Shortening revolver grip frame?

Racingsnake · February 24, 2013, 04:38 PM

Guys, I have a pre-1966 Colt Cobra that is very worn and will make a great pocket revolver but for the long grip frame (Colt shortened the Cobra and DS grips after 1966).

I want to know if it is feasible to shorten the grip frame and fill the resulting gap given that it is aluminium?

Being a Colt guy myself I realise how some people will really frown upon the suggestion of cutting this fine old revolver but this particular gun has seen a good (hard) life and I live in a country where it will have limited collectors value in either form.

However, with a shorter butt, a Tyler T Grip and some stag grips it is sure to be returned to daily carry

. In the second photo below the white card behind the grip frame shows the approximate place where the shorter grip panels will end.

Any suggestions or advice?

Bill DeShivs · February 24, 2013, 05:04 PM

Sure it's feasible. The cut part will have no finish, unless you refinish the entire frame.
You could leave it a little longer and cut it to a bird's head configuration, too.

Racingsnake · February 24, 2013, 05:12 PM

Hi Bill, thanks for your reply.

My concern is that the cut will pass through the hollow circle of the original grip area and leave a large gap at the base of the shortened version.

**Unclenick** · February 24, 2013, 05:33 PM

As to advice, measure twice, cut once comes to mind.

Since pretty isn't part of your objective, and since you have that nice round hole, I would probably get a piece of steel cut to fill it, then degrease both and use an industrial metal bonding epoxy to glue the filler into place. If you want to limit weight, you could bore it and cut it off the upper third and just glue the rest into the lower half of the hole. The idea, though, is to have steel continuous where you will cut and file to final shape. If you use a softer material, the filing will not tend to cut or uniformly enough to get a tight result easily.

BillM · February 24, 2013, 05:41 PM

OK---I've got a couple of Colt's, but I'm not familiar with the
Cobra. So a dumb question---where is the serial number located?

PetahW · February 24, 2013, 05:45 PM

I would suggest cutting it 1/4" shorter than your mark, then inletting the grip panels to enclose the bottom of gripframe, so that the alteration will be invisible w/o removing the grips - pretty much what Colt did with the later DS.

.

JT-AR-MG42 · February 24, 2013, 06:18 PM

Think you might need to also drill a new grip locating pin on the rear of the shortened frame to keep the grips from moving under recoil.

No biggie to do, but I would. There is recoil with the alloy frame.

JT

tekarra · February 24, 2013, 06:45 PM

I am not all that familiar with Colts, but where is the serial number?

Dfariswheel · February 24, 2013, 07:24 PM

After about 1907 Colt stamped the serial number in three places.
On the frame where the cylinder crane seats just below the barrel.
On the crane opposite the frame number.
Inside the side plate.

Racingsnake · February 25, 2013, 01:42 AM

As DFariswheel has pointed out, serial number will not be an issues as with S&W since it is stamped elsewhere.

I've ordered a pair of Patrick Grashorn's stag grips and he made them to fit flush with the grip frame on one of my Colt Agents so that the gun is as small as possible for pocket carry, while steel being manageable when shot.

I like the advice of inletting slightly and using a steel replacement - thanks very much.

February 24, 2013, 04:38 PM	#1
Racingsnake Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Posts: 153	Shortening revolver grip frame? Guys, I have a pre-1966 Colt Cobra that is very worn and will make a great pocket revolver but for the long grip frame (Colt shortened the Cobra and DS grips after 1966). I want to know if it is feasible to shorten the grip frame and fill the resulting gap given that it is aluminium? Being a Colt guy myself I realise how some people will really frown upon the suggestion of cutting this fine old revolver but this particular gun has seen a good (hard) life and I live in a country where it will have limited collectors value in either form. However, with a shorter butt, a Tyler T Grip and some stag grips it is sure to be returned to daily carry. In the second photo below the white card behind the grip frame shows the approximate place where the shorter grip panels will end. Any suggestions or advice?

February 24, 2013, 05:04 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	Sure it's feasible. The cut part will have no finish, unless you refinish the entire frame. You could leave it a little longer and cut it to a bird's head configuration, too. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 24, 2013, 05:33 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	As to advice, measure twice, cut once comes to mind. Since pretty isn't part of your objective, and since you have that nice round hole, I would probably get a piece of steel cut to fill it, then degrease both and use an industrial metal bonding epoxy to glue the filler into place. If you want to limit weight, you could bore it and cut it off the upper third and just glue the rest into the lower half of the hole. The idea, though, is to have steel continuous where you will cut and file to final shape. If you use a softer material, the filing will not tend to cut or uniformly enough to get a tight result easily. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 24, 2013, 05:12 PM	#3
Racingsnake Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Posts: 153	Hi Bill, thanks for your reply. My concern is that the cut will pass through the hollow circle of the original grip area and leave a large gap at the base of the shortened version.

February 24, 2013, 05:41 PM	#5
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	OK---I've got a couple of Colt's, but I'm not familiar with the Cobra. So a dumb question---where is the serial number located?

February 24, 2013, 05:45 PM	#6
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	I would suggest cutting it 1/4" shorter than your mark, then inletting the grip panels to enclose the bottom of gripframe, so that the alteration will be invisible w/o removing the grips - pretty much what Colt did with the later DS. .

February 24, 2013, 06:18 PM	#7
JT-AR-MG42 Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 555	Think you might need to also drill a new grip locating pin on the rear of the shortened frame to keep the grips from moving under recoil. No biggie to do, but I would. There is recoil with the alloy frame. JT

February 24, 2013, 06:45 PM	#8
tekarra Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2007 Posts: 1,164	I am not all that familiar with Colts, but where is the serial number?

February 24, 2013, 07:24 PM	#9
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	After about 1907 Colt stamped the serial number in three places. On the frame where the cylinder crane seats just below the barrel. On the crane opposite the frame number. Inside the side plate.

February 25, 2013, 01:42 AM	#10
Racingsnake Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Posts: 153	As DFariswheel has pointed out, serial number will not be an issues as with S&W since it is stamped elsewhere. I've ordered a pair of Patrick Grashorn's stag grips and he made them to fit flush with the grip frame on one of my Colt Agents so that the gun is as small as possible for pocket carry, while steel being manageable when shot. I like the advice of inletting slightly and using a steel replacement - thanks very much.