Pearl grips for SW model 10

[opr1945]

Awhile back I purchased a set of "pearl" grips for a SW model 10 on ebay. I received them and they looked okay.

tonight I tried them on the gun and I discovered that one grip was wider than the other. the right grip sticks out from the frame about 1/32 of an inch on both the front and back of the grip frame. The left grip fits flush to the grip frame. (I paid about $35.00 for them)

Questions:
1. how do I tell if they are "real" pearl grips or imitation?

2. if they are imitation what are they likely to be mad of? doesn't really feel like plastic.

3. Can I Just take a belt sander to the grip to make it fit flush? And if I do how do I restor the luster/shine?

thanks.

 

[Jim K]

If you paid $35 for them, they are not mother of pearl. They are probably plastic, but nicking the back with a knife should tell. Real mother or pearl is hard, plastic is soft.

Assuming they are plastic, you should be able to cut them with a knife; if you grind them, acetone should restore the shine. Again, try any work on the inside of the grips first.

Jim

 

[owlhoot]

Hold on. You might have gotten lucky and purchased real mother of pearl. I can't believe you can't tell the difference by the appearance. The real thing will have much more "depth" when you look at the grips. You should also be able to see different colors refracted as you turn the grips in your hands in good light.

Do not use a belt sander or any sort of grinder on either real or imitation pearl. If you have real pearl or imitation, the fitting prodedure will be the same. Start with 250 grit sand paper and carefully get the grip down to nearly where you want it then switch to 400 grit and then to 600 or even finer if you can find it. To polish, put a muslin wheel on your Dremel or grinder and use a good paste polish. The wheel will buff it so that you won't be able to tell it from original. If you don't have a Dremel, just use the paste and a soft cloth. You can get the same effect but it takes much longer.

WARNING: If the grips are real MOP, you must be very careful not to breath any of the dust. It's just like glass and will embed itself in your lungs. So use a good mask.

All of the imitation grips are plastic of one kind or another. Some imitations are much better than others. Ajax (RIP) was probably the worst. Many of the imitations will also warp a little with time. The worst ones will darken.

If you have real pearl, be careful not to over-tighten the grip screw. The stress can crack the pearl.

I hope you were lucky and got the genuine article. They are beautiful. I have them on five of my guns.

 

[StrawHat]

I agree with what owlhoot says and would only add that you should do most of the fitting off the revolver.

For the final fitting put one layer of tape over the grip strap so you don't mar the finish while polishing the grips.

I got ivory for my M&P cheaper than I would have gotten a set of factories, luck does happen sometimes.

 

[madcratebuilder]

This is Mother of Pearl, even in a photo it's pretty obvious.


This is imitation MoP.


I fit the plastic panels with 320 grit to start and work up to 1200 grit and then hand polish with automotive rubbing compound.

 

[opr1945]

The flat part of the grips has lots of shine and reflects various colors as you turn it. However near the edges the grips seem to have faded or turned yellowish and there is not the sparkle that is on the flat part of the grips.

I'm guessing that means they are plastic?

 

[SaxonPig]

Real pearl (and ivory, for that matter) is heavy. If they feel heavy in your hand they are real. Fakes always feel light.

 

[owlhoot]

No, OPR, you may still have the genuine article. MOP can dull with the passage of time. The good thing is that you can polish it back to the original shine rather quickly. Use a little polishing compound and a soft cloth and see if the luster doesn't come back. Yellow color is not uncommon in pearl grips. The yellow on yours may be discoloration from oil and crud or it may be in the grips themselves. You can tell which it is when you polish.

Madcratebuilder, that's a lovely piece of plunder you have there.