I have a couple sets of Sack Peterson's elk grips. Both are for my USFA revolvers. One set is excellent. The other set fit when I originally received them but have since shrunk and now they are under sized. I waited a long time to get the last set. In fact I first ordered Ram Horn grips but after a long wait when they showed up they were Elk and not the ram horn I had ordered. I contacted Sack about it and he offered to take them back and make the ram horn but I had waited so long I didn't want to wait longer. Since they have shrunk I wish I had sent them back and waited for the ram horn.
Greetings my good Lou
As an amateur knifemaker, I have found that domestic stag (both deer and elk) has a tendency to shrink with dry humidity,
far more than India Sambar Stag, which is now very hard to get.
I have always followed this advice for stag handles and grips:
" “Immerse in mineral oil (or neutral, non vegetable oil) for 24 hours every year.” - Jerry Fisk
Jerry pointed out that waxes only penetrate the surface. You need an oil to penetrate and “treat” the whole stag slab. He recommended food grade mineral oil and that’s what I use. Even on my traditional folders, as the steel & pivot can benefit from a mineral oil bath every year. After immersion in mineral oil for 24 hours the stag will seem darker but that’s because it is “renewed”. Over the next few weeks it will assume it’s natural color again. In other words, it won’t dye the stag.
then leave it out to dry for a day or two and wipe off any excess
Been using this technique for 20 years with no regrets."
but mineral oil doesn't
dry...
"Absolutely correct, I misspoke above when I mentioned laying them out to dry, really what happens is after wiping well, the leftover mineral oil continues to absorb - slowly - and after a day or two no longer looks or feels slick. Then I put the knives away.
I’m not saying this is the only way to maintain natural covers. When I got my first Jerry Fisk knife he told me this is what he does, and I’ve been following this process ever since."
Jerry Fisk is a professional knifemaker.
If an antler knife grip has shrunk somewhat from the guard or tang, soaking in mineral oil will cause the antler to rehydrate and
swell up and fit tightly again.
The problem with pistol grips, is that if one removes them from the gun and soaks them, they may not quite fit correctly again!
I really cannot imagine that soaking a revolver in light mineral oil would cause any harm tyo the gun....
However, I do not know what issues or problems might occur as such fitment is somewhat different on a knife vs a revovler.
So I would be inclined to keep them on the revolver and soak the whole gripframe in "light mineral oil" or baby oil (same thing)
hope this helps