. Tell me what size chunks you'd like. If you're going to run it through a planer, you'll need at least a foot in length. Or, I can run some through my planer and send smaller pieces, based on about twice the size of each grip panel on my Python.

PM me and I'll give you my phone number and we can talk about it. Might have to wait till next week, since I'm off to a wedding Friday morning. But, if this is a real rush item, call me tomorrow and I can maybe get the wood off to you quickly.

603Country · April 6, 2016, 07:31 PM

And you asked about a picture of the wood. As it's still in the rough cut state, a picture wouldn't tell you much till I ran it over the jointer or through the planer. Of course, I can do that for you next week, or just go ahead and send you some. Your call.

tipoc · April 6, 2016, 08:40 PM

Try here...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...ython&_sacat=0

Enter whatever search terms you care to.

Under vintage grips for colt python you see...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...ython&_sacat=0

Try gun broker as well...

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...t+Python+grips

tipoc

ScaryWoody · April 7, 2016, 07:38 AM

I like this one and for $42

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walnut-Pisto...UAAOSwbwlXAFb1

mhblaw · April 7, 2016, 01:20 PM

Cary Chapman used to make what he called "gold stabilized spalted maple" grips that sure looked nice. He currently not making grips, but pics of some are still on his web page.

Salmoneye · April 7, 2016, 04:01 PM

I've never bothered to 'stabilize' Spalted Maple...

If you cut it and dry it at the right time, it is still every bit as hard abd sturdy as if it were milled fresh cut...Don't let your logs lay much more than a year, and you should be fine...

Sorry about the size of the pics, but here are three sets a did a couple years back...If I get ambitious, I will take a pic of another set I have here waiting for a gun to slap em on:

mrray13 · April 8, 2016, 09:46 AM

Salmoneye, those are beautiful.

603Country, you have pm sir.

tipoc · April 8, 2016, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Sorry about the size of the pics,

The pics are a good size for this format...you can see what needs to be seen.

tipoc

603Country · April 9, 2016, 03:35 PM

I'm gonna use my Python and grips as a pattern to make a set of spalted Pecan grips for the OP. This should be fun and interesting, and I hope it turns out well. I've made grips a few times before, and they looked good, but I'll have to be super diligent with these. Don't want you guys to boo me.

mrray13 · April 11, 2016, 05:19 PM

603..it was awesome talking to you today sir! I can't wait to see the end result and to sport them on my Python!

Updates sometime in the future, lol, as I'm not putting any kind of rush on this.

rodfac · April 12, 2016, 06:38 AM

Beautiful stocks there Salmon...Very Nice work. Rod

mrray13 · April 25, 2016, 06:38 PM

Just got an update and 603County is the man! Can't wait to post pics on their future home!

Thanks again 603!

Salmoneye · April 26, 2016, 09:12 AM

Looking forward to seeing them...

mrray13 · April 26, 2016, 10:37 AM

I hope 603Country doesn't get too upset....

[IMG]

[/IMG]

While that's his Python, those beautiful grips will be adorning my 4" Royal Blue Python. And we can't wait! He's done an excellent job, one I'll forever be grateful for.

mrray13 · April 26, 2016, 10:38 AM

Now, he says they aren't done yet, but I'm stoked to see these on a royal blue Python!

Salmoneye · April 26, 2016, 11:23 AM

Oh my...

Nice...

Very nice...

603Country · April 26, 2016, 12:21 PM

I don't mind at all that you put up the picture. The last coat of finish is on, and I've rubbed it out lightly with a OOOO pad and some wax. Since I took the picture with a white background, it seems to have darkened or yellowed the look of the grips. They are a bit whiter than they appear. All in all, they were fun to make, but the closer I got to having a finished product, the more nervous I got about messing them up. Now I have all the woodworking jigs for making more, but I think I'll store the jigs and move on to something else. The walls of my workshop are covered with tools and jigs. I've had to write on all the jigs to remember what it is I used them for.

I'll really be interested in seeing pics of the pistol and of mmray13 in formal police gear with the python grips on the pistol.

April 5, 2016, 10:32 AM	#1
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Spalted wood for Python So, had to do an Honor Guard for a fallen department Corrections Officer, and got to thinking my nylon duty gear is not so pretty, and didn't really fit the Class A uniforms. So I want to do a high gloss Honor Guard rig, and I want to use my 4" Python as my carry piece. It's Royal Blue and about 85-90%, with mostly muzzle wear. But the grips, not factory, are hideous. That said, I thought about bone or ivory, maybe stag. Yet, I'm not sure if I'd like any of those. Then I thought about a blonde colored spalted combat stock, man, that would be sweet. So I start my google-fu...and nothing. Lots of ivory/bone/stag/combat, but nothing spalted. Anyone know of anything like that? Or other suggestions/help? Thanks!!

April 5, 2016, 11:43 AM	#2
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Try sarge at the finer grain. He may be able to help. www.thefinergrain.com __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

April 6, 2016, 08:40 PM	#11
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	Try here... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...ython&_sacat=0 Enter whatever search terms you care to. Under vintage grips for colt python you see... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...ython&_sacat=0 Try gun broker as well... http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...t+Python+grips tipoc Last edited by tipoc; April 6, 2016 at 08:49 PM.

April 12, 2016, 06:38 AM	#19
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,624	Beautiful stocks there Salmon...Very Nice work. Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

April 26, 2016, 10:37 AM	#22
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	I hope 603Country doesn't get too upset.... [IMG][/IMG] While that's his Python, those beautiful grips will be adorning my 4" Royal Blue Python. And we can't wait! He's done an excellent job, one I'll forever be grateful for.

April 5, 2016, 03:01 PM	#3
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	Spalting, caused by fungus, generally weakens wood. That could be a reason it isn't very commonly seen on firearms, especially higher powered ones. It is often quite attractive, if not bold.

April 5, 2016, 04:49 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Spalted wood needs to be stabilized by CA glue or something ....because it tends to be "punky" soft in spots. I'd suggest you look for something in a burl instead..it'll still give you some different grain patterns and color variety that you probably like in the spalted.

April 5, 2016, 05:54 PM	#5
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	Esmeralda is my go-to for grips, but it doesn't look like she makes any for the Python. She's got some great burled 1911 and J-frame grips though.

April 5, 2016, 06:01 PM	#6
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	A maple burl would look NOICE on a Python!! And be stronger than spalted wood... which is pretty uncommon for handgun grips.

April 5, 2016, 07:18 PM	#7
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I've got some spalted Pecan, which is almost white. And some spalted ash, which is attractive, but not as white as the pecan. I made a small stool of the spalted pecan a couple of years ago. The wood seemed quite stable. And, if you varnish it with the water based Minwax varnish, the color will stay white. If you use an oil based varnish, the wood will yellow somewhat. The water based varnish holds up real well, and has been the coating on my spalted ash workbench for maybe 10 years. I'm a woodworker, so I have woods of all sorts. Most of it is more normal (walnut, cherry, white and red oak, hackberry, gum, sassafras, mesquite, and such as that). I suppose I can send you some wood of your choice. Won't cost much. As an alternate, look online at Woodcraft. They have all sorts of exotic woods. Bocote looks nice as grips. I made some for a buddy's revolver a while back.

April 6, 2016, 10:22 AM	#8
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Don P, Sarge couldn't help, but super fast response and a nice guy! 603Country, anyway of getting pics of the spalted wood you have? Could you inbox a price for some shipped to 62964? Or even quote me a price for a set of grips? And you can stabilize the wood with epoxy resin, correct? Thanks ahead of time for your time and info!

April 6, 2016, 07:17 PM	#9
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I'll just get my wife to move her Zero Turn mower so I can get to the Pecan, and I'll see if it's hard or solid enough. I'll cut you some with good spalting and send it to you. You can reimburse me for shipping if you like. I should have some that's an inch thick, in the rough, and I think I have some that's thicker. Tell me what size chunks you'd like. If you're going to run it through a planer, you'll need at least a foot in length. Or, I can run some through my planer and send smaller pieces, based on about twice the size of each grip panel on my Python. PM me and I'll give you my phone number and we can talk about it. Might have to wait till next week, since I'm off to a wedding Friday morning. But, if this is a real rush item, call me tomorrow and I can maybe get the wood off to you quickly.

April 6, 2016, 07:31 PM	#10
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	And you asked about a picture of the wood. As it's still in the rough cut state, a picture wouldn't tell you much till I ran it over the jointer or through the planer. Of course, I can do that for you next week, or just go ahead and send you some. Your call.

April 7, 2016, 07:38 AM	#12
ScaryWoody Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 368	I like this one and for $42 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walnut-Pisto...UAAOSwbwlXAFb1

April 7, 2016, 01:20 PM	#13
mhblaw Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: North Dakota Posts: 111	Cary Chapman used to make what he called "gold stabilized spalted maple" grips that sure looked nice. He currently not making grips, but pics of some are still on his web page.

April 7, 2016, 04:01 PM	#14
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	I've never bothered to 'stabilize' Spalted Maple... If you cut it and dry it at the right time, it is still every bit as hard abd sturdy as if it were milled fresh cut...Don't let your logs lay much more than a year, and you should be fine... Sorry about the size of the pics, but here are three sets a did a couple years back...If I get ambitious, I will take a pic of another set I have here waiting for a gun to slap em on:

April 8, 2016, 09:46 AM	#15
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Salmoneye, those are beautiful. 603Country, you have pm sir.

April 9, 2016, 03:35 PM	#17
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I'm gonna use my Python and grips as a pattern to make a set of spalted Pecan grips for the OP. This should be fun and interesting, and I hope it turns out well. I've made grips a few times before, and they looked good, but I'll have to be super diligent with these. Don't want you guys to boo me.

April 11, 2016, 05:19 PM	#18
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	603..it was awesome talking to you today sir! I can't wait to see the end result and to sport them on my Python! Updates sometime in the future, lol, as I'm not putting any kind of rush on this.

April 25, 2016, 06:38 PM	#20
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Just got an update and 603County is the man! Can't wait to post pics on their future home! Thanks again 603!

April 26, 2016, 09:12 AM	#21
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Looking forward to seeing them...

April 26, 2016, 10:38 AM	#23
mrray13 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 911	Now, he says they aren't done yet, but I'm stoked to see these on a royal blue Python!

April 26, 2016, 11:23 AM	#24
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Oh my... Nice... Very nice...

April 26, 2016, 12:21 PM	#25
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I don't mind at all that you put up the picture. The last coat of finish is on, and I've rubbed it out lightly with a OOOO pad and some wax. Since I took the picture with a white background, it seems to have darkened or yellowed the look of the grips. They are a bit whiter than they appear. All in all, they were fun to make, but the closer I got to having a finished product, the more nervous I got about messing them up. Now I have all the woodworking jigs for making more, but I think I'll store the jigs and move on to something else. The walls of my workshop are covered with tools and jigs. I've had to write on all the jigs to remember what it is I used them for. I'll really be interested in seeing pics of the pistol and of mmray13 in formal police gear with the python grips on the pistol.