Vintage walnut pistol grips

otter6412

October 23, 2013 08:44

I'm cleaning up a 70 year old pistol with nice walnut grips. No cracks, but very dry. Should I leave them alone or rub something on them?

Thanks

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  260

  October 23, 2013 08:52

  rub on some OLD ENGLISH

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  perry shooter

  October 23, 2013 16:17

  Ballistol Will clean and feed the wood you can use on metal Wood Leather and is NON TOXIC

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  He Dog

  October 24, 2013 05:01

  You should never oil woood, despite the fact that oil is sold for wood. It will soak in and eventually discolor the wood. Wax, like Trewax or even Johnsons if far better. Several coats.

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  charliemeyer007

  October 24, 2013 05:32

  I favor handling them by taking them shooting, between you and the gun oil it is usually enough.

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  ruger41

  October 25, 2013 19:10

  Forum member & Moderator Bert H. turned me onto this stuff http://www.oldwestsnakeoil.com/
  I use it on everything from gun stocks to our dining room table. Great stuff.

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  competentone

  October 26, 2013 04:36

  What is the pistol? And what is its overall condition? That could make a difference for choosing what you do.
  
  If its something with significant collector's value, and the grips are in their original condition, anything you do to them might degrade value. If the overall condition of the pistol is good/original -- and there is collector value -- you'll probably want to find out how the pistol left the factory and finish/maintain it consistent with that.

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  nmyers

  October 26, 2013 04:53

  According to the curators at the Springfield Armory National Museum, wood on guns doesn't need oil.
  
  Wood only gets dry when most of the natural moisture gets removed by improper storage; e.g., 40-50 years in a house with forced hot air heating & no humidifier. Over the years, internal moisture will drop to near 0%, & the wood will eventually crack & crumble.
  
  Oil such as tung & linseed will help prevent damage from moisture & keep dirt from soiling wood, but won't preserve the wood if the internal structure is already damaged. Petroleum based oils, as in gun oil, will discolor & damage wood.
  
  Neal

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