I had figured this one somewhere in the $3k range. Wrong.
$4,250 plus buyer's premium.

Smith & Wesson K-22 6-Shot .22 LR Revolver In Box - Jan 16, 2022 | Kraft Auction Service in IN

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Alden
Guns N' Rosés

Well, somebody REALLY wanted that one! Wow...

Oh the humanity !!!!!

That's crazy. It doesn't even have the original grips.

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Heavily armed old man.

The stocks probably added $500.00 to the price.

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Eccentric old coot

Those Roper K frame non-thumbrest grips probably cost 15x what a set of originals would cost you. I'd think they'd easily bring $750 by themselves.

Those Ropers appear to be too new. I believe they are current day ones made by one of our members.

I saw that one.

I was a bidder on the pre 27 with the non factory engraving. I think it sold for at least double of what I thought it would but maybe I missed something?

Same auction house
Smith & Wesson Pre-Model 27 .357 Magnum Revolver |




Firearms & Military Artifacts

Firearms

Pistols

Revolvers

| Online Auctions | Proxibid

I think the grips are original.
Also it appears to be the harder to find set with larger checking and the stubby diamond. It has been mentioned that the larger checking is likely hand chiseled.

The wood grain is pretty nice on this set.

They are original, it's the old style that Gagne did with a chisel before someone showed him checkering tools (or whatever reason he checkered with a chisel). I have a set just like them that are in much more "used" shape.

I expect that set, alone, would fetch in the $1200 range in the current market for Ropers.

Those are the real deal, and indeed have chisel cut checking/checkering !
Looks like word is getting around about the checkering, I’ve been spouting off about it for quite awhile, to me absolute proof that the master did the work, truly an old school magician.
Here he is at work.

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kbgrips.com

Where is the “current market for Ropers” these days? I haven’t seen an original set of non-thumb rest double ribbon Ropers (for a S&W K or N frame or Colt E frame) for sale in many months unless attached to a gun I didn’t want.

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Terry Lester

😳 wow…..at least I can look, no charge.
That’s pretty interesting that he used a v-chisel. I did not know that. Great information Mr. Brown.
With the prices of M10’s approaching $1000 I feel a lot of people like myself won’t be buying much. Getting priced out of the hobby is going to be hard on us.

I can't remember the last set I have come across for sale but for S&W I would expect a nice set to go no less than $1000 Add a bump for the larger checked set.

Colt sets I think a hundred or so less unless they are unusual in shape.

I suppose that I could see the grips as something special by themselves, but not 5K+ for the whole package. For me, that is bringing collecting to a level that I just will not go to.

To quote inspector Callihan, " A man has to know his limitations."

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I wonder what Mr Gagne's first words were when he was shown checkering tools?
Nice hat as well.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

I, too, think it is cool to see Mr. Gagne wearing his hat as he works!
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I’d like to see a photo of Keith Brown in the act of checkering a piece of wood.

Might call those grips, Fedora era Ropers?

Pic below of average properly dressed 19 year old in the early 30's. His ride was a rumble seat roadster and not a Palomino.

Attached Images

EAC0C70A-2113-47B6-AC83-4782039D645C.jpg (29.2 KB, 33 views)

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

This is as close to “in the act of checkering” as I could find…….


Photo credits - Guns Magazine

If you want to read the article in Guns Magazine about Keith’s work it is online at GUNS Magazine Resurrecting The Roper Grip - GUNS Magazine

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Terry Lester

It's very interesting to me to see how the stock blanks looked before carving...I notice a Craftsman screw driver among Keith's tools...I used mostly SnapOn in my automotive career, but I still retain a couple of Craftsmans on my workbench today......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

My guess is that the box is numbered to the gun, so a rarity in itself. When boxes used to be around, they quickly went for $1000 and up. Today, one cannot find one for sale anywhere. Ropers have already been discussed, plus the last ones I ran across sold for $1800. In 2016, Supica/Nahas stated the value of a K22 Outdoorsman's revolver was VG-$1850 and Excellent-$2400. That example could be Excellent (95% finish). One can argue those values, but we do know that the early K22s have risen in value over the last 5 years, at least nearing those those numbers today.

No matter how you add them up, the money spent is easily justified and maybe worth more. This is not a bargain hunters item and the value of the gun, box, Ropers, including paper and cleaning rods, can exceed the sales price.

Lastly, it seems that online buyers don't care much about premiums and shipping costs when dropping large amounts of money on items like this. They also ignore the fact that many sellers are now charging state sales tax on top of the sale prices. In my opinion, a beautiful set that is easily worth $5000 today!!

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I was supposed to attend that auction but plans changed me. After I saw the prices jump up I knew either I was missing something as far as price or so were a couple of other guys. I suspected the grips, although they did not appear original to me, would bring a higher price but nowhere near where she ended up. I heard inflation was happening these days.....I guess it's everywhere.

I feel vindicated that I paid less than $700 for a 1947 6" Pre-K .22 Target Masterpiece a year ago, about an 80-85% gun (some barrel and cylinder finish wear, obiviously from years in a holster - farmer's gun). Not a bit ashamed that I could put the original Magnas away and install a set of ebay Altamont targets, adding only $100 to my investment. I bought it to shoot it, and it holds it's own with my 617-6, and my Single-Six and Single-Ten.

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Heavily armed old man.

It is kind of apples and oranges comparison. The Pre-WWII K-22 Outdoorsman's is a much more valuable model from a collectors perspective. The 1st Model was made from 1930 to 1940, but only 19,500 were made. The 2nd Model was made basically 2 years from 1940 to 1942, with only 1,067 made and much higher value the and 1st Model. The 2nd Model was the original K-22 Masterpiece.

The post-WWII Masterpiece line was made in much higher numbers in 22 and 38 Special calibers. While steadily gaining in value, they have quite a bit of work to out pace the pre-WWII K-22s, with the exception of the K-32 Masterpiece revolvers, which are scarce and a very valuable model already.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I bought 3 sets of non-thumbrest Ropers this past year, and one set of Kearsarge.

The Kearsarge and one set of Ropers were on ebay. Another set of Ropers on this forum, and the last set off of gunbroker. Other sets I saw in this past year were for sale on gunsinternational and in a variety of live auctions (those were all on guns however, and I viewed them over invaluable and proxibid).

Getting a good set of Ropers requires... I want to say dedication, but I'm going to go with the truth; it requires you to be a bit touched in the head. You have to set some time aside each day to check all the usual spots, and just be ready to drop your thousand-ish dollars the second you see a set (before someone else does). The hope is you get them cheap-ish (I managed one set off of ebay for $400 or $300, I forget now), but the truth is you have to be ready to pounce and pay as much for a set as you would for a gun.

Personally I find getting a new set truly exhilarating, and since I only find maybe a couple sets a year worth buying and I don't really buy anything else now (because kids), "overpaying" is fine by me. My advice is either to have that attitude, and maybe get a few sets, or hold out longer for a deal (which still is in the hundreds). For me the grips have become their own thing which I just love. If I just wanted a nice set of era appropriate grips to shoot with I expect I would be pretty frustrated trying to get Ropers.

It's probably noteworthy that none of my sets are pristine, nor have I ever been able to buy a set as nice as in this auction. In my collecting I have come to value the prettier examples most (double ribbon as you mention, higher grade wood, attractive features, that chisel cut checkering), and value the features that limit functionality the least (such as a thumbrest). Every set of Gagne made Ropers is wonderful in its own way, but at this point I consider thumbrest examples only something to jump on if I have a lot of cash and *think* they may fit my hand.

The "market" I speak of is pretty much just going to have random examples. If you want something really nice you will probably just need to make friends with some of the reputable dealers around here so that you get a chance at them when they pass through their hands.

Sometimes on Ebay auctions two bidders will get on the excitement plan and decide to just put away whatever they are looking at. Put up a ridiculous number and bet that the other bidders will just run out of money or enthusiasm. It becomes a problem when two bidders do the same thing. I sold an unrestored 1950 Gottlieb pinball machine about 30 years ago. A "Knockout" one of the most rare and unique machines ever made. The Roy Parker backglass was incredible and was one of the models that endured. No flaking or deterioration of the painted glass. No one ever sold theirs so when I put it on I received plenty of side offers and deals if I would just sell it outright. Some were in the $3,000 range which was much more than I had anticipated. Two guys got on the excitement plan and it wound up selling for $6100. Beyond that the guy lived in Michigan and had to hire a moving company to bring it from California. I bought it for $500 and had to drive to LA to get it, but it was worth every penny.

Amazing chisel work. Looks like a Woodsman on the bench next to him. Like his hat too. That would be a true grail gun.