Oh.   Give.   Me.   A.   Break. 

You run what you brung.  If you can't shoot a '97 well, it's simple, shoot a double or shoot an '87.  Whining about a 19th century design is just . . . .  DUMB!!  There are only just so many lefties wandering around.  Manufacturing specifically for such a small percentage is just . . . silly.

Quote from: Abilene on Today at 05:36:18 PMWell I'm a righty so my vote doesn't count but most lefties I know load from the right. Loading the way you describe sounds super-awkward!

I think you have inspired me to refine my ramble into a more succicnt question:

Do left-handed shooters have an inherent advantage in running an 1897? Or if not... Does that mean they have an inherent disadvantage? (It's gotta go be better one way or the other, no?)

Well I'm a righty so my vote doesn't count but most lefties I know load from the right. Loading the way you describe sounds super-awkward!

I'm right-handed and shoot off my right shoulder, and I hate doing the reach-around when I port load shells into an 1897 with my left hand. This is the main reason I don't have a 97.

If there was such a thing as a left-handed 1897, with the ejection port on the left of the gun, would it be easier and quicker for right-handed shooters to port load? Would you want one?

I would want one. (I know they don't exist and wouldn't be SASS legal even if you made one. This is a theoretical question.)

Well, He didn't have to drive up to my old work 20 to use the power tools.
  That was 26-miles one way, course I spent time BSing with my old crew some.
They had a bandsaw, power planer and 6" belt sander. allow me to rough out the scales, I did the finite shaping and finish here...

As to the video, the guy pretty much shows how I went.   

I was sitting here thinking about Zoot Suiters.
  Which bring to mind the 1940's LA race riots.
Perhaps, a title assonated with negative atmosphere     

I have no dog in the fight. how would 

Noir Action Capers or Shooting stand up ?

Wow, that guy is fast.  It only took him 8 1/2 minutes to make those. 

Quote from: Abilene on April 14, 2025, 12:45:43 PMExcellent job, sir! Those look fantastic, and I bet they feel good, too. I have fit a few grips here and there, but making them is way above my pay grade. How long did it take you?  Mine has ebay grips that I love, but I did not make them!  The reason I'm posting this picture is for the frame. I'd had the nickled gun for a good while, but 5 years ago added the polished blue version.  The metallurgy of the frame is obviously different than yours because it has turned Plum. Pretty quickly, too, after just a couple years.  I had some good pics of the plum that I lost, here is one I just took but it is hard to get the lighting right so that it shows like it does in person.  I actually kind of like it.  I have a Colt SAA NRA Centennial Commemorative whose grip frame is plum.  I've heard that is common on those guns.

This will help you

Well somebody got a nice gun.  Once when I was at Winter Range for Cimarron, my boss at the time was really proud of his action jobs, and they did feel really nice.  Bob James was there with Legendary Guns, and said here, feel mine.  My oh my!

Okay was looking at the rules for Zoot for 1911s and the grip safety on this one is legal as it is not a beavertail, there is no mention of "memory bumps". Glad I looked it up [yes I am guilty of reading the manual!].