I've been meaning to post these grips up here for a while now to see if we can figure out who made them. I think they are early Hogue grips, way before mass production, but I can't seem to find any definitive proof. They do however seem to have some of the Hurst characteristics as well.

The shape seems most like the current Hogue grip, with the exception of the top of the backstrap being covered. The cut out for the speed loaders also resembles Hogues. The checkering pattern also reminds me of the old Safariland grips which are very Mono-Grip like in profile. Anyone know if there was a Safariland-Rogers-Hogue grip connection?


The yellow pencil numbers I've read was common to Hurst (and I have a set of Hurst grips that are marked with a "D" in a yellow pencil), but I have never seen any of his grips that had filler blocks in the inletting. After writing that sentence I decide to check a Colt 1917 that wears what I believe are Hurst grips and they in fact do have inletting to fill the frame voids. And marked with a "T" in red wax pencil. Hmmm, now I'm back to being less certain.

As for what can be documented for early Hogue grips, one of the pair of grips posted by larry21556 in the link below (pictures 4,5,6,7) are very similar and the main reason I believe these to also be by Hogue. The inletting is the same, they are marked with a letter-number combo, but also stamped Hogue. They don't however cover the top of the backstrap. The checkering pattern is near identical in both shape and lpi to my grips. The grip screw hole is plugged in his Hogues too, but Hurst did that as well. Mystery grips

As to the backstrap, it certainly would have been common on a Hurst grip, but I was able to find a reference in that same thread regarding Hogue grips in the book Combat Handgun Shooting by Mason. The second photo in the link below shows a grip with a closed backstrap that is attributed to Hogue. I don't have this book so I cannot attest to the accuracy. Mystery grips

So that's my best case. What do you grip gurus think? I've considered contacting gatorbaitor on here to see if he could rechecker them and bring them back to their original glory (they really do have nice grain). Would I be damaging any value by having them restored? I find them very comfortable and have no intention of parting with them, and I believe them to be quite happy on my Mod 53.