Refinished Colt Python grips

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a 1960's Python wearing the original grips. They were showing some scratches, a few dents, and worn off varnish. This past Friday it was raining, so I decided to refinish them. Let me say, I am not an expert and did not run out and buy any materials. I used what I had on hand to do the job.

Here's a shot of the "before":

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Next, I soaked them in some stripper. It took the old finish off in less than 5 minutes. A little scrubbing with a toothbrush cleaned out the checkering.

If you are wondering about the emblems. I chose not to remove them. The were staked in pretty tight. I didn't want to gouge around with a tool and end up spliting the grips....The stripper did not hurt them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

There were a few dents in the bottom of them. A little steaming with an iron and wet cloth raised them. It didn't bring them out 100%, but made them less deep. I choose not to sand on them to try and sand them out all the way. (About only sanding I did was at the top of the right grip above the emblem to take out some fine scratches.)

Here is a before and after:

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The walnut wood was a little too "white" for me. I gave them a wipe down with some cherry wood restorer that I had sitting on the shelf to add a little red color.

This pic shows the left bare and the right stained:

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Nex, I put on some Tru-Oil...followed by 6+ coats over the next few days. I only put 3 or 4 coats over the checkering, though, so as to not fill up the lines. I put the last coat on last night and then laid them out in the sun for a bit this morning.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Here is the end result. Not too bad, IMO, for probably less than hour of actually work if you totalled it all up.

 

[rcmodel]

Look'n good!

Only tip I would have is, if you apply Tru-Oil to finished checkering?
Dab it on with your finger, then use a clean old toothbrush to brush out all you can while it is still wet.

The end result will be sealed & beautiful checkering with no dried Tru-Oil in the bottoms of the lines.

PS: Maybe you don't have dried oil in the lines? I can't tell from the photo's?

rc

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Thanks for the tip.

I applied it very, very sparingly with a piece of cotton t-shirt. I did a pretty good job not filling in the cuts. The checkering is still pretty sharp for a well handled, nearly 50 year old set of grips.

 

[788Ham]

Is this the same Python you were "thinking" about parting with a short while back? Very nice job on the grips, almost a perfect match!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes, that is the same gun...Thanks.