Just finished making a bolt handle for a mates 1909 argentine. It's the first gun part I've made on the lathe - not exactly high tolerance but I'm pleased with the look. His handle is horrible, bodgy and weak so I said I'd redo it as it'll be good practice for building my 404J...

What do people reckon on the shape? I was shooting for a classic Oberndorf style but it became less ball like at the end, kind of squashed. But I almost prefer it, I might make an exact copy for mine. I pinched the square shank idea of Duanne Wiebe to help blend in the root.

Now for the welding

Your handle is a nice shape and looks as though it will work well but it appears long to me. It may be the picture or the perspective or that you made it long to cut off. Can't really tell what kind of finish it has but if it is as smooth as it appears I would proudly put it on a gun.

Nice work.

Looks fine (not exact) and longer handles are easier to work. Although yours does not look long to me.

Not exactly what we name a pear shaped Oberndorf handle.
Looks more like a mature pear that fell from the tree

Certainly useable , but the next one will look nicer.

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Looks fine (not exact) and longer handles are easier to work.

I think it appears just fine .... nice work and as for long-g-g; like dcpd says above; leverage is a Good Thing!

Besides all fruits are not excatly the same shape.

The Oberndorf shape has but the convex and concave radii tangent to each other on top of the ball. As I recall there is no straight section between the two radii.

ha ha, a mature fruit - I was trying to find a way to describe its shape. Well that's why I took the opportunity of a practice run. Yeah I cut an excess in the square portion, about 5/8 too much in fact. I did this bit with a file and grinder so wanted an overrun to get the first part square and even. Might reduce the waste next time.

Finish is nice - 360gr all over and blemish less. That's why I was pissed off no camera!

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Originally posted by SR4759:
The Oberndorf shape has but the convex and concave radii tangent to each other on top of the ball. As I recall there is no straight section between the two radii.

Yeah that's what I was aiming for, but in getting the concave portion I really liked the look of it like this so stopped. But now it's off I think I'll go the full concave/ball shape next time

Loosely based on the oberndorf style, it's you're own design which is more admirable than an exact copy. I like it!

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Originally posted by brnomauser:
Just finished making a bolt handle for a mates 1909 argentine.

Aaaaah, is that a "left handed" 1909 Argie?