Question for all.... Which is more important? Appearance or Originality??

Example: Early somewhat desirable S&W with a typical small chip out of he bottom of the grip panel. Better to keep the original numbered grips or replace them with a mismatched set?

(Or spending $40 or so on having the originals repaired, if you can find someone to do it. My guy is kind of retiring and doesn't take on many new projects....)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Keep it original. A small chip out of an old gun stock could be considered fair wear and tear.

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Eccentric old coot

Most guys are stick with original. what model do we speak?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

If it wer mine I would keep the original numbered stocks but have an expert like DWFan restore them - assuming the condition of the rest of the gun warrants it. If the gun's overall condition matches that of the stocks then leave them as they are.

You can get a set of Smith grips refurbished for 40 dollars ???

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wanna do right-- not right now

Appearance or Originality?

I say BOTH.

The appearance of the original condition is really important too. So they go hand and hand, but originality takes favor over replacing items for appearance purposes.

The OP's query of chipped grips, keep them with the gun if they are serialized. Those grips can be repaired by someone crafty. You could put other grips on it if desired, but always keep any OEM parts with a vintage gun.

Not "refurbished", just a chip repair on hard rubber grips. (And it's been a number of years since I have had anything repaired. I'm confident that the price has probably gone up.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Then there's always "chips" and "CHIPS".....

These were advertised as "Slight grip chips".

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Hi Dean.
I have had Don Furr do chip repairs for me a couple of times.
They are still original grips and the repairs are mostly invisible.
P.M. me for his #.
P.S. I like 'em better without chips.

Is Don still accepting new work? He is who I used to use, but it's been 5 or 6 years and I thought I had heard that he was slowing down (or retiring).

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

He fixed some for me about 6 months ago

Those are sure enough chips deadin ,I feel most collectors put a premium on having the original grips as most of these guys either can repair or knows someone who can repair them so my vote would be keep the original grips whatever the condition .

Totally Accurate: You were sold "slight chips of the grips" (not "mostly complete grips with slight chips missing".)

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Certified Curmudgeon

There are several people here and on other forums who can do excellent grip repair and restoration. A small chip repair should not be too expensive. Last time I had that done (about a year ago) it was about $40, but it didn't involve much work and the entire pair of grips did not have to be refinished. A more full-blown restoration involving re-cutting of checkering and complete refinishing will usually run $100-$150. At least that's what I have paid for the restorer I use. About three years ago I had a pair of REALLY ratty Colt Python Gen 1 target grips (full checkering) excellently restored for $100. They looked like new afterward. But of course they are not, and being restored, their value won't be close to an actual factory pair in the same condition which have not been touched.

I am new to S&W but what I have done with a couple of antique Colts is to put on other grips that I think look great but keep the originals with the gun. I prefer to keep them as found, warts and all.
tdennis.