Mystery Stock Thread

[Modified]

In honor of finally acquiring a set of a particular type of mystery stocks I thought it might be a good idea to make a thread dedicated to posting stocks you think are pre 1961 but don't know the maker of.

If you have anything like that go ahead and post it. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about them, I might be able to help, or maybe one of the much more experienced folks on this forum.

I'll start off with my new set:









Anyone have any ideas?

The guy I bought them from says that he took them off of a Registered Magnum that he sold, and that he has the letter somewhere saying to JR is. So hopefully he can find that and I can get a little more info here.

 

[VM]

here is a thread with similar stocks:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...36-who-made-these-grips-update-post-32-a.html

 

[jframejoey]

Schofieldkid?

 

[Hondo44]

They don't have the typical Roper jig marks on the back which may or may not be conclusive. But gorgeous grips nonetheless!

 

[Modified]

They don't have the typical Roper jig marks on the back which may or may not be conclusive. But gorgeous grips nonetheless!

I'm certain they aren't roper. If they had palm swell and the bit where your middle finger were angled I might think they were, but that isn't the case.

They are quite narrow and seem to me to be made by someone duplicating, and improving on, what you get with a Mershon grip adapter, or a S&W. I really do like them, but sadly, the more I look at it, the more I think the left panel shrunk a bit over the year.

 

[Tom K]

here is a thread with similar stocks:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...36-who-made-these-grips-update-post-32-a.html

Yup, Sixgun's grips are apparently made by the same maker as the ones I posted about. Nobody could identify the maker for me then, maybe we'll have better luck now.

Schofieldkid?

Good guess but no, schofieldkid81 did not make the grips in the original post. But he can make new copies, as he did for me: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/393583-some-stocks-schofieldkid81.html

 

[Modified]

Yup, Sixgun's grips are apparently made by the same maker as the ones I posted about. Nobody could identify the maker for me then, maybe we'll have better luck now.



Good guess but no, schofieldkid81 did not make the grips in the original post. But he can make new copies, as he did for me: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/393583-some-stocks-schofieldkid81.html

My word, those are really nice. I can absolutely understand why you would want more of these too. Very nice for small stocks.


Ok, Mystery Stocks #2

All I know about them is that they seem to be made for the early N frames, they don't fit my later guns, but will go on a triple lock or this 1917.

Any ideas?

Also, Gonalco Alves or Rosewood?

 

[410bore]

Yup, Sixgun's grips are apparently made by the same maker as the ones I posted about. Nobody could identify the maker for me then, maybe we'll have better luck now.



Good guess but no, schofieldkid81 did not make the grips in the original post. But he can make new copies, as he did for me: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/393583-some-stocks-schofieldkid81.html

Not sure he is still available to make more grips, he has had two pairs of grips to repair for me for over a year. He told me several months ago he was shipping them but I haven't seen them nor have I been able to get in touch with him.

 

[mikepriwer]

Caleb

The #2 stocks are rosewood, not goncalo alvez. I also note that the wood is not
matched from left to right. Typically gripmakers will start off with a block of wood
and split it, so that the two sides match. These look more like something a person
with carving skills did for themselves.

As to the #1 grips, one interesting aspect is that the checkering runs all the way
along the length of the grip, except for the edges. Not many gripmakers used that
much coverage for the checkering.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Modified]

Good eye on that Mike, and thanks for the rosewood confirmation. I would not disagree at all with your assessment that they were made by someone with carving skills. That was sort of my impression too.

On the #1 I must say that the coverage is one of the things that impresses me about them. I've wanted a set of whoever made those since I saw Tom K's, and now that I actually have them in hand I'm even more pleased then I thought I would be.


On another note, I would love it if anyone else with mystery stocks would post here. I've felt like we could use a thread just for trying to identify some of them, and I know I'm always fascinated to see other people's mystery accessories.

 

[Tom K]

Not sure he is still available to make more grips, he has had two pairs of grips to repair for me for over a year. He told me several months ago he was shipping them but I haven't seen them nor have I been able to get in touch with him.

Well that's disheartening. He did great work for me and I had been thinking about having him do some more.

 

[410bore]

Well that's disheartening. He did great work for me and I had been thinking about having him do some more.

Same here. He made me a few great sets of stocks and repaired a few more.

I'd like to have the N frame diamond targets and N frame pre war magnas back though but may not see them again......

 

[paplinker]

Good eye on that Mike, and thanks for the rosewood confirmation. I would not disagree at all with your assessment that they were made by someone with carving skills. That was sort of my impression too.

On the #1 I must say that the coverage is one of the things that impresses me about them. I've wanted a set of whoever made those since I saw Tom K's, and now that I actually have them in hand I'm even more pleased then I thought I would be.


On another note, I would love it if anyone else with mystery stocks would post here. I've felt like we could use a thread just for trying to identify some of them, and I know I'm always fascinated to see other people's mystery accessories.

OK, Here is a K frame set that I have no clue on. Believe they are post 1950 as they have a relief cutout for a target hammer when pulled.

 

[410bore]

Here's another set, advertised as Ropers when I bought them. While they have several similar characteristics (grooves on thumbrest, escutcheons, curvy checkering border, also, ignore the screw it's not correct) there are things that don't appear Roper, like the inside inletting.

I was wondering if these could be the later, machine checkered Ropers? Member skilled posted some pics before of a set for a colt woodsman (I believe) but I don't think I've ever seen a set for a revolver. Club Gun Fan posted some pics a few years ago of some grips that were NIB and shipped from Walter Roper but didn't look like the Ropers we have come to know. Perhaps these, and his were some of the later style offered, btw these are not made for a pre war revolver, no domed upper side plate screw relief. If Don, Club Gun Fan, sees this maybe he can share his photos again, I'm curious to see them and a pic of the Insides.

Also, just remembered weatherby has a set of very similar grips given to his son by Don. Maybe he can post pics of his here

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Modified]

I thought I had a similar set, but yours is nicer then the ones that I have. No thumb rest groove, less checkering, and different screw. I'd say if any set was a candidate for machine made ropers it would be yours. These, now I have no idea:

 

[Modified]

Doubleposting because I just read something I found very interesting.

I'm reading a copy of Pistol and Revolver Shooting by Walter Roper. Right in the forward he says this:

"The author regrets that, except for Mr. Walter Murad, two of whos stocks are shown none of the other fine stock makers were able to supply illustrations of their work.

While the pictures are therefore of stocks of my own design and manufacture, other stock makers, like my good friend Lew Sanderson, Messrs. Griffin & Howe, The King Gun Sight Co., and many others make stocks having all the features mentioned as desirable."

So King made stocks?

Maybe that would account for some of these mysteries?

 

[410bore]

Doubleposting because I just read something I found very interesting.

I'm reading a copy of Pistol and Revolver Shooting by Walter Roper. Right in the forward he says this:

"The author regrets that, except for Mr. Walter Murad, two of whos stocks are shown none of the other fine stock makers were able to supply illustrations of their work.

While the pictures are therefore of stocks of my own design and manufacture, other stock makers, like my good friend Lew Sanderson, Messrs. Griffin & Howe, The King Gun Sight Co., and many others make stocks having all the features mentioned as desirable."

So King made stocks?

Maybe that would account for some of these mysteries?

Hmmm, weird. I have never seen a King ad showing a pic of their stocks but have seen a G&H ad. The stocks pictured in their ad are clearly Ropers. So, I've always been under the impression that G&H contracted roper to make their stocks

 

[Modified]

Hmmm, weird. I have never seen a King ad showing a pic of their stocks but have seen a G&H ad. The stocks pictured in their ad are clearly Ropers. So, I've always been under the impression that G&H contracted roper to make their stocks

I thought so too... until I read this.

Frankly I am finding his chapter on stocks fascinating. I'd love to actually transcribe the entire chapter, with all the pictures, and put it into a thread for discussion. I don't think that's legal though with the copyright law.

 

[Modified]

After some checking it would appear that the book's copyright was never renewed and it is now public domain.

Would a new Roper Stocks thread that starts off with the full chapter, all illustrations, and pictures of my collection be a way to go? Would you guys want to add your own collections to that? I find that this forum is such an excellent source for information that I'm inclined to make well formatted threads that people can use for many years to come.

 

[weatherby]

One of my mystery sets.

Most of this style I have a hard time being precise with.
This set is very thin at the backstrap and works for me.
I don't know who did the work but the thumbrest and trigger guard area
seem to me to show some talent ?