Sidewinder Sambars

[45flint]

Get a request to post pic of this grip so here goes.  I started this grip 6 months ago for the then ordered Sidewinder.  I left it oversized so when the gun arrived I could fine fit it. Finished it last night.   This came from a deeply grooved Sambar antler end I got on ebay.  This roll was not real wide so had a lot of natural curve giving me the ability to cover the entire surface with figure.  Wanted these for carry so I wanted thin.  Magnets are small rare earth magnets you can get at any hobby store.  Really strong!! But can be prided off in seconds.   

[tocsn40]

Nice looking grips 

[tomhawes2002]

Awesome!!! VERY nice!!! Thanks! As I said earlier you are a true craftsman! So do you buy knife/gun grip blanks or start with the actual antler/horn/bone etc and work your way down? I believe you posted previously in another topic you do most of your work with a Dremil tool? You have inspired me to give it a go myself. Any advice or suggestions? What do you look for in materials? Mind if I ask is your background in the trades or crafts or purely a hobby and passion? Great innovation using the magnets makes for a much cleaner piece and maintains the strength and integrity of the piece. Once again beautiful work and thanks for sharing!

Tom

[tomhawes2002]

Hi Steve

One more question. I saw on another thread you mentioned you had previously done a whole thread about how you make your grips. I was wondering if you recall what the thread was called, or roughly what time frame it was started?

Thanks

Tom

[Dinadan]

45flint - those are beautiful grips! Seeing those makes me want order some antler and make a pair. And very good photography also.

[45flint]

I looked for some of my old posts and found them but it looks like none of the pictures migrated to the new website!  So those posts are kind of useless now cause I was posting pictures along the way as I made them so all you see is my commentary of pics that are gone.   I am a banker by profession just have always been be using my hands to make crafts like this all my life.   I started making them using knife scale blanks sold on Ebay.  I would recommend starting that way cause you will have a nice flat surface to start with.  I make them from raw antler as well but then you almost have to have a table belt sander to flatten to make your flat  blank.   Key really is the variable speed dremel.  And you need to get good timing epoxy drying!  I do a lot of adjusting when the epoxy is starting to stiffen but not hard yet.  Like most things your first takes the most time as you work out the issues.  I love the working out of all the issues, and seeing a antler and bringing out the best in it.  When you are looking for scales its got to be wide enough and I like 3/16 or thicker.  Got to remember what you see on the surface will mostly be sanded away, that can make it frustrating and fun.  In buying  antler scales you need to see back and side views: pith can make a scale useless.

[OV-1D]

I'd like to add don't be in a hurry finding the right angle to cut and use matching sides of antler when possible , just my opinion ofcourse . I'm still studing some of my pieces and it's been months , hahaha , hard to cut beautiful pieces .

[tomhawes2002]

Thanks for sharing the beautiful pieces you have made, the great and detailed pics and the information you provided. I am definitely going to give it a try! As I don't own a Dremel Tool, I was looking at them online and was debating between the corded and cordless. I am leaning towards the cordless version, specifically the the Dremel  8220-1/28 12-Volt Cordless Rotary Tool Kit. Any thoughts or suggestions here from anyone? Thanks!

[OV-1D]

Have atleast two batteries . Find the corded one more of a workhorse .

[45flint]

Looks nice, I have corded but cordless may be nice?   I often go outside because of the dust, string a cord out the screen door! 

[blitzkrieger]

Looks darn right nice flint

[tomhawes2002]

Thanks! I am concerned the cordless version may not have as much torgue as well as battery life being an issue.You don't find that the cord gets in the way at all?

[OV-1D]

No the cords not a problem , limber enough to stay out of the way . Sometimes I drape it over the top of the hand pointing out and away from arm if its an issue but really is a more constant working tool and last much longer . If you used enough battery powered tools you'd come to the conclusion there a pain in the as* , battery life , reliability only good for small jobs in the long run . Why not buy something thats good for darn near forever . If you own a battery tool long enough you'll find they don't make the batteries anymore and you WILL need to replace them sooner or later , gaurenteed . Good luck . P.S. have a corded one thats 40 years old or better and runs like the day I got it . I received a battery one a couple of years back already tossed it .

[blazinwv]

Fantastic job Flint! They really enhance a fine product.

[Dinadan]

I have made a few sets of grips, and I use a simple disk grinder to rough out the grip, then a battery dremel to finish shaping them, then sandpaper from 400 down to 1000 to polish. I use double side or folded duct tape to hold the grips when working on them: they are so small that my hands can hardly keep a grip on them otherwise. Like OV-ID says, two batteries are good to have. I also have an AC powered Dremel, but it is too powerful for really delicate work, even on the lowest setting, in my opinion.

[gofishr]

Nice job on the grips ..45flint...

[blazinwv]

Flint,

Where do you get your material?

[45flint]

I have a variable speed corded Dremel that gets pretty slow really excellent variabity.   I go to 600 on sand paper then two polishing compounds with felt wheels on Dremel.  Last one makes it like glass, Dremel is awesome for this.   Before gluing guides and mounting always do final flattening of your grip by hand sanding on a flat table on a large piece of sandpaper.  Test make sure no gaps against metal.  I usual get my material on ebay.  It is hit or miss.  Right now I see no Sambar scales I would use.   I have picked up antlers at craft shows.  Bought Elk dog chews.  By far the best material is true Sambar, very hard, great deep figure, high polish and can be gotten with no pith.  Mammoth ivory is excellent and most fascinating, and expensive.  Good Sambar is not cheap either.  Don't forget exotic woods.  These can be gotten very easily as knife scales on ebay. 

[RogueTS1]

Beautiful work Sir. I am not much for the birdshead grips but looking at yours makes me reconsider.

If you want the best rotary tools for fine detail work, hook up an air powered dremel with a foot rheostat. That is what is used in the labs and can be used at very fast speeds or very, very low speeds with little to no vibration.

[45flint]

Just an example of what can happen with scales.  I bought the mammoth ivory scales below, they didn't look that great on the surface but I thought I would end up sanding through all the surface issue.  Ended up I was correct and the boot grips below worked well with a ebony wood spacer.  Probably the best grip I have made and who would have known from the inial scale.  That is what is so fun and fascinating about doing this. 

[OV-1D]

Steve that material is out of this world , it's more that beautiful on those boot grips . Thats natures artwork .

[blazinwv]

Beautiful!

[Dinadan]

45flint - Those mammoth ivory grips are superb. I especially like the way you brought the grips forward and flared them over the hammer screw. That is a very nice touch, different from any other grips I have seen.

[45flint]

It takes an Earl to wear them.  I think that scale was $80 more than most would pay for finished grips.  And then you really don't know if it will work like you want.  Some of his scales were $150-200.  But thinking you are hold a mammoth tusk that is 40,000 years old is very cool.  I have one $100 mammoth scale I have not used yet,  waiting for the perfect spot.  Was thinking of a elaborate boot for the Sidewinder that would come up to the shields.  Would be a bear to pull off.

[tomhawes2002]

Steve

You truly are a Master Craftsman! I also really appreciate the way you are willing to share detailed pictures your techniques with everyone on the forum. Thank you to dinadan & OV-1D for sharing as well.

Tom

[45flint]

You guys have inspired me to pull out the mammoth scales I got last year but never got around to using.  The two smaller ones were not that expensive. Think I will make some birds head for the sidewinder out of those small blue green ones in the center.  Just enough material to do it.  I just don't feel I got the right project for these big ones yet.  The crazy pattern ones are Mammoth teeth.  Almost too thin for grips.

[OV-1D]

Alright Steve you can stop now your killing me , those pieces ............boy you gotta be brave to figure out and cut those art works . I've already got too much , now your messing up my whole schedule , shame on you ..............or me . HaHa .

[ikoiko]

You have some really nice stock there Flint. The mammoth tooth is especially nice.

[4 dr Rubi]

Beautiful Grips, I was happy to get the Sidewinders, now I'm jealous again! Great job 

[ikoiko]

Flint
Given any thought to layering the mammoth tooth? Something appropriate to bulk up the middle layer?

Is there enough there for a ppk(s) or sig 238/ 938 by itself?

Just think'n (yes, I know that's dangerous)

[ikoiko]

Flint
Somehow I missed your mammoth boot grips. Very, very nice.

[boone123]

Flint
That Sidewinder is awesome looking.
I bought some antler pieces from a guy about 8 years ago that was making mini grips. I think it was in Cody WY.
I have a lot of antlers from when I was messing with knives, but nothing like what I bought. They even look good just laying there.

[45flint]

Thanks for the thought of laying the Mammoth tooth to be able to use it.  It would look pretty cool with a ebony backing.  It is about 1/8 inch thick, normally I would not have bought it but I think it was $15? and just thought it looked cool.

[ikoiko]

I was picturing the mammoth on top of something dark. That will look really nice.

[cedarview kid]

Wow, very nice.