Mini Smith "Mountain Gun" Grips

[HighValleyRanch]

I've been scouting some oversize target grips to fit my J Frame .357 magnum model 60 with a 3" barrel.

When I saw a video about Smith And Wesson collaboration with Lipsey's for the new Mountain Guns, I fell in love with the grips on them. The design comes down from the original Ropers, Skeltons, BluMagnums and then Tyler Gunworks.

So I decided just to make my own. Crafted out of some fancy walnut.
I scaled the grips down a little to match the proportions of the smaller J frame, but kept the lines of the stocks on the new Mountain Guns, with just a little more flare at the bottom. Took me about a day and half, having to hand inlet for the J frame round butt, then shape with sanding drums and hand sanding.
Just an oil finish on the stocks.

They feel fantastic in the hand, and make the little J frame more like a K frame in feel. Just got done, so haven't had a chance to shoot with them yet.
No one that I could find anyone that makes any thing like these for the J frames.

[CleanDean]

I give you a big congrats for the craftsmanship. For you , there is a bigger benefit , cuz they are molded to fit your hand.

[Mannlicher]

well done indeed. Stylish, AND useful!

[Pumpkin]

You probably created the best Mountain Gun.
Powerful, portable and very compact.
Beautiful grips by the way!

[tlm225]

Very nicely done!

[bamaranger]

When I first saw the pic, my impression was that someone had shrunk an L-frame!!!!! I would think that a J-frame with all up .357 loads would need all the the grip that could be arranged and the set crafted by the OP would be just the ticket. Nicely done!

[HighValleyRanch]

Thanks everyone.
Yes, it does feel exactly like a shrunk down L frame!
The grip is just about the same size and one I crafted for my square butt K frame.

[rodfac]

OUTSTANDING Work! How'd you do the inletting....I've stared for literally years at the insides of Smith grips trying to figure out how to get a router to do the work without free handing it and possibly removing one of my fingers....Rod

[HighValleyRanch]

RodFac, thanks for asking.
On the freehand routing, I use a clear base on the router so I can see better. I use a 1/4" straight double fluted bit.
I take out the locator pin on the frame so that I can best lay it flat and trace the best out line of the frame. You can't get it exact, but close enough. I include the upper part which has to be insetted deeper.
I do three cuts to get to the right depth. ONLY take I/3 or less of the router diameter cut. That is the key to keep it from wandering. I just route the entire cutout. On the third cut, I set the exact depth by using a grip that has already been insetted, either my own, or one that has been cnc cut to the right depth.
Once I can get the frame fitted into the routed cutout, then I trace the upper part of the frame including the half circle key. I take two cuts to get the right depth using the model grips for correct depth.

FWIW, I have been a well knowncustom grip maker for over thirty year making anatomical grips for the Bullseye community. I was most likely the only one doing everything by had. For most of the guns, I made jigs that I would inlet with a router setup that was made for cutting dovetail joints. But for most of the revolvers and custom guns, I did the routing by hand.
I retired two years ago from my grip business, and so doing these grips brought back a lot of memories.

[rodfac]

HighValley, Many thanks for the explanation...I've copied it to a document file for use in my shop. You do outstanding work, Senor.

I've done over a dozen single action grips for friends and family, mostly Rugers but a couple of Colt SAA's as well. I'm well familiar with fitting that ~90 angle at the top of the frame, locating and drilling for the locating hole, partial routing for the lock on some...but that all pales to insignificance to routing the mortices on a Smith. I'll give it another try!

Here are some of my Rugers. The 3rd one down from the top (a .41 Mag, 3-screw with a four digit serial number) was made from spalted poplar horse fencing which had not dried enough and shrunk after finishing.

To fix it, I recut the bottom bevels, epoxied in a contrasting piece, then recut the bevel...it was a jury rig fix for sure, but I ended up liking it, LOL.

The 2nd pic is a Single Six I found in a local pawn shop...a very nice SS but the original Ruger grips were undersized by nearly a 1/16" of an inch. I replaced those with this set of Circassion walnut that I made up a few weeks ago. Tung oil is the finish on them.

Thanks again and best regards Rod

[CSO Dobb]

Those grips are very nice. I have that same pistol, with an old set of Herrett's grips. This is my favorite gun to carry when I go hiking of camping.

[HighValleyRanch]

CSO Dobb, are those Herrett's Shooting Aces?
I saw those elsewhere and tried to find a set, but pretty difficult to locate a set for sale as they are in high demand. Looks really nice.



Excellent work, rodfac! What did you use to shape the grips?
I like your solution to the shrunk set. I've done similar. Just have to be creative.

I designed a stand with a horizontal mandrell that I can fit various size
sanding drums and sanding discs onto for the hand shaping. Works fantastic, and much faster than rasp or even Dremel.

Here's a carved set I knocked out for my matel single action LOL! HVR for HighValleyRanch, and a carved steer head done with Dremel and carving tools.

[CSO Dobb]

High Valley Ranch, those are Herrett's shooting aces. I found them several years ago as new old stock on eBay. I just held on to them until I found the perfect gun to put them on.

[Drm50]

I bought a set of S&W N frame Target grips at a show about 5 yrs ago. NIB Eagle brand?
Nice exotic wood. That’s good news, at the time I didn’t think about N grips possibly being
Round Butt. I went to put them on a m28 and found out I screwed up. Not the 1st time I’ve bought wrong grips or magazines, and probably not the last. I’m just waiting for some other fool to buy square butts for his round butt and strike up a trade.

[HighValleyRanch]

Drm,
I actually buy square butt J frame grips for my round butt because I like the bigger grip.
I solve the problem by making an insert that fits the gap and glue it onto one side. Now I can have Square butt grips on my round butt frame.

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