I am over the moon to have acquired a very fine set that I have lusted after for years, and can't thank he who parted with them for me enough.
Unfortunately I did something to my camera settings and since its late and I spent all day dealing with plumbing issues, I'm tired and these pictures came out a little artsy, and less clear then I wanted. They do showcase how wonderful these stocks are however, which is what I wanted to relate
They immediately set up residence on my K-22/40 KST, where I do believe they belong:
and shifted the Ropers which had been gracing that gun to my M&P KST:
Somedays I feel like the collection is really coming along.
I have an extra set of Pachs laying around.....i have enough trouble justifying guns, let alone small fortunes on grips....i admire them, but don't have any of these fancy woods.
Those are beautiful SixgunStrumpet, and I love the look and have tried various and gorgeous wood grips/stocks on my revolvers, but in the end as my wheel guns are all shooters I end up opting for Hogue or Pachmayers for the simple reason that I feel better shooting with them.
This one, at least for me, has given me the best of both worlds....
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Last edited by sabashimon; 11-15-2020 at 12:44 AM.
Those are beautiful SixgunStrumpet, and I love the look and have tried various and gorgeous wood grips/stocks on my revolvers, but in the end as my wheel guns are all shooters I end up opting for Hogue or Pachmayers for the simple reason that I feel better shooting with them.
This one, at least for me, has given me the best of both worlds....
I like those a lot too. Mixing the comfort of rubber with some pretty wood is a solid way to go in my opinion.
You should keep an eye out for the early 2 piece Hogues. I have a few sets and I adore them. There's really nothing wrong with new hogues too, provided they fit you right.
Ultimately fit is what I care about with most grips. Its the coolest thing about ropers, never know when you will find a set made for someone with hands exactly your size.
Like when I lucked out with this set:
Last edited by SixgunStrumpet; 11-15-2020 at 01:27 AM.
Whenever I buy used wooden stocks, I wash them in lukewarm water with Murphy's oil soap, let them dry for a day or two, then treat them with Pledge Revitalizing Oil.
Whenever I buy used wooden stocks, I wash them in lukewarm water with Murphy's oil soap, let them dry for a day or two, then treat them with Pledge Revitalizing Oil.
Your Ropers could use that treatment.
I disagree, but I know why you say this, and if I didn't know better I would agree with you.
One thing about unmolested old Ropers is that Gagne's finishing of them resulted in what you see here; kind of dirty/mealy looking.
He would mix boiled linseed oil and varnish, then dip the stocks into this mixture, and hang them to drip dry. You can tell a set of Ropers has the original finish if they look and feel like this.
I have others that have had the original finish removed and I do something similar to your process on them, or I'll give them a good soak in acetone and slowly (over years) refinish them with linseed oil. Honestly, I think they look better in the end. I much prefer an oil finish.
And (I know I'm not going to score any points with a lot of folks on this one) I think Tru Oil looks bad! There, I said! It may protect the wood well but I just don't like it.
This reminds me that I have to finish up some of my other Ropers, this set is my least molested/abused set, and even this one does have a small repair down at the rear/butt. I find that most sets have chips out down there for some reason.
Caleb,
If you get a chance, can you please take a picture showing the inside of the grips? I always think that is another important view on original Roper's. Thanks.
Larry
Caleb,
If you get a chance, can you please take a picture showing the inside of the grips? I always think that is another important view on original Roper's. Thanks.
Larry
I don't have a chance to go down and get new shots right now, but here's the shot from the seller (whom I can't thank enough for selling them to me by the way).
Also, and I can't really get a good picture of it with my current rig, the most diagnostic thing I have seen on a set of ropers is his insanely skilled little lip that curves around the trigger guard.
The other stuff can be faked, that little bit? If people even know to fake it they probably can't actually manage it.
I was never a huge King fan but every time I look at Sixgun’s I find myself getting closer to “needing” at least one so equipped.
The Ropers look like they have lived on those guns for a long time.
Trout, nice to see the Readheart set on such a nice S&W !
I agree with this. I'm lucky enough to have a set my size. I've actually used the measurements on this set to re-shape some other targets to the same dimensions. Perfection.
It always amazes me that nobody (in the modern grip maker world) has made exact replica's. The closest would be the awesome Keith Brown Ropers. My set of KB's are very close to the originals I have.
After using Ropers, it's difficult to be happy with the bulky oversize dimensions of standard S&W targets.
Lesser grips are just not worth it any more!
I have to say, thats a heck of a nice N frame set. I bet you get a lot of PMs asking for you to sell them don't you?
On another note; as many of you are likely aware I very rarely get a gun that isn't wearing some horrid rubber grips, or at the very least incorrect stocks. As a matter of fact I only have a small handful that have stocks numbered to the gun.
This is actually my preference, partly because they are cheaper that way, but mostly because it gives me the ability to move stocks around until they land where they are supposed to land. It's one part aesthetics, one part history. To me the best result is a set of interesting stocks on an interesting gun that no one would guess hadn't been together for many decades. At this point buying stocks is the more important thing to me, as buying new guns is somewhat limited due to budgetary concerns.
That does mean however that I end up having a bit of a stock shuffle when one set supplants another set as being more suitable to the gun. That is of course the case in the situation that started this thread, with the new Ropers bumping the old Ropers to the M&P King Super Target, but that in turn bumped the third tier Ropers off of that gun.
The Roper Shuffle has had me kind of scratching my head, as I'm kind of running out of K-Frames that need Ropers. I think though I have landed on the right combo. This is one of my favorite guns, and it came to me wearing some pachmayrs, so I immediately put the most suitable stocks I had on hand on the gun, and it sat that way for years. Then, this gun which I already liked, proved to be a grand slam in terms of SWHF documentation.
I obviously loved the gun much more upon reading these wonderful letters about it. And I've never been quite happy with the stocks that are on it. So today the gun got a set of Roper hand-me-downs. I'd like to think that they would have been quite pleasing to Mr. Watts, and that he may even have had such a set on his gun at one time.
What do you guys think? Has the music in our game of 'Roper Musical Chairs' stopped at the right point?
I have to say I love the way the gun feels in the hand now, it points so naturally. Ropers being what they are of course that is bound to be the case, but I imagine Holway would have really liked it a lot with Gagne's handiwork gracing the frame.
Still, some part of my hesitates because I'm hung up on Ropers going onto guns with adjustable sights. In any case, that's why I'm curious for the opinions of you guys.
Very interesting set of Ropers. Do you think the extra flair on top is original or added latter? I have never seen anything like it, but you never know with Roper.
Very interesting set of Ropers. Do you think the extra flair on top is original or added latter? I have never seen anything like it, but you never know with Roper.
Based on the finish I believe so.
I believe quite a few forum members here have handled, and a couple have previously owned, this set. I think that someone like Handejector may be able to weigh in more authoritatively.
I'm also fairly certain someone around here has two more sets with this flourish. I thought they were on some engraved guns? Maybe I'm misremembering that.
I think it looks great, after all it is a half target. Did the holster come with the gun? If that problem comes up again where you are "kind of running out of K-Frames that need Ropers" let me know, I have a couple of K frames that would look great with a set.
I think it looks great, after all it is a half target. Did the holster come with the gun? If that problem comes up again where you are "kind of running out of K-Frames that need Ropers" let me know, I have a couple of K frames that would look great with a set.
Haha, finding appropriate K-Frames is a lot easier then finding the Ropers
There are never enough Ropers to go around.
Also, I should note, that I tend to value my slightly beat up Ropers a bit higher then I think anyone would be willing to pay. Since I like well used guns, well used Ropers are my preference. I find most people want nicer examples then I do. Getting me to part with a set of non-thumb rest Ropers at this time would be quite a feat.
Regarding the holster: No. I found that at a gun show and it fits the gun nicely and fits the character of the gun well I think. I rarely find holsters that match a gun's character, but something about this paring speaks to me.
"Also, I should note, that I tend to value my slightly beat up Ropers a bit higher then I think anyone would be willing to pay. Since I like well used guns, well used Ropers are my preference. I find most people want nicer examples then I do. Getting me to part with a set of non-thumb rest Ropers at this time would be quite a feat."
The slightly beat up look is what I think is the most appealing. Even in the photos one can see the deep rich patina that only age can create. I can only imagine how beautiful they would be in hand in natural light. The "half target," holster and terrific grips make this a beautiful combo. Thanks for sharing.
I'll say this about SixGuns comment bout tru-oil
Some like 28s with their matte blued look.
Some like bright blue 27s. I like'em both.
To me dull oiled Grips look better on matte 28s
or similar type. The glossier appearance wood looks better to me on bright blue and nickeled Smiths.
As I've aged the ease of use w tru-oil appeals to me vs my past wood experiments and Ive
done most products available long ago.
I'll end saying diff strokes..dont ya know.
I appreciate everyones contributions on
our discussions on the Smiths we love.
Best Randy..
Very interesting set of Ropers. Do you think the extra flair on top is original or added latter? I have never seen anything like it, but you never know with Roper.
I knew I had seen these before, the pairs thread had a post by Mike Priwer on all his amazing pairs, one of his pictures is this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikepriwer
...
The next picture is a pair of matched K-frame target revolvers, made up for Fred Miller, managing the service department, in 1940. One revolver is a .38, and the other is a .22 . The grips are custom Roper stocks.
Can anyone ever have too many Ropers?
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