Anybody have experience with Sanderson target grips? How rare are they, and how valuable? Anybody use them?

Sanderson grips aren't as valuable or sought after as Roper grips, but I place them second on the list of desirable vintage non-factory grips. K frame sets are seen far more often than N frame sets. A nice standard walnut K frame set usually brings $175-$225. A set recently sold on this forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...-adapters.html

They feel great if you like grips with thumbrests and closed backstraps (read: if you have a large enough hand).

For reference...

K Frame (Walnut)


K Frame (Fancy Walnut)


N Frame (Cherry)

A few more. Please ignore the Herrett’s in the second photo.
　

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"I also cook."

In the "for -what-it's-worth" category, Ropers bring more today, but Charles Askins rated them as the best target grips in a 50's Gun Digest. He definitely knew something about shooting target revolvers.

Thanks for all the info. I had been watching a single address line K-22 with a set of Sandersons on it, didn't make the move because I didn't know anything about the grips. By the time I found out, it was snapped up for a $500 buy it now. Looks like I could have sold the stocks and had a nice K-22 at a good price. Oh well, you snooze you lose...

s&wchad, nice collection. Where in MI was Sanderson located? I can't quite read the business card in your photo.

Lew was in Milford. The business card from his son Don shows Evart.

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"I also cook."

Thank you. They're definitely sharp-looking stocks and something I'll be keeping an eye out for in the future.

s&wchad, can you please take a picture of the front of one of your grips? I have heard that all, or most anyway, Sanderson grips had a rectangle shaped cutout on the front of the grips.

I just want to see what that looks like.

Thanks.

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"I also cook."

Thanks.

I saw a pair of what I thought were Sanderson N frame grips at a gun show last year. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the checkering wasn't very precise so I passed thinking they were probably home made. It had the cutout in the front, but it was much larger then the one's you show here. They also were rectangle and not rounded on one edge like the ones in your pictures.

Thanks again for the pictures. Now I have a better idea what I am looking for.

Does anyone know if Don Sanderson is still around? Sure would be nice to decode the stamping on the inside of their grips.

He passed away. Some of the items I have were sold by his daughter and were out of his estate.

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"I also cook."

I think that the reason that Sandersons bring less than the Ropers is primarily because when collectors first started collecting custom grips they became aware of Roper first. The checking design of some of the Ropers is a little more "visually" attractive than the Sandersons but the workmanship is pretty comparable in most cases. And, as a general rule, the wood in the Sandersons is prettier than in the Ropers.

It's somewhat analogous to the Registered Magnum and the non-Registered Magnum. Why do comparable RM's bring more than non-RM's? There are certainly less of the latter than the former. Simply because the RM's came on the scene earlier and were first discovered by collectors before they differentiated the non-RM's.

Here is a pair on a first model K22.

Bob

A 1948 pre-17 with Sandersons:

Everyone ! Thanks for all the pictures. Receintly I bought a very good condition pair of target stocks for my 1953 K38. After comparing them to all your pictures, looks like they are Sandersons ! Looks like I did allright at $40.00
Doppplebok

Sandersons and early herretts are very similar, and you can't easily tell from the outside, but almost
every pair of sandersons i've seen are stamped with a number on the inside of both grips.

Another pair of Sanderson grips. I believe these are maple.

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"I also cook."

Those are beautiful, thanks for sharing the photos.

Beautiful grips, Dave. Kinda supports my theory that, in general, Sanderson used better wood than Roper did.

Bob

I assume that these are from back in the days when you got a ruler across the knuckles for being left-handed? I would have no use for them ...

Nor I...except to admire their artistry...the same use I would have for a Stradivarius violin.

Bob

Lew's card was a lot less flashy than his son's. Gotta love the wording though.
Chuck

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I think (hope) I may have finally found a set of Sandersons to add to my meager grips collection. I got these as part of a small lot of grips from a man in New Jersey. For an N-frame, they lack the numbers found on some (most?) Sandersons but do feature jig marks and the Sanderson checkering cues. As an aside, the small name tag refers to Val Goldthwaite, who founded an EDM machining business in NJ back in '62.

Look like a really nice, older set of Herrett's to me.

Ah, yes, they might actually be a checkered Trooper, now that I look at those. Good call, I think you're right. They're still keepers.

Yep, they look good. I consider them to be very comfortable as well.

Don Sanderson's granddaughter here...so cool to see that his craftsmanship is appreciated..the grips were all "custom" made. Which means he had the shooter make a mold of his hand to "custom" fit the stock..very cool to see the positive responses. He was a Detroit police officer, and a good man.

Tinalee,

Welcome to the Forum. If you will search the Forum, I think you will be surprised at how much of your grandfather's handwork is here and the appreciation that we all have for it.

If you have examples of his work or stories relating to him we would love to know more.

Bob

Tinalee33,

Let me add my welcome. So far I have only been able to acquire i set of grips from your grandfather's hand (or perhaps great grandfather?) a set on a pre-War High Standard target 22. I am eager to find more as I think there may even be a family connection for me since my Mom was a Sanderson! Check your PMs on this forum and see my message I will be sending as soon as I complete this post.

Regards,
Froggie

Tinalee, your grandfather is respected here as one of the true greats in his field. As Bob said, any information about him or pictures of his work would be extremely appreciated. The chance to hear your first hand stories is a rare opportunity, indeed! And welcome to the forum!

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S&WCA #2620