I'm the one who has commissioned a pair of sterling silver grips for my R9s from my jeweler friend, Mac McDonell of Gemstone Jewelers. Mac previously made a beautiful pair of silver grips for my Guardian .380. However, after eight molds and six castings, he is still working on the Rohrbaugh project -- and I have become very good at removing and reinstalling the carbon fiber grips on my R9s.
This whole project with the Rohrbaugh has now become something of a crusade for Mac. The problem involves the extremely close tolerances for the grips, including the two small grip-screw holes in each panel. Unlike a pair of grips with only one screw in each panel (e.g., the Guardian or one of the 1911s), there is absolutely no margin for error or shrinkage with the Rohrbaugh. After all, Mac is using the ancient lost-wax process in an attempt to duplicate in silver a pair of grips created in carbon fiber by state-of-the-art computerized machining.
Mac has come close on two occasions and still believes he can complete the project. Even if he succeeds, however, the process is not one which I would recommend for other Rohrbaugh owners or one which Mac would be anxious to try again.
More to follow . . . .
RS