Author Topic: Removing grip frame for fitting of custom grips (Read 1032 times)

HollicaSnooze · « **on:** February 20, 2006, 03:25:18 AM »

I want to have some custom grips fitted to my Models 83 and 97 and need to send the frames for a "persact" fit :wink:

Beyond the obvious screw removal, can anyone offer tips on properly dealing with the mainspring for both disassembly/reassembly of these two
models?

4MUL8R · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2006, 12:14:44 PM »

Ditto for me! I found a field grade and would like linen micarta grips instead. Seems silly to pay a million dollars to send something across country and back if the frame would work.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2006, 05:04:56 PM »

Seems like an ideal time for Bob Baker to make one of his magic appearances to tell us the proper way to do this. Are ya out there Bob?

HollicaSnooze · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2006, 04:23:31 PM »

he just happened to answer the phone as it was late in the day.

He very politely and professionally declined to offer a takedown/reassembly procedure "over the phone", instead referring me to a local 'smith that I could trust.

Problem is, that situation does not exist, would much rather approach the situation with my own set of Brownell's hollow-grounds vs. letting some former blacksmith turn screws on two "lifetime" revolvers.....

Last time I had a S & W 396 in for a minor sight change he buggered it up so bad it had to go back to the factory for refinishing..... :x

I can't see taking down the FA's to be too big of a deal, just was curious as to how to deal with the leaf mainspring as it can't be staked like a Ruger.

HollicaSnooze

Boxhead · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2006, 04:49:22 PM »

It does perturb me that FA does not supply clear disassembly instructions in their owners manuals. Leaving it to someone with zero instruction to proceed and either damage the gun or themselves seems like a bad policy. If the conservative lawyers at Ruger can do it I would expect FA to.

4MUL8R · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2006, 02:13:13 PM »

Talked to nice lady at FA today. She advised that to fit the grip frames one needed to send the entire revo to FA.

MarkH · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2006, 02:11:31 AM »

Greetings all.

To take the gripframe off of an 83, take the grips off and note what kind of mainspring you have. One is held on by a nut, and the other fits into a slot in the gripframe.

Generally, just unscrew the gripframe. There is a coil handspring at the back of the gun you don't want to lose. You also don't want to lose the bolt and trigger springs that are in the bottom of the frame. For the slot mainspring, there really is nothing to do other than just let it snap as the gripframe comes loose. I generally remove four screws, and then remove the last while squeezing the gripframe and mainframe together.

It is a good idea to lay the screws out on the table in the order they were removed and remember that order.

When reassembling, you have to make sure the bolt and trigger springs are lined up in their slots and that you do not bind the handspring. Then you have to compress the mainspring by hand (if it is the slot type) and press the gripframe into the mainframe, while driving one screw home (one of the screws by the trigger works best). Let up just a little and the mainspring will snap loose and you'll be starting over.

For more detailed information, join the Freedom Arms Collectors Association and buy some back issues of the Five Shot Journal.

Freedom Arms spends enough on liability problems as it is, I expect.