Bill Rogers was an FBI agent. He left the bu to produce his plastic holster designs and other products at his family business in Florida.
After a similar discussion here, I asked Bill Rogers about his grip origination since the grips are clearly derivative of the pre-Monogrip 2-piece grips by Guy Hogue. I had always guessed that Rogers made a financial arrangement with Hogue. Apparently not.
Of course Hogue did not originate palm swells or finger grooves, but he made the most of the concepts. 2-piece Hogue grips often had the islands in the inletting like Rogers, and some had the locating pins too.
Some assert that Rogers also made wooden grips, but not that I know about. Anything wood is a Hogue. Of course, Hogue later came out with his own line of plastic grips.
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From:
[email protected]
To: SG-688
Date: 3-28-12 6:14 PM
Re: Pattern for original Rogers grips ?
I purchased a pair of Hogue grips in the late 1970s. They did not fit my hand but I liked the palm swell concept that Guy Hogue had developed. Also the fit on the revolver was loose.
I then made my own grips that fit my hand and transferred the patterns to carbon. We then used the EDM process to make molds for the patterns. I designed the molded tabs that would automatically fit the different variations of the Smith Frames. I then developed the process to make the Burlwud, synthetic wood finish.
I hope this is helpful.
----Bill Rogers
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IIRC, Rogers patented the Burlwud (tm) process.
I'll attach the Rogers fitting instruction, a 1982 catalog page that is similar to the 1970's catalog, and a comparison picture of the early thin to later thicker grips.