The quirky little projects we get are some of my favorites.  They fall outside the typical reach of woodworking, and most folks wouldn’t want to be bothered.  And while they are rarely lucrative, there are other kinds of compensation.   Two years ago (I couldn’t believe it when I checked the email thread!), a regular client asked if we could fabricate the missing wooden handle for an heirloom pistol he had. I of course said yes, before even seeing the project.  I know nothing of guns or gunsmithing, but weird old stuff excites me, and the transgressive allure of a firearm made the project irresistible.  Up close, the pistol was even more interesting than I had imagined, unlike anything I had ever seen.  …