Straight stock conversion

[Rick Riddell]

I was curious how hard this might be, going from a pistol grip to straight stock? I know a long tang trigger guard is needed, would the shape and design of the pistol grip affect the outcome of the straight stock?

[B. Dudley]

It can be done and had been done a lot with many different makes of guns. Heck, I have seen an original Parker G grade that was converted from PG to SG at the Meriden factory.

The biggest consideration with doing this to any gun is proper form when all is said and done (if you care about such things, which you should). If you take a straight edge and connect the front of the grip to the toe of the stock, this will give you the new toe line. Then look at the grip. Is it even going back behind the action? Ideally you do not want the look of a pinch in front of the comb. You either want it an even thickness or it to get slightly fatter as it gos back. And you done want to have a perch belly in the toe line of the stock either.

And, if this is being done to a finished stock with good sharp checkering, you have to figure how that is going to be worked out with extending and modifying the pattern.

[Rick Riddell]

Excellent!!! Thank you Brian for the reply!!

[Dean Romig]

Further - The angle of the top tang of the frame varies somewhat between the PG frame and the SG frame. This could be an obstacle to attaining those desired contours Brian mentions above.





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[edgarspencer]

These three guns are all 0 frame, the top is a VHE28, the other two DHE20s.
There is no measurable difference in the top tangs. I first held one atop the other, then used a 12" Profile gauge
The top gun an original Meriden straight, the middle and original Meriden PG, and the bottom is a Meriden PG, converted to straight. The conversion was one of Otis Odum's creations

[Rick Riddell]

Thanks Edgar!!! I love the straight grip, might have this one converted, but I would lose some history on it, decisions, decisions!!!

[Reggie B]

Edgar that sure is a nice looking 28 gauge!

[King Brown]

Edgar, why bottom gun frame not case-hardened? Risk of warping? I ask because Nick Makinson advised not case-hardening on restored Sterly many years ago. I didn't.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by King Brown

Edgar, why bottom gun frame not case-hardened?

Case colors are worn off, except for protected areas.

[Joe from MO]

Pretty good video from Midway on converting a Model 21 from PG to Straight stock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81WDqhKRHiM