Mrod Air CP1-M Grip Modifications -- Part 1

Started what I thought was going to be a fast project with my CP1-M pistol




















 Since it's been wearing a red dot of late, I removed the muzzle weight and front sight.  

A piece of 12mm ID/16mm OD carbon fiber was cut to something like 7.5" long with a hacksaw.
























The tape is to protect the carbon from being scratched by the lathe jaws. 

Squared up the ends.

Not shown, I turned an insert for the muzzle end of the shroud. 

Epoxied into place then finished to the same diameter as the carbon tube.




 

I'm not a huge fan of the stock grip.  It's finished well, and I actually like the raked angle for target shooting, but the odd flare at the base doesn't do anything for me.  And I mean that in both the functional and aesthetic sense. 

So, I sanded off the flare.

Then started adding finger grooves.

Used a paint stripper to remove the remnants of the factory finish and kept on shaping.

Got a bit too aggressive (and inattentive) and sanded through at the web into the inletting.   After some choice cursing, I filled the hole with a mix of superglue and sawdust.   This is a pic of the repair.  I had a few ideas.  Maybe it'll look like a knot hole.  Maybe I'll spray the grips with truck bed liner.  Maybe I should stop butchering wood. 

Still smarting from the mistake and looking for redemption, I cut a small piece of Brazilian rosewood.





 

And glued it to the base of the grip.

A few minutes of power, then hand sanding, brought it to here.



The repaired area is glass smooth.  

Real woodworkers claim that when working with rosewood, you're either allergic to it, or you will be.  I've had reactions in the past--similar to poison ivy--that required a few rounds of steroids.  A dust mask and rubber gloves are never a bad idea.

Burnished in a very thin coat of shellac, then applied several more coats over a few days.  Used a fine Scotchbrite pad to level the finish.

The repair turned out...OK.  I don't feel redeemed, but the grip fits my hand far better than before.

Thanks for checking in.  More soon.