Vendor shout out " Photo's Added "

[Major 2]

I'm not sure where I got the heads up...maybe here , may be discovered it in web search  ...no matter

I had purchased a rather nice DCM Krag and it was of course with out the upper barrel guard ...I needed to find one.
Ebay had a few but the wrong year (sight cut out), beside they were rough and pricey... original but still costly.

S&S was out of stock , so I turned to East Taylor http://www.partsforantiqueguns.com/index2.html He was also back ordered (seems he is the source for S&S Firearms as well....

So I place my order with Mr. Schwartz (East Taylor ) he is quite responsive , He told me he was 3-4 weeks back-ordered but would get mine out ASAP.... I paid PayPal and waited , true to his word the guard arrived in a First class box.

The quality is very good, I have not tried it on the the gun yet...but expect it be a snap...  literately

It is made of Black Walnut well turned-out & sanded, I will need to match the stain , but that is easy enough...
The price for the piece was $70 & $7 shipping...S&S is $90 + shipping (same part )

It happened S&S contacted me about ten days ago to say they had them in stock again, Mr. Schwartz had fulfilled his order there as well.  

[Niederlander]

Good to hear!  Finding originals is just about impossible.

[ira scott]

Thanks for the tip!  I've been periodically checking S&S for quite a while and they never have them in stock. A couple clicks and I have one on the way for $77 including shipping. What do the experts recommend for finish to closely match my 120 year old original finish stock?

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[Niederlander]

Is it really dark or fairly light?

[Major 2]

I used med. brown leather dye , thinned 8 to 1 with denatured alcohol .... this is the ratio I use for redoing Uberti grips.
In this case however, it dried a few shades light.
So I tried 4 to 1 , when dry (overnight is best ) it is close, remember the final finish will darken the wood.
I use Skidmore's Wood Rejuvenator, actually this is same product as their leather conditioner.
Mostly bee's wax & oils .

Once the 4 to 1 application was dry, I used 500 wed/dry to polish down any whiskers raised by the die....(the piece comes well sanded and ready for finish, but will whisker just a tad.

Final coat(s) (2) with Skidmores and burnish with paper towel ....I have photos , however they are held hostage on my new G8 camera phone
until I figure out how to download them    

Meanwhile here is a one piece grip I did on this SAA ( with the dye & Skidmore's )

and the upper as it comes...

[ira scott]

Thank you for the detailed instructions!  I believe my wife has some Skidmores laying around here somewhere from saddle care days.

[Major 2]

I figured out the photo sharing in my new G8 phone

here are the photos of the upper install start to finish

[Major 2]

The upper fit perfectly & I'm pleased with the color match ...looks like it always been there

[Pitspitr]

Awesome! I can't wait to see it in person!

[ira scott]

Another satisfied customer of Mr. Schwartz (East Taylor)! I placed my order on 9/21 and received upper barrel guard today in a USPS Priority Mail box. It is beautifully made and fits like a glove. Now to follow the detailed staining and finishing instructions provided by Major2. I also need to reattach the nose of the stock which was glued on, and fell off, in front of the barrel band. The threaded rod sounds like a really good idea, what is recommended for adhesive? My counterfeit Krag carbine is going to look good charging up San Juan Hill next June!Thanks for the help.

[Drydock]

Acraglass https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/stock-work-finishing/stock-bedding-adhesives/acraglas-gel--prod1038.aspx

[Niederlander]

Plus one on the Acraglas.  That's some amazing stuff!

[ira scott]

I used Acraglass back in the (good)old days to "glass bed" walnut rifle stocks. I wouldn't have thought about using it for this project, but coming from you two I consider it to be good advice.

Thank you!

[Drydock]

[ira scott]

Nice video Sir!  That should answer any additional questions.

Thank You!