Jim, Thank you. I did not know until I read your post that the trigger guard on his Colt had been altered; always assumed it was a standard first generation Colt. Interesting piece of information. I have seen pictures of that 38-40 with the five inch barrel that he carried early on, and if I recall it had a nice set of bone grips, but I guess the .45 bore with the shorter barrel proved more comfortable to carry, so he stuck with that one. I've seen debates elsewhere about the material used in the "yellow" grip on that Colt, and I'm still not sure what it was. I saw the Duke once, back in the sixties, when he was filming overseas, at an Air Base where I was stationed. He was striding down the concourse in combat fatigues and a beret. Would know that walk anywhere. A favorite memory.
John Wayne in "The Shootist" - El Paso Saddlery rig doesn't quite match....
- Thread starter BullseyeJC
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Jim, Thank you. I did not know until I read your post that the trigger guard on his Colt had been altered; always assumed it was a standard first generation Colt. Interesting piece of information. I have seen pictures of that 38-40 with the five inch barrel that he carried early on, and if I recall it had a nice set of bone grips, but I guess the .45 bore with the shorter barrel proved more comfortable to carry, so he stuck with that one. I've seen debates elsewhere about the material used in the "yellow" grip on that Colt, and I'm still not sure what it was. I saw the Duke once, back in the sixties, when he was filming overseas, at an Air Base where I was stationed. He was striding down the concourse in combat fatigues and a beret. Would know that walk anywhere. A favorite memory.
PAULEM,
I'm quite certain it was Catalin, a plastic not unsimilar to Bakelite, but not the same either.
Bakelite & Catalin: All you need to know + Testing | eBay
He had them cast in white then he would soak them in tea until he got the color amber we are most familiar with from his movies. I've read this in a couple of sources.
I'm quite certain it was Catalin, a plastic not unsimilar to Bakelite, but not the same either.
Bakelite & Catalin: All you need to know + Testing | eBay
He had them cast in white then he would soak them in tea until he got the color amber we are most familiar with from his movies. I've read this in a couple of sources.
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smutt
Member
I've got one too. I ordered it with a strong side and cross draw holster. The old saying holds true, "buy the gun not the story". Or holster rig in this case.
Jim, I'm almost positive the tea-staining part of the story is myth. Wayne's famous grips were produced by Maurice Scharlack, who made only yellow catalin grips. Not only that, but tea-staining a white plastic, had that been the case, would not produce a deep golden color but rather a mere "dirty white" surface color.
Wayne's grips:
Other catalin/Scharlack grips:
You can go to Google Images and search for catalin and/or Scharlack grips and every set you'll see is the same yellow/gold color.
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Thx DB,
That's pretty convincing. Google had nothing for Scharlack grips but no doubt he's been out of business for a long time.
That's pretty convincing. Google had nothing for Scharlack grips but no doubt he's been out of business for a long time.
the ringo kid
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I know many on this board are John Wayne fans and I thought this might lead to an interesting discussion.
El Paso Saddlery advertises a western holster rig in a style which they claim to have made for John Wayne to wear in his 1976 movie, “The Shootist”. I’m in the market for a new western rig and I happened to be watching this movie the other day. I noticed that John Wayne wore a holster and belt that was nothing like the rig that El Paso Saddlery claims they made for the movie. The picture below shows the El Paso “#44” rig along with a description from their website.
From El Paso Saddlery………“The half-breed style holster and rough out moneybelt we made for John Wayne for use in the 1976 movie, The Shootist.”
Next, you will see some screen shots from The Shootist. Notice that Wayne wears a holster with no loop which has a full flap in the back resting against his thigh. Also, you will see that his belt looks like a 3” or so wide single piece of smooth brown leather and looks nothing like the suede money belt advertised by El Paso Saddlery. What gives?
Screen Shot 1
Screen Shot 2
Ive got a great movie still of him from said movie--that shows him wearing that rig. Its in one of the movie stills threads here. When ive time? ill try to remember to find it and post it for you.
the ringo kid
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OOps, never mind. Didnt realize this was a super old thread.
It's super new thread since post #32!
Jim, I'm almost positive the tea-staining part of the story is myth. Wayne's famous grips were produced by Maurice Scharlack, who made only yellow catalin grips. Not only that, but tea-staining a white plastic, had that been the case, would not produce a deep golden color but rather a mere "dirty white" surface color.
Wayne's grips:
Other catalin/Scharlack grips:
You can go to Google Images and search for catalin and/or Scharlack grips and every set you'll see is the same yellow/gold color.
Wonder if anyone is offering a commercial version of the yellow Catalin/Bakalite grips that the Duke used on his sixgun?
I have not seen or heard of any. It's not really a popular grip material because, like bakelite, they are a little susceptible to breaking, and they'd be expensive.
A far superior material is Tru Ivory, the best substitute ivory on the market, in the 'ultra antiqued' color choice. Click on the 02:
Bar S Grips Tru Ivory Grips Photo Gallery
A far superior material is Tru Ivory, the best substitute ivory on the market, in the 'ultra antiqued' color choice. Click on the 02:
Bar S Grips Tru Ivory Grips Photo Gallery
Thank you again Jim. Much obliged.
Horseless Trooper
Member
Buffalo Brothers makes a replica John Wayne grip with finger grooves
Grips for Single Action Army - Items - Buffalo Brothers Cowboy Store
Grips for Single Action Army - Items - Buffalo Brothers Cowboy Store
Dub
Member
Great reading across all the posts. Thanks for an interesting Saturday read.
hotrod150
Member
Yeah, great thread. I enjoyed reading the link that was posted also.
I always liked the fact that Mr Wayne used a more practical & realistic high-riding style holster in his films, rather than the typical Hollywood gunslinger holster tied-down to the leg about halfway to the knee. I've seen The Shootist many times,yet never noticed that he wore a different holster in that one.
I always liked the fact that Mr Wayne used a more practical & realistic high-riding style holster in his films, rather than the typical Hollywood gunslinger holster tied-down to the leg about halfway to the knee. I've seen The Shootist many times,yet never noticed that he wore a different holster in that one.
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