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inserts for both front and rear sights and The grip is located near the trigger and
provide a very bright colored dot during is held by the shooting hand. The grip
the day and in bright environments. In low is also typically placed in an area where
light conditions, the fiber optic does not some or most of the controls can be ma-
shine at all and only a dull colored dot is nipulated by the shooting hand. The grip
visible. Tritium vials are also used to make can vary from a single piece to grip panels
sights visible in complete darkness with that attach to the grip of the frame as well
no external charge. Tritium is a radioac- as grip inserts to change the feel, shape,
tive gas that, when combined with phos- and size of the grip. The grip will typi-
phorous powder, will create light. Typical cally feature some type of texture such as
colors include green, yellow, and orange. serrations or checkering. Materials will
also vary from various woods, rubber, and
• Furniture – Furniture provides a place
plastics to composites and various metals.
on the firearm for the operator to grip,
The grip(s) may also feature some type of
steady, and control it. The term “furni-
integral finger groove or thumb rest.
ture” is a generic term for a part, parts,
or assemblies that the operator grasps or The buttstock is used to steady either a
handles. These parts include grips, butt- rifle or a shotgun against the operator’s
stocks, and forends/handguards. The fur- shoulder and to help transfer recoil forces
niture a firearm employs depends on the over a larger area. The buttstock attaches
type of firearm. to the rear of the rifle/shotgun and ex-
tends back from 11” – 14”, depending on
Pistols will typically only employ grips be-
model. There are several pieces (integral)
cause the use of buttstocks would change
to the buttstock that all serve a different
its classification, while both rifles and
function. At the rear of the buttstock is
shotguns can use grips and buttstocks.
the heel (top) and toe (bottom), which
Figure 24: Various types of grips.
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