For many years now I've felt like there was a big hole in my modest S&W brood. My sporadic collecting had yet to produce a bbq gun, or anything remotely resembling one. Most of my Smiths are good condition shooters, nothing fancy, just quality range pieces. Oh, I've been tempted by some over the top nickeled ladies, but I've just never pulled the trigger on purchasing one. A long time ago I passed on a set of sterling silver grips in a Mexican resort town simply because I didn't have a gun nice enough to warrant such garish shoes. I've thought back to that day many times, to one of the ones that got away, just like a "sit down" Ms PacMan that slipped through my fingers years ago. Well I still don't have a bbq gun per se, but I now have the Mexican silver grips. I've been on the hunt for a quite a while, but just couldn't seem to find a set that made me close the deal. Well these K frame, sterling silver and 14k gold beauties finally convinced me. I've only gotten the left panel cleaned up, the right is still pretty tarnished. And I'm not sure what exactly they'll end up on, but for now a 5 Screw K-38 will do.

That is something that you don't see every day! I like it! I have a grip thing, and would like a set like that myself. Not too simple, not too gaudy! Enjoy them. Did they take you to the cleaners on them? Bob

Now show the other side so we know what you are dealing with!!!

I'm not sure what to do about stopping silver from tarnishing. Maybe this is a good case for Ren wax.

That looks so cool!

Beautiful, If you don't mind, What's the cost of such grips?

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Before I saw your photo,I was expecting some over the top,Aztec, or snakes and eagles motif,but those are lovely,and very tastefully executed.

Outstanding!!! now I want a set. Some more photos (before and after polishing) would be great.

Sorry fellas, I didn't think to take any before photos. They really weren't in too bad a shape. The tarnish wasn't that 50 year old patina kind, more like they cleaned them real good and stuck them in a drawer a year ago. To my door they ran just under $150. Honestly I feel like I made out like a bandito. There was no screw, but fortunately I had one that was the same thread size. I'll try and get a few more pics up soon.

I'd bet that about three coats of Renaissance wax will keep those beauties from tarnishing. Plus, they desire it.

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Dick

Oh man those are nice..... Wow, is right

There is nearly nothing that will keep silver from tarnishing. There are some premium silver polish products that tend to slow it down, some for a long time. All the sterling silver makers have brands of polish they recommend, and you can find them at many antique shops and even some grocery stores.

Another thing you can do is isolate them from sulphur compounds. Generally oxygen doesn't react with the silver. Another thing you can do is to store the silver with activated charcoal strips. Like on strip per ziplock, and then store the gun in the bag. If you just stick it in the box it came in, the charcoal should do fine for a few years.

Anyone with sterling flatware (anyone who hasn't sold it) will notice the silver chest came with a special lining. They call it silver cloth. It may not prevent tarnish, but it greatly reduces it. Store you silver gripped gun in your wife's silver chest! Or go to one of the big fabric shops and buy yourself a piece of it. Then just wrap the gun and store as usual.

For a while I had a pair of the Mexican silver grips. They were purty... But they didn't fit my guns. Kind of interesting someone would dedicate the time and expense to making a set of grips that didn't fit well. If you notice S&W collectors, they're fanatics on having their handles fit the gun. If you're in the market for a set, the same rules apply to buying wood grips. Take the gun along and do a test fit prior to wasting any cash. My experience is that more sets don't fit than do.

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Dick Burg

Nice grips, but I would not call them "Mexican." even if made in Mexico. I don't mean that in a negative sense, but the classical Mexican grips made circa 1910s-1960s alway had some design connected with Mexico, such as the Snake & Eagle or an Aztec calendar, etc. They were made by various Western & Mexican silversmiths in two styles, solid silver and hollow silver. Made from melted silver dollars or pesos and then decorated with the above mentioned designs. Many were unmarked as to silver quality or as to the maker. If there was a maker mark, and a sterling silver mark, the quality was usually higher and often had some gold inlay, etc. A stamp of "Hecho en Mexico" might be seen on grips imported in quantity to the US market. As a young man in Mexico in the 40s & 50s, I often bought these Mexican silver grips, for Colts, S&Ws, etc. in the Mexican flea markets, for a few pesos and resold them at gun shows, or in my gun store, in the US. A self respecting Caballero would not have considered himself dressed without his Colt .38 Super, or S&W M&P, sporting a flashy pair of silver grips adorned with Mexican symbols! " Es un hombre muy bravo y muy grande con pistolas especiales!" Ed.

These grips are stamped Mexico, Sterling 925, and 14K. I've seen many with the Aztec calender, horses, or the national eagle, and in fact the ones I passed on so many years ago had a fightin' rooster on each panel. Honestly though, that these were so "tame" is really what sealed the deal for me. While maybe not as traditional as some, I think I'll keep on calling them my Mexican silver grips.

gdogs,

Those are very nice grips and certainly a cut above the usual Mexican silver ones. I think that yours are the first Mexican marked grips that don't have some features such as Aztec calendars, snake and eagle, horses, etc. included in them. The emblems on yours aren't those that are commonly related to Mexican culture. Like Ed, I would have probably attributed them to another culture if they weren't marked.

Here is the usual type that Ed was referring to. They were very popular in the Southwest a few years ago and can still turn heads at a good 'ol BBQ.



I see you are in DFW, as I am. If you are going to the Dallas Mkt. Hall show this weekend, please stop by my table. I'll be at Table F 20-21. If you can put those grips in your pocket, I'd sure like to see them.

Any others in the area please stop by and say hello, too.

Bob

gdogs those are some really pretty grips
I sure do like them

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James

As promised, a few extra pictures.

As a very novice firearms photographer, I think your photos are great, and I would like to know how you took them. Just briefly, would you describe your lighting setup? Thanks.

Well, it's not really much to speak of actually. About 6 months ago after seeing some really nice photos on this site, I decided that along with taking high quality documentation photos for insurance purposes, I also wanted to be able to take better looking photos for "showin' off". I've started out pretty basic. A light box built from pvc pipe and fittings, covered with a white sheet, and a black velvety material (that I think hides the wrinkles when put away). For the insurance photos I used blue poster board as a backing. I used shop lights from walmart and have a t8 flourescent above my desk. The studio is nothing more than a small corner of the garage. My camera is a Kodak 6490 that the misses and I got before our honeymoon some 7 and half years ago. And I use a cheap little desk tripod that goes with us everywhere and has to be the best piece of plastic I've ever bought. Try this link out as to a parts list and guide to the lightbox Doug's DIY Lightbox . I doubt if I have $45 in the whole thing minus the camera of course. I'm in a lull at the moment, but I'm planning on coming up with some new backgrounds soon. I'll also say that having sold a few items on the forums and auction sites, the better pictures have increased the prices I'm getting.

I had read about light boxes made using a PVC pipe frame, but could never visualize what they looked like or how the lights were arranged. Thank you very much for sharing the info and picture of your setup. Very illuminating (sorry).

Very nice grips and great photos as well. Man what a score.
As stated previously, not too overstated or over the top.
Perfect !!!


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Bandito? I'm surprised that didn't cause an international incident! That was a super deal on a set of grips waaaaay beyond the norm. I agree with whoever said you shouldn't refer to them as "Mexican grips" for fear folks would associate them with the kitsch that was done back in the '40s (or earlier) until about the late '60s. They definitely deserve a nice gun to wear them, and with what you saved on the purchase of the grips, you won't have to scrimp on the K-frame to put them on. I see a nice early post-War K-38 Masterpiece or maybe a Combat Magnum (4" bbl) slicked up with a good coat of Renn-wax to make the blue "pop," and carried in a handcarved holster from one of the "name" makers of the day... man, you would get some respect at the next Bar-B-Que!

Congratulations,
Froggie

PS Thanks for the picture taking hints, too!

gdogs,

Unless I miss my guess, the images on your grips are of lotus blossoms and acanthus leaves such as these:





Although images such as those aren't commonly thought of as Mexican, both of those plants are commonly used in classical decorations throughout the world. From the hallmark and the images I would guess that these were specially constructed for someone. If you can show us the insides of the grips we might get additional insight and be able to compare them to other known grips.

Bob

underside pics

If I ran across a pair similar to those I'd snatch them up in a hurry.

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Eccentric old coot

gdogs,

Nothing particularly remarkable about the insides of yours. Here is a picture of the insides of mine which I posted back in #15. Obviously different artisans but the same style, nonetheless. One major difference is mine is hallmarked on the inside.



Bob

As you probably know 925 indictes sterling silver: 92.5% silver. American coin silver was 90% silver; I don't know what was the percentage of silver in pesos

When it was safe to go over to Juarez; I brought back several pieces of Mexican silver, stamped 925. No pistol grips, unfortunately, although I do remember seeing them with the Aztec calendar, snake and eagle motifs, etc.

gdogs,

Enjoyed meeting you yesterday. Thanks for bringing your grips by for me to see. Hope to see you again at a show sometime.

Folks, I can honestly say his grips are even more impressive in person than they are in his excellent photos!

Bob

Thank you Bob, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with you as well.
-Gene

I just picked up an Ithaca 1911-A1 that someone brought home from WW-II .
The 1911 had been nickel plated and was sporting ornate silver grips with gold fighting Cock's on each side. My 13 year old boy said it looked like Poblo Escobars gun.
I was rescuing the 1911 from the grips but now everyone that sees them wants to buy them from me.

I'd love to see a photo of those if possible.

For the life of me I can't figure out how to post pictures on here with my phone.
Message me your Email and I can send them to you.

Here are the photos of Scary Gary's 1911 grips. I must say, they are fantastic! Very well done and a very similar style to the fightin' rooster ones that I passed on so many years ago (of course they were for a Smith). Way cool, thanks for sending me the pics.

Just a head's up, there is a set of grips identical to mine on ebay right now (I'm in no way affiliated with the seller). Of all the silver grips I have, these are by far the best made and fitting.

There's also a set of silver grips on Ebay just like the pair Bob Bettis posted above. ( Likewise, I'm not affiliated with the seller ) . You can often find these Mexican grips at the bigger gun shows and online in Mexico, and you used to be able to buy the plain castings in bulk and have your own silversmith add what ever embellishments you desired. You probably still can with the right connections in Mexico. In the 1950s-1970s era my US gun store had a connection with a Mexican gun store in TiJuana, Baja, CA., to furnish them with all the Colt 1911 I could find in the US, in caliber .38 Super, as that was the only legal centerfire caliber Mexican citizens could own then. The shop would add the fancy silver 1911 grips, and the guns would fly off the shelf. 0ccasionally a "mordida" was required for the Mexican Army General in command of Baja CA, so a personalized cased pair of adorned 1911s were "gifted." Not a problem, that got me a letter authorizing me to hunt 24/7 anywhere in Baja, with any gun I wanted. Priceless! Local authorities recognized that letter as the supreme authority document, as the Army controlled everything then. Ed.

Don't have a set for my Smiths yet, but I wouldn't take for the set on my '51 LW Commander in Super 38 from down in the Valley. Sterling & Gold, I do prefer them unpolished though.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

How did OP get Keith Brown to make silver grips?

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and what his trumpet saith

I see several sets of grips on ebay described as "German Silver", is that sterling or some other alloy?

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Old paratrooper in NC

Less than Sterling.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Those are beautiful, and I agree, they don't like items for general sale. Look like a special order to me just because of the tastefully (comparatively) understated design.

Tarn-X liquid polish is a very easy and thorough way to clean silver. Just dip the item in it, give it minute, rinse well and polish dry with a soft cloth. I don't know if Ren-Wax prevents tarnish or not, but it seems as if it would

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Oh well, what the hell.

Most excellent! I think those are definitely BBQ qualified.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Curious about a family gun that we have been holding onto for a number of years. From what I've seen on the forum, it looks like a Model 10-5 (5" barrel) that was probably manufactured in 1968 (D199XX). It has grips with fighting roosters like the ones on Scary Gary 1911's gun (but for the Smith - photo attached). We have never shot the gun but are thinking we should clean it and test it out. Interested in any facts about the gun and a possible value. Thanks for any info you can provide.

Attached Images

IMG_3589.jpg (117.3 KB, 165 views)

German silver is not silver at all. German silver and nickel silver are the same thing. They are copper/nickel alloys, intended to look like silver without containing any silver.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

A LOT less than sterling, as in NO silver at all. It's fake silver.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

What the guys on the razor forums do with their tarnished, silver and silver plated razors is: Make a bowl out of heavy duty aluminum foil.
Put baking soda in the "bowl".
Put the silver or silver plated item in the "bowl"
Pour boiling water into the bowl.
It converts the tarnish back into metallic silver.
No abrasive polish needed.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Curious about a family gun that we have been holding onto for a number of years. From what I've seen on the forum, it looks like a Model 10-5 (5" barrel) that was probably manufactured in 1968 (D199XX). It has grips with fighting roosters like the ones on Scary Gary 1911's gun (but for the Smith - photo attached a few posts above). We have never shot the gun but are thinking we should clean it and test it out. Interested in any facts about the gun and a possible value. Thanks for any info you can provide.

Poncho Villa would be proud.

I would spring for a pair of those but I really don't have a gun nice enough to wear them.

Somos campesinos por aquí.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Many years ago, I saw various silver handgun grips for sale in both Juarez and Nuevo Laredo, but never did buy a pair, not interested at that time. There used to be some nice leather holsters and gunbelts available there also. There was one place near the bridge in Juarez that had a good selection of such leather goods, including long gun cases. I did buy one of those.

I think there are some cloth pouches available which are supposed to prevent silver tarnish. I suspect waxing might help, couldn't hurt. It does help prevent rusting of steel.

Having ridden a few urine cured saddles, I have always passed on Mexican leather. Silver is top notch in my book though.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

The above comments about German silver are correct. But then in Europe, sterling is often marked as 800, meaning 80% silver, the rest maybe horse manure or whatever.

Today I bought a set of silver N frame grips at the OGCA show. Not as cheap as the OP in this thread (long ago). Mine are heavy, probably the torquise inlaid on the area where checkering might be.

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Dick Burg

Dick,

The Sterling standard requires a minimum of 925/1000 silver. 80% is not Sterling but is commonly called German silver. Not trying to be a PITA but thought you'd want to know.