Stocks by Hurst

[SG-688]

Hurst photo - 1961

This is a new find for me; I think it's worth adding to the thread.

When Jeff Cooper wanted to test long range shooting with a .44 for the September, 1961 issue of Guns & Ammo, he went to the best shooter he knew.

1. John W. Hurst, Los Angeles Police Department, is one of the world's
best handgun shols. He has S & W .44 Magnum he used for field tests.

"As the marksman I was lucky enough to enlist John W. Hurst, a Los Angeles police officer, whose name will impress anyone familiar with big-time pistol competition. In addition to being a member of the U.S. Olympic Pistol Team for 1960, Hurst holds no less than eight national open records in all classes. He has also won the International Police Combat Tournament at Toledo four out of five times, but it is is ability at deliberate, slow-fire precision that was necessary to the test.
While there are a handfuf of other slowfire masters who can give him a tussle, I think it is safe to say that when it comes to precision shooting with a revolver, if John Hurst can't do it, nobody can do it."

 

[OIF2]

Awesome! That's a picture I hadn't seen of John. When I knew him, long after his retirement with his best shooting years behind him, he could still occasionally shoot a 100 (perfect score) slow fire at 50 yds with a K38. The best pistol shot that the LAPD ever produced. He also graces the cover of a later 2007 'Guns & Ammo" article, "Guns of the LAPD", with the 2 targets he shot from the 1st perfect score on the LAPD bonus shoot in 1964.
Bob

 

[Biginge]

Saw the pics and immediately went to spare stocks drawer. I have two sets very similar. One has the open back the other covers the backstrap. One is stamped SKF (Farrant) I would love to send pics but I am not smart enough. I can take pics and email them to someone else but can't get them on straight to the forum.

Regards
Bill

 

[cehawley]

Photo Request

Hi Guys,

I'm a new member and John Hurst was my step-dad. He married my mom in the mid 70's. I'm looking for any photo's you guys may have of him. Anyone who knew him also knows he's modest about his achievements. I have pictures from the 60's and am looking for stuff from the 70's.

I also want to say that I am honored that he still lives on in the memories of all of you.

Thank You,

Clay Hawley

 

[114R31c]

John Hurst LAPD

Clay
I shot over a dozen years on the pistol team with John. He was a friend, mentor and wonderful human. I could tell tales about John for hours. Most make me grin just to think of. His incredible accomplishments were only surpassed by his humility and self-deprecating humor. I spent hours in the 70's building grips with John and still proudly have several sets made just for my hand. I know JP Nelson has a lot of photos of the that era and if you contact me off the forum I can give you some contact info. I mistakenly ended up on this site and it sure was a flash from the past. I too recall shooting from the roof at the LAPD academy in the 70's and driving all the way to Huntington Beach 3 or 4 times a week to practice. John Hurst put LAPD back on the shooting map and encouraged many to carry the competition. Stay well and shoot only as fast as you can guarantee the hits. Chris Kaufmann

 

[OIF2]

Hi Chris
You were my hero when I was a probationer!
Bob

 

[114R31c]

Thanks Bob

I remember telling John Hurst, just after I made first team, that he was one of my heroes. He looked me right in the eye and said, " If I'm a hero, you need to make a big sight adjustment." He seemed so serious, I remember stopping the sanding I was doing on some grips and trying to figure out what he meant. Then I realized it was John's way of deflecting praise. Good memories.

I hope you are doing well. Merry Christmas.

Chris

 

[nody]

Wonderful Reminiscences.

I had several pairs of "Fuzzy's," which he made based on the drawing of my hand in the empty spot he placed on his order form/catalog, back in the early 80s.

I had them on a 6" 29, a 5" 5-Screw 27, and a 6" K-38. Sadly, the ex stole them all.

Whom would you gents say is the present day heir-apparent to Fuzzy? Best I can tell, Hogue, the successor company, is the only one of that group of now departed LAPD officers which is still making handgun grips.


OBTW, did you know Fuzzy made it on to TV?

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Adam-12

 

[Mike Grasso]

Figured I'd bring this one back after getting sent here on a link.
In 1980 while in the Academy and then when I made the shooting team, I met John several times and had the opportunity to visit him.
I also had the great pleasure of ordering a pair of grips and having him make them for me.
I carried them on my duty 15 for several years and then put them on my "LAPD" 6" 68-2.

Attached is a picture. Thanks Chris, Clay and Bob. What a great post.

 

[tipoc]

Posted in error.

 

[tommy F]

Thanks for sharing

 

[linde]

These N frame, RB grips have been in my box for several years. They seem to share a number of characteristics with some of your grips. Did any of these makers make any one-piece grips? Any suggestions as to the origin of this set? Bob

Bob, I'm going to say they're by Guy Hogue. I have a similar pair and will post a picture tomorrow.

Russ

edit to add: now that I found page 2 I see my astute answer is very old news . . . but I'll go ahead and post my picture anyway.

 

[linde]

another Hogue wood monogrip

To compliment Bob Bettis's post at bottom of page 1, here is a further evolution of the Hogue Monogrip . . . confirmed by the logo.









Russ

 

[bettis1]

Very nice, Russ. I like that medallion. I can't remember ever seeing that one in a grip before. I wonder if it was a special order or an option?

Bob

 

[-db-]

At one time, all Hogues carried that large badge on them. This carried over into the earlier nylon grips for awhile before being discontinued.

 

[linde]

Very nice, Russ. I like that medallion. I can't remember ever seeing that one in a grip before. I wonder if it was a special order or an option?

At one time, all Hogues carried that large badge on them. This carried over into the earlier nylon grips for awhile before being discontinued.

As -db- indicated, the medallion remained into the 1st generation of molded nylon grips. Here is a sampling of their evolution from two piece to one piece (monogrip) . . . and wood to composite.





Russ

 

[OIF2]

Those nylon Hogue stocks with the medallion were LAPD-issue for several years on the M67 .38. If your grips on an older, issued revolver were messed up on duty, you went to the Armory and a set of the nylon stocks were installed. I never cared for the nylon stocks, but the later rubber ones were more comfortable and supple.
Bob

 

[153]

The first pair of Hogue grips I ever saw were wood monogrips with the large medallions. The local FBI agent brought them into the gunshop where I was working to have them mounted on a 2 1/2" model 66. This was in the late 1970's and the 66 was still a pretty new/hard to get item. The grips and revolver were a striking pair, and made quite an impression!

A few months after becoming an LEO the nylon Hogue grip hit the market and was very popular. I mounted them on my 66 and they are still there today ....

 

[CALREB]

HURST GRIPs

I was reading an april 1960 American Rifleman magazine last night, in The Competition Corner section it stated LAPD Officer John Hurst had won a match in southern Cal with a score of 2500 --, an excellent score as the match was fired in 50-60 MPH winds that tore targets and backers off the frames...
Reminded me that afew years ago I acquired a couple more sets of Hurst from a good friend, He was good friends with John especially toward the end of John's life and John was teaching him to make grips. He actually ended up buying Johns grip making equipment,wood, some guns and other stuff. He has great stories also. Anyway told him I wanted a couple (new ) sets if possible as mine are all used.
Here is what he gave me.
K frames are Mesquite, 1911 are brazilian ironwood ( Pau Faro ?) both are little works of art to me , that will go in my trinket cabinet and never be mounted. Thanks George.....
Bob

Somewhere I have some of the rubber(DAVIS) copies of Johns grips,they didnt fit well or hold up well so they didnt last long .

 

[BAM-BAM]

Funny that this thread resurfaced ......

I sold the two sets of Furrents....shown on page 1........ which I turned into 5 or 6 sets of Spegel boot and extended boot grips..........making my Ks and Ls very happy with their new shoes...........