1858 grips

kameron454ci · January 30, 2011, 09:01 PM

I have seen a few 1858's with black grips how does one do this? with paint or stain ? of so whats the best paint/stain to make my grips black

junkman_01 · January 30, 2011, 09:19 PM

Obviously BLACK paint or BLACK stain. Any other color is not going to make them black. Duh

noelf2 · January 30, 2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Obviously BLACK paint or BLACK stain. Any other color is not going to make them black. Duh

Wow, make a newbie to the site feel welcome why don't ye..

.?

Anyway, the last 1858 I got from cabelas has rather dark grips. Just a dark stain or twice stained, then oil finished. I like the aged/used look it has.

BlackPowderSmoke · January 30, 2011, 10:26 PM

It would be interesting to see a Remmy with black grips, I hope someone post pics of one.

kameron454ci · January 30, 2011, 10:49 PM

yeah thanks for that... well I didnt just want to spray paint my grips i want something that wont chip, leave black crap on my hands and not look like a painted toy gun does anyone have any advice on this?

kwhi43 · January 30, 2011, 11:21 PM

gyvel · January 30, 2011, 11:54 PM

Quote:

yeah thanks for that... well I didnt just want to spray paint my grips i want something that wont chip, leave black crap on my hands and not look like a painted toy gun does anyone have any advice on this?

If you thoroughly degrease the grips, then fill in the grain, you can use a high quality spray flat black lacquer (such as Sherwin Williams) which will give you a pretty durable finish that's not going to wear off anytime soon. (And when it does, you merely repaint.)

Edit: I'm wondering if the guns you saw had either custom ebony grips or some aftermarket epoxy replicas which are cast in black, usually.

freedom475 · January 31, 2011, 12:07 AM

If you are looking for an antique look/finish. Then I beleive that leather dye or even Vinegaroon leather dye would give the best antique style finish... The Dye may rub off a little to begin with but the Vinegaroon will not.

Vinegaroon is just rusty nails soaked in Vinegar for a a few weeks.. then when it is applied to leather it reacts to the tanic acids to form a jet black/charcoal finish to leaher... One of the original formulas is from the 1850's army manual..... This should react to the tanic acid in the wood exactly the same as a nail in a fence will turn the board black... You will have to sand the grips down a little if they have a varnish on them... But if you are after a real antique look this should work great for you...

Oh and welcome to the North Corral,, pour some coffee set a spell!! ... glad to help and please share pics of your pistol... really like to see how it turns out...

kameron454ci · January 31, 2011, 12:33 AM

thanks for the help guys with black grips and the Kirst my 5 1/2 inch 58 is going to have a whole new look. this gun is new and the blueing is dark i think I,m going for clean black more than a antique look

Doc Hoy · January 31, 2011, 05:59 AM

I have a Pietta Lawman, which is a 1851 Pattern Colt in .44 with black grips that are made from a composite material and screwed to the revolver just like Remington grips. The material is essentially a plastic. You can buy slabs of material such as this from various vendors. It might take a phone call to verify the characteristics of the material you order because in general the description of the material is not sufficient.

I have never examined the faux ivory grips that they sell for 135.00 a pair with the eagle carving. I would not be surprised to learn that they are plastic too and the eagle is not carved but injection molded and then roughed up to look carved. That means it costs about 50 cents to make them. If the eagle is actually carved it would probably be done on a machine, which means the cost of manufacture goes up exponentially (to a buck a pair) I want to emphasize....I have never seen a pair in person (only the photos) and I could be terribly wrong about them.

BTW...Welcome to the forum.

BConklin · January 31, 2011, 10:22 AM

I've done some wood staining with home made vinegaroon and the results can vary quite a bit.

In musical instrument making, they often use Fiebling's Professional Oil Dye to stain non-ebony fretboards and fingerboards on stringed instruments to look like ebony. Heck - since pure black ebony is so hard to find these days - they even use it on real ebony.

Google StewMac Black Fingerboard Stain

You're probably going to have to strip whatever finish is on the grips now - but as for a quality job, I'd say iff'n it's good enough for banjos, it's good enough for gun grips.

junkman_01 · January 31, 2011, 11:04 AM

kameron454ci,

See I was correct. You have to use BLACK paint or Black stains to get BLACK grips!

Pahoo · January 31, 2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

If you are looking for an antique look/finish. Then I beleive that leather dye or even Vinegaroon leather dye would give the best antique style finish... The Dye may rub off a little to begin with but the Vinegaroon will not.

The leather dyes are what they call "Spirit" dyes. Whenever I want to get that deep dark look, I use a spirit dye. The more costs you apply, the deeper it gets and will stay even if you get a chip. Then you can apply a coat or oil, over the dye. After applying, Let it dry a few minuted and rub with a cloth. This spirit dye is basically what you have in a Sharpie, permament marker pen. Once you get the darkness you want, you can never go back to whatever you had before as it does go that deep and permanent.

Be Safe !!!

wogpotter · January 31, 2011, 12:58 PM

There are a couple of companies making replacement grips in just about any color or finish you want.
I got these in fake ivory but you could get black "horn" or something similar. The color is built in to the polymer so it wont peel or scratch off. They do take a little final fitting, but its easy to do. Prices vary with options but start at round $50.00, I added the "Pewter bear claw footprints" medallions to match my bag & holster for example.
"www.TombstoneGrips.com"
was the source & they have a brazillion samples at the website for you to check out.

replaced the original wood which I wasn't thrilled with.

bedbugbilly · January 31, 2011, 02:24 PM

freedom475 - on leather, when you use vinegaroon to dye it, you have to neutralize it afterwards with baking soda slurry. What about when you use it on the wood - do you still need to neutralize it afterwards? Thanks!

bedbugbilly · January 31, 2011, 02:28 PM

kameron454 - forgot to say "welcome" to the forum. You'll meet a lot of good pards on here. Lot's of good information and help - don't be afraid to ask.

As far as the rude remarks - let it run off . some folks don't know any better.

Enjoy!

kameron454ci · January 31, 2011, 03:15 PM

hmm a steel triger gaurd would be sweet to if you could blue it to match the gun I'm thinking of carring this gun when i get my ccp. tomarow my kirst will be here along with 50 200grn flat nose 45lc rounds I'm so excited!

junkman_01 · January 31, 2011, 03:57 PM

bedbugbilly,
What's your problem? The truth is the truth!

wogpotter · January 31, 2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

What's your problem? The truth is the truth!

Like any other joke it's in the way you tell 'em.

junkman_01 · January 31, 2011, 04:33 PM

wogpotter,

I guess you and I are the only ones here with a sense of HUMOR!

kameron454ci · January 31, 2011, 04:50 PM

just got a can of ebony stain ill post pic when done

noelf2 · January 31, 2011, 07:55 PM

ok, ok, so you can remove the finish on the grips, then use a blow torch to lightly blacken the grips, then finish with a hard satin clear coat.

So there junkman, you are wrong

No stain, no paint, duh!

junkman_01 · January 31, 2011, 08:11 PM

...and the charred texture won't slip in your hand!

Razor740 · January 31, 2011, 11:07 PM

OR.....
strip/sand the grips to bare wood, hit with Black Magic Marker then black KIWI shoe polish...
Easy, cheap... fast touch-up if you someday need to..
Been there, done that, works great...

Bill Akins · February 1, 2011, 01:29 AM

Welcome to the forum kameron454ci.

And here's another black gripped Remy pic for ya Blackpowdersmoke.

My black grip Remy. The grips have been stained such a dark brown that they appear to be black.

Just a thought here, I've never actually tried this, but if someone wanted to get their stain or dye to permeate very deeply or even all the way though the wood of the grips so that no chips would show a lighter color, I wonder if you put your dye or stain in a pressure cooker pot along with the grips and with the heat and pressure of the pressure cooker, if it might cause the stain/dye to permeate all through the wood. Anyone here ever tried that and was your wife mad at you for using her pressure cooker for that? Lol.

January 30, 2011, 09:01 PM	#1
kameron454ci Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: Montague. MI Posts: 85	1858 grips I have seen a few 1858's with black grips how does one do this? with paint or stain ? of so whats the best paint/stain to make my grips black

January 30, 2011, 10:26 PM	#4
BlackPowderSmoke Member Join Date: June 8, 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 26	It would be interesting to see a Remmy with black grips, I hope someone post pics of one. __________________ For a Complete Directory of Black Powder Specialty Forums, Please Visit BlackPowderSmoke.com

January 30, 2011, 11:21 PM	#6
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Black Powder Smoke Here You Go

January 31, 2011, 12:07 AM	#8
freedom475 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Location: Rocky Mountains of Montana Posts: 292	If you are looking for an antique look/finish. Then I beleive that leather dye or even Vinegaroon leather dye would give the best antique style finish... The Dye may rub off a little to begin with but the Vinegaroon will not. Vinegaroon is just rusty nails soaked in Vinegar for a a few weeks.. then when it is applied to leather it reacts to the tanic acids to form a jet black/charcoal finish to leaher... One of the original formulas is from the 1850's army manual..... This should react to the tanic acid in the wood exactly the same as a nail in a fence will turn the board black... You will have to sand the grips down a little if they have a varnish on them... But if you are after a real antique look this should work great for you... Oh and welcome to the North Corral,, pour some coffee set a spell!! ... glad to help and please share pics of your pistol... really like to see how it turns out... __________________ Maker of Horse Tack and Cowboy Gear. www.7xleather.com Mister, why do you carry a 45? "Cause Sam Colt don't make a 46."

January 31, 2011, 05:59 AM	#10
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Kameron I have a Pietta Lawman, which is a 1851 Pattern Colt in .44 with black grips that are made from a composite material and screwed to the revolver just like Remington grips. The material is essentially a plastic. You can buy slabs of material such as this from various vendors. It might take a phone call to verify the characteristics of the material you order because in general the description of the material is not sufficient. I have never examined the faux ivory grips that they sell for 135.00 a pair with the eagle carving. I would not be surprised to learn that they are plastic too and the eagle is not carved but injection molded and then roughed up to look carved. That means it costs about 50 cents to make them. If the eagle is actually carved it would probably be done on a machine, which means the cost of manufacture goes up exponentially (to a buck a pair) I want to emphasize....I have never seen a pair in person (only the photos) and I could be terribly wrong about them. BTW...Welcome to the forum. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. Last edited by Doc Hoy; January 31, 2011 at 06:06 AM.

January 30, 2011, 09:19 PM	#2
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	Obviously BLACK paint or BLACK stain. Any other color is not going to make them black. Duh

January 30, 2011, 10:49 PM	#5
kameron454ci Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: Montague. MI Posts: 85	yeah thanks for that... well I didnt just want to spray paint my grips i want something that wont chip, leave black crap on my hands and not look like a painted toy gun does anyone have any advice on this?

January 31, 2011, 12:33 AM	#9
kameron454ci Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: Montague. MI Posts: 85	thanks for the help guys with black grips and the Kirst my 5 1/2 inch 58 is going to have a whole new look. this gun is new and the blueing is dark i think I,m going for clean black more than a antique look

January 31, 2011, 10:22 AM	#11
BConklin Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2010 Posts: 136	I've done some wood staining with home made vinegaroon and the results can vary quite a bit. In musical instrument making, they often use Fiebling's Professional Oil Dye to stain non-ebony fretboards and fingerboards on stringed instruments to look like ebony. Heck - since pure black ebony is so hard to find these days - they even use it on real ebony. Google StewMac Black Fingerboard Stain You're probably going to have to strip whatever finish is on the grips now - but as for a quality job, I'd say iff'n it's good enough for banjos, it's good enough for gun grips.

January 31, 2011, 11:04 AM	#12
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	kameron454ci, See I was correct. You have to use BLACK paint or Black stains to get BLACK grips!

January 31, 2011, 12:58 PM	#14
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	There are a couple of companies making replacement grips in just about any color or finish you want. I got these in fake ivory but you could get black "horn" or something similar. The color is built in to the polymer so it wont peel or scratch off. They do take a little final fitting, but its easy to do. Prices vary with options but start at round $50.00, I added the "Pewter bear claw footprints" medallions to match my bag & holster for example. "www.TombstoneGrips.com" was the source & they have a brazillion samples at the website for you to check out. replaced the original wood which I wasn't thrilled with. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

January 31, 2011, 02:24 PM	#15
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	freedom475 - on leather, when you use vinegaroon to dye it, you have to neutralize it afterwards with baking soda slurry. What about when you use it on the wood - do you still need to neutralize it afterwards? Thanks! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

January 31, 2011, 02:28 PM	#16
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	kameron454 - forgot to say "welcome" to the forum. You'll meet a lot of good pards on here. Lot's of good information and help - don't be afraid to ask. As far as the rude remarks - let it run off . some folks don't know any better. Enjoy! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

January 31, 2011, 03:15 PM	#17
kameron454ci Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: Montague. MI Posts: 85	hmm a steel triger gaurd would be sweet to if you could blue it to match the gun I'm thinking of carring this gun when i get my ccp. tomarow my kirst will be here along with 50 200grn flat nose 45lc rounds I'm so excited!

January 31, 2011, 03:57 PM	#18
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	bedbugbilly, What's your problem? The truth is the truth!

January 31, 2011, 04:33 PM	#20
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	wogpotter, I guess you and I are the only ones here with a sense of HUMOR!

January 31, 2011, 04:50 PM	#21
kameron454ci Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: Montague. MI Posts: 85	just got a can of ebony stain ill post pic when done

January 31, 2011, 07:55 PM	#22
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	ok, ok, so you can remove the finish on the grips, then use a blow torch to lightly blacken the grips, then finish with a hard satin clear coat. So there junkman, you are wrong No stain, no paint, duh! __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

January 31, 2011, 08:11 PM	#23
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	...and the charred texture won't slip in your hand!

January 31, 2011, 11:07 PM	#24
Razor740 Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Location: Hoquiam, WA Posts: 36	OR..... strip/sand the grips to bare wood, hit with Black Magic Marker then black KIWI shoe polish... Easy, cheap... fast touch-up if you someday need to.. Been there, done that, works great...

February 1, 2011, 01:29 AM	#25
Bill Akins Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Hudson, Florida Posts: 1,135	Welcome to the forum kameron454ci. And here's another black gripped Remy pic for ya Blackpowdersmoke. My black grip Remy. The grips have been stained such a dark brown that they appear to be black. Just a thought here, I've never actually tried this, but if someone wanted to get their stain or dye to permeate very deeply or even all the way though the wood of the grips so that no chips would show a lighter color, I wonder if you put your dye or stain in a pressure cooker pot along with the grips and with the heat and pressure of the pressure cooker, if it might cause the stain/dye to permeate all through the wood. Anyone here ever tried that and was your wife mad at you for using her pressure cooker for that? Lol. Last edited by Bill Akins; February 1, 2011 at 01:36 AM.