I am making an added on pistol grip of walnut for a shotgun (horrors) but I cannot find a picture of one, although I have seen a few in the flesh and pictures, all on rifles, mostly single shots.
Can anyone point me to some pictures, please. I am most interested in the front end transition as it flows into the pistol portion. The checkering pattern also would be helpful. Thanks.
Dennis

Here’s a link to a previous post with a nice example from SDH:

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=513967&page=all

Here is one on my Axtell 77



And a different style that I put on a Shiloh 74. It is uncheckered.

Thanks to all for the response. Brent, I am particularly drawn to the one on your 77. There is also a nice one on on a Sharps in the Sharps book. I may even post a picture when done. A shotgun (horrors).
Dennis

I had a William Evans hammer double, probably about 1870s vintage, that had a couple of interesting holes in the trigger bow's tang that suggested it may have had a pistol grip on it. I am surprised I don't see more of them on shotguns.

The 77's grip is very functional. A Shiloh with a standard pistol grip is so long that even for a large hand, it is as if it was a straight grip and is of no help in shouldering the rifle. The Axtell (made by Axtell), is close enough to get the job done extremely well. The one that I made for the 74 is also very functional for the same reason. I made it from Desert Ironwood which made it easy to polish and it feels really good in the hand.

Brent,
Very nice work on the pistol grips.
Dennis

Brent, what is it like to work with ironwood? I have a good-size piece but haven'r done anything with it because I wasn't sure what tools would work/survive.

Dennis Potter,
As you have said you have found pictures of added on pistol grip to single shots and I think most of what has been shown here on the post, as well done as they are, may be similar to what you have already reviewed (just a guess on my part). But I think that a very nice grip could be fashioned to straddle the straight grip and then inletted onto the grip. You would remove wood to a small depth all the way around the rifle grip and then carve the new wood grip to fit over the area where the wood was removed. It would look similar to the rifle in the bsteele link.
Here is a link to an upcoming auction of a Maynard with a pistol grip. Look pass the form of the grip itself but look how the lines are around the edge. Although this is not a fitted piece of wood, it could be. Let you imagination flow and hopefully you can see it.
Maynards
If you want to discuss you can pm me and we can connect

It works very well with files, but does not carve reasonably with knives and chisels have limited utility. It will polish to semigloss without finish. Dust can be dangerous, of course.

LRF,
Thanks for the thoughts and the photo. The Maynard looks to be a restock, my guess, and if the pistol grip is added on, it sure is great work But it may be made in one piece, the grain lines look to run from the butt and into the grip. Most interesting rifle, and great work. It will take me a while to get mine running, but I will post pix when done.
Dennis

Yes I know the Maynard was restocked and yes I know the grip on it is part of the actual stock. Apparently, I was not able to communicate what I had envisioned.

Dennis, I think there are two philosophies of bolt on pistol grips. One is to try to hide it and make it appear as if it is all one piece. The Axtell 1877 Sharps is like that.

The other way is to make it a feature and show it off as in the 1874 Sharps. Both work but I like going with the feature philosophy because it is a little more unusual and gives you a chance to try something a bit more creative.

I look forward to seeing whatever approach you take. I'm sure it will be great.

Back in the 1800's they also offered hard rubber grip adapters for some single shot rifles to add on. And steel checkered grip adapters too! I've got a hard rubber on my Rolling Block Sporting Rifle, and a steel I took off a Trapdoor Springfield I once owned.

Vall, didn't someone make aluminum grips too? Maybe in the 20th century? Seems that I have seen that somewhere.

Thanks to those who responded to my request for pictures. I also looked a a grip adapter in The Sharps book. I had to have one, so here is mine, I can post a few pictures of mine if someone can post them for me, please. A screw holds it in place through the guard tang and into the wood. Now to try it out.

Send your pics to brentd@iastate.edu and I'll post them for you.

Brent

Dennis, if you sent any pictures, I never received them.

Pictures for Dennis, I like this one a lot. A Prince of Wales grip is sweet.

I recently sold a William Evans hammer gun with a very long pull and a very suspicious screw hole in the lower tang. Almost certainly it was for something like this but whatever was bolted on there was long gone.

Looks great!