Just looked on EBAY and all the KB Roper grips are bumping $600.00. The N Frame factory combats are sitting on $400. There is something really stupid about this to me. The factory combats (for the N frame) are built like a broom handle. . .they look bad and feel bad unless you have the hands of a gorilla. The Ropers are just not that impressive. The appearance of the wood grain on most of them is very low end. They are super light and feel fragile. I didn't pay this kind of price when I bought these 2 years ago, but they weren't cheap either. They really don't look that good on any N Frame I own. I moved them around among 12 guns, and they are no big deal on any of them. I'm looking at "another" 28-2 now for under $400. They rain from the sky around here. So, you can get the whole gun for that, or you can buy a pair of grips/stocks for 50% more. Wow! I wonder if people still buy these things. I'm into the gun in picture for $365 (not counting the grips).

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Dr. B

Few years ago I bought a revolver for $175 and then a set of ivories for $185. Anymore it's not hard to have more invested in stocks than the rest of the gun.

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No life story has happy end.

Well IMHO Kieth Brown's grips are beautiful....... and those would look great on a 6" or longer collectible safe Queen.

I agree with you about S&Ws 'Combat Grips"..... wish I still had the few sets that came my way over the years...... so I could sell them again!!!

A 4 inch 28 is a working gun...... mine wear a set of Craig Spegel Extended Boot Grips......practical, good looking and IIRC only about $60 in black Walnut.

My 4" 27-2 is a 90%+ shooter grade gun....it too wears a set of Spegel Extended boot grips ...... a bit fancier wood and checkered...... again perfect for a carry grade 27.....I think I'm into them for about $100

... you need one of these 8.375"ers for those KB grips to look "right"

...in blue:



or in nickel:



If you cannot find something that they look good on, let me know and I may be able to take them off your hands so that you do not feel any frustration of them not "looking that good"...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I love Keith's work, but I simply won't pay that much for a set of grips. The prices have climbed beyond ridiculous. I quite happy with my Culinas. I've also found John and Jennifer to be far more communicative.

Isn't that the truth about the communication...I'm still WAITING to hear from KB regarding an e-mail I sent him several weeks ago...also waiting to get a return phone call from several weeks ago...not a good way to run a business IMHO... I have 2 sets of grips on order from the Culinas...they talked to me right away...

I own a couple of dozen sets of KB stocks. All of them took longer to appear at my doorstep than I wanted. We live in the Amazon world of see it, want it, click a couple of times and one to two days later it appears on our porch... Folks, Keith is an artist, not a multi-national corporation. He is a one-man shop and every minute he spends responding to emails, sending texts, and taking calls keeps him from turning out grips. Even Culina has the very kind and highly responsive Mrs. Jennifer, who diligently handles most of the administrative/business/communication interactions. I also think Culina's grip production is much more automated (BTW - I also have more than a handful of Culina stocks and like them very much).

It took over a year from concept to grips for these beauties...



...but it was well worth it!! I will anxiously wait and be patient every time.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

A beautiful gun and beautiful grips, RK. And those on your 28 are nice looking too, DocB.

I guess my tastes run toward beautiful and fully functional. I really like John and Jennifer's offerings a lot and actually have a set on order right now; some round to square conversion target stocks for my 629-3 Classic. I presently have some Ahrends round to square combats on it, but with hot rounds it is a bit hard to hold onto. The Ahrends will move over to my 627-Pro once my new Culina stocks are finished.

Never been accused of being a genius.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Holly Molly beautiful grips, guns aren't bad either

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Vietnam 1969-1971

I've dealt with far too many "artists" over the years to have any patience with them these days. I don't expect to be able to click "buy it now" on every possible purchase that life allows, nor do I appreciate the condescending tone of the KB fanboy present here. If a man provides contact information in the form of an email address and a phone number, then simply refuses to answer an email or a phone call, I don't give a tinkers damn how good the product is. My money will be spent elsewhere. I expect professional communication during a business transaction.

Also to clarify: when I mentioned prices I was referring to the scalpers prices on ebay. I find Keith's pricing perfectly reasonable.

Congratulations! It sure looks like a nice 1, and a great deal! Bob

I agree...at least respond to the phone calls and e-mails...maybe a secretary is in order to at least do that?

I just got a set of Culina highly figured cocobolo target grips, and they are stunning I am going to look into a set of their combat grips. BTW, beautiful 28. I am looking for a 4" 28 now

I assume you were talking about my comments. If so, I am sorry as I did not mean to come across as condescending. I was only trying to point out another perspective. I understand that it is frustrating when you don't get a response from whomever in what you think is a reasonable time. I wish you all the best in your business dealings. Keith is one of the nicest persons that I have ever dealt with. His work is beyond compare. Am I a KB fanboy - absolutely! And it is like Christmas every time I get a package from him. I feel honored that he is willing to work on my projects.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

DocB, it seems like you really really don’t like this set of grips, I believe you’ve posted them before and voiced that feeling. Also think I remember you painted the diamonds black in an attempt to spruce them up. Tell you what I’ll do, box them up and send them to me, print an order form as to what you’d rather have and I’ll swap them, refund your shipping also, send them USPS Priority. Not a habit I intend to get into but maybe would be best course in this case.

The following is to try and address the other comments. It’s true that I’m beyond behind in emails and phone calls. Family demands have kept me away from work three days a week for nearly three years, when I’m home I try to get work out, it’s all hand work so output is low to begin with.

This is a one horse show, my wife has no involvement in it whatsoever other that patiently waiting for me to get back to full weeks of work.

Although I’ve never spoke to the Culina’s I have no doubt that they are fine people and it obvious they put out a fine product, I wish them nothing but the best.

I suppose I need to ramp things up as far as production, maybe I could afford that secretary then ! Having run production equipment for nearly thirty years finishing up with CNC stuff, the thought of doing that every day makes me sad, no thank you.

pharman, my apologies for not responding or making it up to The Bunch, was no time for that or the last OGGA show.

I’ll post something in the Vendor section and my website before the weekend is out, I guess no new orders would be best, no point to it at this time.

Best, Keith.

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kbgrips.com

Keith, you won't have to worry about getting mine back.


img host


Charlie

Sometimes you don't have to meet someone to know they are "good people". Mr. Brown you have my respect.

Dan

DocB: They say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and my old eyes think that your KB Ropers are beautiful. I own quite a few sets of KB stocks and may be a little biased, but to me and many other S&W collectors, Keith Brown is one of the finest stock makers in the world. And, he's a heck of a nice guy to boot.

If you would rather have rare and unique double eagle carved ivory, I'd let the N frame magna stocks pictured go for around 15 Benjamins.

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STAY ARMED, VIGILANT, SAFE!

Are you SURE you have a set of KB Ropers ? I have only 2 sets of KB to find they meet or exceed the craftsmanship and quality of the original, period Roper stocks of which I have several sets.

Keith Brown is a master craftsman.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

All:

For the Record, I want to state that All of my dealings with Keith have been outstanding! He has always been responsive to me. His work is beyond compare, and he is the consummate gentleman every time I work with him. I hope that he continues to put out his one of a kind art for many years to come and I will patiently and excitedly wait my turn in line while he works on my projects. Thanks Keith for making S&Ws throughout the world more beautiful.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Looking for a box now! Showed them to my wife this morning for the first time. Don't tend to show my wife some of the expensive stuff I buy when I buy it. She thought the finish and workmanship were beautiful, but didn't like wood selection either. French Walnut is a wood that I will stay away from in the future.

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Dr. B

Here is my only set of KB stocks. I think they are stellar!

....and I agree!

OMG, I 'm in love with King's ribs & sights!

Mailed them off yesterday. As soon as I get the replacement pair, I will be sure to post them here on the Forum. I think that as long as I stay away from French Walnut, my great expectations will prove to be justified.

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Dr. B

KB will get these back only when he pries them from my cold dead hands.





I thought I had a photo of my two sets of K frame Ropers he made for me. They are sublime and put the ones above to shame. Can't find a picture, but let me say I don't think they could even be pried from my cold dead hands.

KB is A-Ok by me.

Let me ask the detractors:
How much money do want KB to make? Do you think he is living in the lap of luxury off of making revolver grips? There is a tremendous amount of work in each set. Would you be so kind as to allow him minimum wage? Maybe a bit more? Maybe the wage of a skilled craftsman?

I hate to say it, but the fact that he is overrun by orders indicates his prices are too low. A lot of demand and very little supply.

Curl