New Bisley Grip Frames

[caryc]

I have had a couple of the new stainless Bisley grip frames sent to me for grips now. The current one is from a Bisley New Vaquero, I don't remember what the other one was, probably New Vaquero as well.

Anyway, I'm thinking this is a whole new mold that they are using. I used to have two different router templates that I used. One for carbon steel frames and a larger one for stainless steel frames.

I have now noticed that my smaller carbon steel frame template fits the New stainless Bisley frame better. For one thing as you see in the first pic, the new frames do not have the ears on them that used to fit into the cylinder frames. This makes it easier to fit grips onto them.

In the second pic you see a stock Bisley grip maybe about 8 years old and it actually kind of fits the stainless frame better than it did on the older stainless frames, I mean at least around the top of the grip.

But the rest of the grip doesn't come close to fitting. As you can see in the third pic, the grip is hanging way over on the front strap and in the bottom pic you see that it comes up way short at the back strap.

I don't even use the router templates any more, I just fit all the Bisley grips by hand. I've gotten used to it so it's second nature to me now.

But, here's what I was wondering. Does anyone have a new Bisley Blackhawk? Are they using this same frame on the Blackhawks now?

 

[Boots41]

Cary, I just bought a new stainless Bisley in 41 mag made in August 2011 and it looks exactly like the one in your photos. It has the laminate grips and the fit is not even close to the frame. They are short from the bottom and undersize on the backstrap and the area where they are supposed to fit the top curved section. I ordered some Hogue ebony grips from Midway and hopefully they will fit better. Hope this helps your question.

 

[M'BOGO]

I got a blued in the white frame kit from Brownells about a year and a half ago, and it doesn't have the ears/ tabs protruding, like the older grip frames. Was that what you were asking?

 

[caryc]

Thanks for the info from both you guys. What I'm wondering is if they are using this new frame on all the Bisleys now.

M'BGO,

Did you try any older Bisley grip panels on that frame and if so how do they fit?

As you guys may have guessed. All this crap with Bisley frames is why I don't even make Bisley grips unless the customer sends me his frame for fitting.

Buy a ready made pair of Bisley grips from anyone and you are spinning the Roulette wheel. Of course you could always get lucky and get a pair that fit decently. It all depends on what you consider a decent fit.

 

[M'BOGO]

I've got some older ('90's early 2000's) factory grips around, I'll take a gander.

I fitted some foux ivory grips to them, thankfully they were oversize. The Hogue scales, on the blue frame got compliments at Mag-Na-Port for being so well fitted, when it was dropped off for some work. Made me warm inside.

 

[BIgMuddy]

Cary

My Lipsey's FT 44 Special Bisley has the "ears". I have a set of grips on mine now from an early 90's Bisley and they don't fit great. They are short on the back and long on the front. I have tried probably 5 different sets of grips and these fit the best, except for the laminated grips that came on the gun. As you said, it is hit or miss with more misses than hits.

Dan

 

[kelbro]

I've had more misses than hits with my SBH Hunter. Exact opposite with my Lipseys 44 special.

 

[dougader]

I have a 44 special flat top Bisley and the grips from my 45 Colt Bisley don't even come close to fitting. The grips on the 44 Special Bisley are quite a bit smaller.

 

[Rclark]

I'll check my blued .44Spec Bisley when I get home for ears, but I bought a set of Buffalo bone grips from Eagle Grips that did not fit well at all. Seems like I saw what your seeing above. After returning them, they credited my CC account as they said these grips wouldn't fit my gun after all....

 

[57Frontier]

Where are you guys buying your bisley grip frame kits? I checked Brownells and they are out of stock. Anywhere else?

 

[Rclark]

Dupe post.

 

[Rclark]

Here is mine with the 'bad' grips .44Spec :

 

[caryc]

What you guys have to understand is that the big companies like Eagle and Hogue make cookie cutter grips. That is, that they use CNC machines to create their grips.

The programs for those machines were probably created years ago. They are not going to agree with the Bisley frames Ruger is using now. Of course if you send them your grip frame for fitting, they will probably do a good job.

As I've frequently told people, Ruger's blued and stainless Bisley frame always were different sizes. One pair of grips that fit well on one frame would not fit well on the other.

I guess you see now why I don't make Bisley grips at all unless the customer sends me their Bisley grip frame for fitting.

 

[CraigC]

I've even got stainless Bisleys of the same vintage that won't interchange. There's just too much variation to expect off the shelf grips to fit. Which is why all mine are fitted.

 

[Rclark]

Makes sense to me . Either custom fitted or oversized so customer can sand down to fit. I did the oversize route once and it worked good with some elbow grease of course.

Note I tried the Eagle Grips route because I wanted to try some Buffalo Bone and so 'took a chance' and 'lost' .

 

[caryc]

Makes sense to me . Either custom fitted or oversized so customer can sand down to fit. I did the oversize route once and it worked good with some elbow grease of course.

Note I tried the Eagle Grips route because I wanted to try some Buffalo Bone and so 'took a chance' and 'lost' .

Buffalo bone? Do you mean buffalo horn? The last time I looked at an Eagle grips brochure, I think they would hand fit grips if you sent them your grip frame.

Being a grip maker, I get "Is it really necessary for me to send my frame to you" quite a lot. If there is any grip maker that guarantees you a 100% fit without having your grip frame he is lying to you.

Of course its like spinning the Roulette wheel. It is possible to come up a winner. Ruger grip frames vary. That's the truth. When buying off the shelf grips, it just depends on how good you expect them to fit.

I can certainly understand that no one wants to be sitting around with 3/4 of a gun. But think of it this way. You could buy a set of off the shelf grips that maybe don't fit too well because someone at the factory left the bottom corners of the grip frame too sharp or put too large a radius on them. You could be sitting and looking at those grips a month or so after receiving them and thinking....Hmmm, if I'd sent this frame in to have the grips fitted I would have had it back by now with these grips fitting the frame like they really should. The whole thing is up to you.

 

[Rclark]

Yep, meant those black Buffalo Horn gunfighter style grip panels.

I totally agree with you ... Perfect fitted grips? Send in your frame....
Or make your own...
Or request slightly oversize...

Tis the only way to get 'perfect' grips (in owners eyes).

I can certainly understand that no one wants to be sitting around with 3/4 of a gun.

I suspect this isn't a usual problem as usually you have more than one revolver handy to get in your shooting fix!

 

[caryc]

I can certainly understand that no one wants to be sitting around with 3/4 of a gun.

I suspect this isn't a usual problem as usually you have more than one revolver handy to get in your shooting fix!

R, It's actually the dissecting part that is so hard for the owners to go through.

 

[98Redline]

R, It's actually the dissecting part that is so hard for the owners to go through.

Getting things apart is easy!

Getting things back together takes the skill......

 

[Rclark]

R, It's actually the dissecting part that is so hard for the owners to go through.

Oh, I never thought of that.... Almost the first thing I do with mine is tear 'em down, degrease, clean, oil, stone here and there, and then put back together .

 

[Walter Rego]

FWIW, I bought a beautiful set of cocobolo stocks from Esmeralda for my Lipsey's .44 Special Bisley Flat Top, (blue) and they required very minor fitting at the top edges to get them to come up high enough on the frame for the pin to fit the hole, and quite a bit of fitting at the front strap contour. The overhang at the front strap looked like the photos in this thread, I had to remove about 2mm of wood.