Crazy ass idea of the day.

[Zundfolge]

I've always been a fan of nice wood grips on a pistol, but in this day and age with so many plastic pistols I fear the days of wood grips may be coming to an end (at least for EDC pieces). So I've been looking at the SIG P250 and thinking, wouldn't it be cool to carve a grip frame out of wood? Something pretty like rosewood.

Been googling around but it doesn't look like anyone has done it yet ... kinda surprised nobody has.

[thvigil11]

I got a carvewright machine a few years ago. I haven't played with it in over a year, but I did do a 3d scan of some 1911 grips and successfully carved a set out of walnut. At the time I toyed with the idea of making grips, but it never took off. The biggest issue is that I would need a set of grips for each model of pistol to scan and then replicate. Maybe I'll get of my ass and start a buisness.

[MrPrena]

I remember nill grip use to be really popular for Sigs. I wonder how they are doing these days.

[thvigil11]

Now I see the P250 is a solid frame, that would be a little more difficult for the carvewright machine. Would probably need to be done on a better machine, or there would be a lot of hand work.

[Zundfolge]

I'm thinking this is where having a CNC machine set up for wood would work real well ... of course someone really talented could do it by hand.

I was also thinking more of a one-off thing, not mass production to sell (but hey, that could work too).

[thvigil11]

Yeah, I get it. The carvewright is a cnc machine but it has some limits to its abilities. Also there is the question of making a registered part for sell. If you did it yourself for yourself, no problem, but try to transfer it and get ready for a reaming.

[Sawin]

You're talking about making an entire frame out of wood, not just the grips? Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to think that even with embedded metal slide rails, it's going to crack.... eventually...the problem with wood is it has grains that are built in weak points, perfect for cracking....

[Zundfolge]

Also there is the question of making a registered part for sell.

The grip frame of the Sig P250 is NOT a registered part, that's the point of using the P250 as a base. The whole point of the P250 is that you buy one "Fire Control Group" which is the serial numbered "Firearm" according to ATF and then swap out grip frames and uppers to your heart's content. Here's SIG's page (http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductList/pistols-p250.aspx)which explains it much better.

This is the FCG ... the "Firearm" according to the ATF.
http://americancopmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SIG-NEW-4.jpg

Grip assemblies are available from SIG for $46 each (http://www.sigsauer.com/SigStore/p250-grip-module-assembly-335.aspx)...shipped directly to your door without going through an FFL.



You're talking about making an entire frame out of wood, not just the grips? Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to think that even with embedded metal slide rails, it's going to crack.... eventually...the problem with wood is it has grains that are built in weak points, perfect for cracking....

Yeah, I'd need to look over how the Fire Control Group fits into the plastic frames. I'm thinking you'd need to make it a little beafier than the plastic ones, but a good tight grained hardwood would probably be able to take the recoil impulse pretty well (probably wouldn't want to run tens of thousands of rounds through it though.

[thvigil11]

You're talking about making an entire frame out of wood, not just the grips? Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to think that even with embedded metal slide rails, it's going to crack.... eventually...the problem with wood is it has grains that are built in weak points, perfect for cracking....

Yes, I do agree, but there are some species of wood that may be more suitable and could provide an adequate lifespan. We aren't talking carving a frame out of a piece of 2x4 pine. One would need to do some testing and select the piece specifically looking at the grain, eliminate any pieces with flaws and in the end take a good S.W.A.G.

Could be a fun project for a "lets see if you can do it" but I'm not sure I would rely on it for EDC. At least without an assload of testing. The time and effort in R&D would override any marketability, but would make an interesting one of a kind piece.

[thvigil11]

[QUOTE=Zundfolge;1405581]The grip frame of the Sig P250 is NOT a registered part, that's the point of using the P250 as a base. The whole point of the P250 is that you buy one "Fire Control Group" which is the serial numbered "Firearm" according to ATF and then swap out grip frames and uppers to your heart's content. Here's SIG's page (http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductList/pistols-p250.aspx)which explains it much better.

This is the FCG ... the "Firearm" according to the ATF.
http://americancopmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SIG-NEW-4.jpg



Neat, did not know that.

[sniper7]

Or just to have one on the wall as a conversation piece is cool as well. Put a duck dynasty stamp on it and it will sell like hot cakes!

[Zundfolge]

Could be a fun project for a "lets see if you can do it" but I'm not sure I would rely on it for EDC. At least without an assload of testing. The time and effort in R&D would override any marketability, but would make an interesting one of a kind piece.
That was my original thinking.

I suspect that someone real good with wood could make a hella cool BBQ piece out of one though.

[Irving]

Not worth it unless you put a picatinny rail on it.

[thvigil11]

I'm totally with you now. The possibilities are endless. Once the process is down, you could make all sort of designs. Can you picture a 250 with some sick target grips.

[Zundfolge]

Considering how many beautiful rifle stocks have been cut and carved out of wood, I'm thinking once you get a process of cutting the insides precisely so the FCG drops in nicely the sky could be the limit ... including something like a Free-pistol or bullseye pistol grip.

[BPTactical]

Laminated wood would be the way to go...

[lpgasman]

Found a billet blank.

36397

Might be forged.
[LOL]

[buffalobo]

Phenolic...

[skullybones]

Phenolic...

What about it? Other than it sucks to machine.

[Zundfolge]

Phenolic...

Might as well stick with the factory cast plastic bits then.

[cstone]

I've seen someone who has been using Plastic Weld to customize one of his P250 grips. I am considering giving it a try. The stock P250 grip frame only runs about $30, so replacing it is pretty easy and not very expensive.

Is anyone aware of any plastic that could be molded to make a custom grip that would then be hardened with UV or some other catalyst?

The only real complaint I have about the P250 is the lack of aftermarket sights, grips, accessories for them. I would have thought the modularity of the P250 would have drawn more interest.

[TFOGGER]

Paging Tim K...CNC wood guy to the white courtesy telephone...