and someone offered you 157 bucks, would you consider that a fair deal?

They were on my Step Dad's Service revolver that I inherited after he passed away. He was a CHP Officer in the late 60's. I don't really like them for shooting. They feel weird and his hands were way bigger than mine. I was going to just give my Mom the money because she's a widow now and he had some hefty hospital bills.

They are marked with a yellow grease pencil on the inside with either a "1" or "I". You can't really tell which because it's just a straight line.

If you change them out for comfort, I would keep the originals. You'll never be able to return it to "original" if you sell them. Lots of things like that were done in my younger years that I now regret.

Nice looking grips, are they the ones that are made for the frame that has been notched or for a standard frame?
I have bought a couple of pair and have paid close to what you were offered, but that was a few years ago.

ABPOS - I think you could sell them right here in the classifieds for atleast $200 + shipping

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your father and also the burden of the hospital bills. My opinion, those grips need to stay right where they are at, don't matter that they don't fit your hand cause they fit his. If you want to shoot the gun carefully remove the grips and store them with a note, find yourself another set to use to shoot your dads gun. Failing all of that I would be happy to buy them from you to keep them safe and sell them right back to you when you realize you should have kept them. Cool Leo gun and equally cool period grips, keep em both.

__________________
kbgrips.com

As Keith said above, if you can keep them ,you should. If not take him up on his offer or I will offer the same option. Perhaps someone closer will do it as well. Once gone you will never be able to put your Dad's revolver back to the way he used it. My Model 19 with cut frame Farrant's goes to my son and he understands that I used it everyday of my police career. All my best, Joe.

I would hold onto them, you might regret getting rid of them!

I'll have to let my brain simmer on this one for a bit. I like the idea of forwarding some money to my Mom, even if it is just a bit of money. She's pretty much fixed income now and not much to spare.

I see why one would want to hang onto them for sentimental reasons, but they just really are awful for me when they are on the gun. If I just put them away, then they're just sitting there. I suppose if I was going to make a shadow box that included the gun for my Step Dad, then it would make sense. But that gun begs to be shot.

It's sort of a dilemma here....... Furthermore my Mom dug up some grips and sent them to me and I got a big surprise. I hadn't ever even seen these in his stuff before and I don't know how they turned up. But I think they might be the original grips. I had some hogues on there which are decent for shooting, but these feel real nice too and look so much better. And just look like the belong on the gun......

ABPOS - I answered your original question as I did because it appeared that you had made up your mind and wanted to help your Mom (that is really cool btw). The Farrants are popular and valuable.... there is nothing wrong with you getting entire value out of them to forward the money to your Mom.
The additional stocks that your Mom sent you are perfect for the gun and more original anyways.
Good luck with your decision and Happy Shooting!

If they suited you,I'd keep them for sure.
The fact is,they don't.It's your gun now.I suppose that I'm less sentimental than others here,more practical.I'd sell them for whatever the consensus of value is here(or close) and give the money to mom.If dad was around,and knew of her needs,he might do the same too.People matter more than stuff.
I'm also not a big fan of Farrants,so perhaps that influences my thinking too.The gun looks great with the diamond S&W targets on it.

Those "possibly original" diamond target grips look wonderful. They sell for at least $150. And the Farrants should sell quite a bit beyond that. As someone said, at least $200, and I bet you could get that in a heartbeat on this forum.

If you do decide to help your mom out with some money, please let me know. I am looking for some Farrants for my collection of LE revolvers and would like to put a set on one of my guns.

Thanks-DB

I have always admired your work, now I admire you. You are a stand up guy!

I didn't realize double diamond targets were worth that much either. Wow.....

I think I'm going to put the farrants up for sale here soon.

I would consider Keith Browns offer. That's a heck of a deal, especially if you decide you want them back one day.

__________________
Get off my lawn!

First I'm sorry for your loss. I was in the camp of keeping them with the gun but after seeing you wanted the money to help your mother I have only one thing to say. Your father would be proud of you. The gun and grips served him well and maybe now the grips can serve your mother. I am still thinking that the gun and grips should be kept together and passed on to one of your kids but under the circumstances your heart is in the right place.

I think the target diamonds are sooooo good though. Enough that it makes me not really fret about the Farrants. If I liked the Farrants I'd sell the target ones. hehehehe I think they're definitely an acquired taste. But even still, the Farrants are probably worth more and will benefit my Mom more. Thank you for the condolences and input.

I would think that you would do well to sell them to Mr. Brown......as a couple of the guys have said... you will find few people to be that generous sir...........One other question....... are there grandkids that will someday be using their grand dad's duty gun? If so, keep the grips thrown back for them.. and find something else to sell........because once they are gone, you won't get them back... unless you are wise enough to let Keith have them........

__________________
be safe,enjoylife,journey well

Keep both sets of stocks and send $200 to your Mom.

FWIW..... I have my Father's 1938/9 Colt New Service in .357magnum.... it went to Kings in Calf for sights and an action job before WWII....... in the late 70s the red plastic insert in the front sight fell out and was lost.........at the time we had a gunsmith convert the sight blade to a red ramp..........

After my Dad passed..... I wanted to restore it to the gun he carried from 1938 to the mid-60s as his primary duty gun.......... to me it's now a family heirloom gun.... that will pass to my oldest son some day.

It's taken me over 10 years to find the proper front sight blade to "make things right".........

BTW talk about a gun that "doesn't fit my hand" those New Service Colts are the size of a horse pistol...........

This is what I would do as well.

put them on ebay or gunbroker and let it rip. Send Mom the bucks. Your diamond targets are most likely original to the gun. win win.


Charlie

I have some updated pics....





Is the consensus still that they are genuine?

Yes, they are Farrants.

__________________
SWHF #448

Ditto.

Judging from the inletting side picture and the way the bottom finger groove is below the level of the frame ... your step-dad had very large hands indeed.

Tipoc recently set what must surely be a record sold - as opposed to asking - price of $415 for a near perfect pair. Someone wanted them very badly.

He did have very large hands. Now I'm conflicted about what to do. Just take Keith up on his offer if he was serious or try to put them up for sale....

Maybe just call Keith and discuss the issue. I think the diamond targets were original to the gun as that was the standard build at the time.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Keith Brown is an honorable man . . . any offer or commitment he makes he will deliver on . . . same is true of Joe Kent who has made a similar offer. You can't go wrong with either.

Russ