MRCVS, technically yes ! USRA and Roper factory stocks for a win.
Show your Roper grips
- Thread starter Hammerless-12
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Was looking up Roper grips a while ago. They were priced anywhere from $90-$400 (msrp). Being an old retired fart and extremely frugal I decided I could make my own set of ‘roper’ grips for far less.
Although they turned out okay I have to say they were pretty uncomfortable…..
Although they turned out okay I have to say they were pretty uncomfortable…..
Modified
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man, I'd snap those up in an instant. They look like they feel great. Actually, if you are ever selling them let me know, I have a gun for those...
Not a hard fix on the checkering. Nice set of Ropers !
With all due respect, for some odd reason I can't help but think they have a bit of a Seattle or Portland 'flavor' to them? If not comfortable, then certainly colorful.
What kind of cord is it specifically, and did you just wrap it around the bare grip frame? I can't imagine it staying tight enough to be truly useable for very long, but I did make a lanyard for my Spyderco Endura out of some 550 paracord hand wound into a hangman's noose, 13 coils, and slowly pulled/cinched/twisted tighter and tighter until almost 30 years later its practically fused into one piece. Makes a perfect cosh, too.
Tom
They are actually quite thick but I shoot the HD quite well with them. Since the HD is a 1941 gun, they are the only really correct grips I have for it, other than the pre-war magnas.
I like that checkering pattern.
MiniCombat9
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These are my four. One small frame S&W, one Colt, and two High Standards. The checkering on the Lignum Vitae small frame S&W,
is a bit finer than the other three possibly indicating another maker such as Griffin & Howe (some say that Roper was the G&H supplier, but I doubt it). The screw holes are unfinished on these, and possibly a sign that the grip project was aborted. I have never trial fit them on my revolvers so I really don't know. Two pairs are "signed". I dont believe the discussion of "machine cut" & signed Ropers holds much truth. Correct me if you know for sure, or just give your opinion as well. There is no abundance of similar designs of any Ropers to say that he "machine cut" or he "mass produced" any grip design. These are all pretty much one-offs, with the Colts being slimmed down quite a bit by him for smaller hands with a deep palm swell. The only Roper design that may have been machine cut / mass produced, in my personal opinion, was the ribbon design High Standard factory grip. The verdict has always been out on those by collectors, with some referring to them as Ropers and others referring to them as "Roper like".
is a bit finer than the other three possibly indicating another maker such as Griffin & Howe (some say that Roper was the G&H supplier, but I doubt it). The screw holes are unfinished on these, and possibly a sign that the grip project was aborted. I have never trial fit them on my revolvers so I really don't know. Two pairs are "signed". I dont believe the discussion of "machine cut" & signed Ropers holds much truth. Correct me if you know for sure, or just give your opinion as well. There is no abundance of similar designs of any Ropers to say that he "machine cut" or he "mass produced" any grip design. These are all pretty much one-offs, with the Colts being slimmed down quite a bit by him for smaller hands with a deep palm swell. The only Roper design that may have been machine cut / mass produced, in my personal opinion, was the ribbon design High Standard factory grip. The verdict has always been out on those by collectors, with some referring to them as Ropers and others referring to them as "Roper like".
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MiniCombat9
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kwill1911
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Somewhere I have an ad in which Roper offers a machine checkered option. Those with his initials on the back are machine made. Also, Roper had nothing to do with the grips on High Standard pistols; they just used a pattern that resembled Roper's.
MiniCombat9
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Yes, I believe I acknowledged all those points as well. This is what I am trying to determine. What were the machine made aspects of what seem to be "one off grip" designs? When I think "machine made" I think ease of replication. I have never seen other "machine made" designs that were identical, of the possibly 100's of Ropers i've seen or handled. The only ones that ever are similar, are the unsigned "hand made" revolver grips without a thumb rest. Those all "look" the same. The signed ones do tend to have a different "cutting table" mounting design (three? fine indentations, triangulated?), and do have a consistently replicated WR signature.
“Machine made”. If there is any truth to it I'm thinking it meant a power tool of some type to cut checkering, there has been enough difference in shape and size every set I have seen along with variations in checkered field to believe that anything was ever automated. Just opinion.
Tom,
It was a bit of a “poke in the ribs” joke with a little sarcasm mixed in.
And yes, I wrapped some of my old climbing gear cord around the bare frame just for the pic. If you google climbing gear cords you’ll have lots of size and color choices. I’ve found a multitude of uses for the stuff as I’m WAY too old to think about climbing or rappelling off cliffs again.
It was a bit of a “poke in the ribs” joke with a little sarcasm mixed in.
And yes, I wrapped some of my old climbing gear cord around the bare frame just for the pic. If you google climbing gear cords you’ll have lots of size and color choices. I’ve found a multitude of uses for the stuff as I’m WAY too old to think about climbing or rappelling off cliffs again.
.22/32 Kit Gun,1935 vintage
Green Frog
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IIRC, Keith Brown announced that he was going to make several sets of Roper type grips for a J frame. This was a couple of years ago and I found out to get in on that group. I wonder whether anyone has a set they’d be willing to show off?
It's a 4", the only pre war and post war Transitional model Kit Gun barrel length offered. (A 2" was offered with the Model 1953 NEW I frame.)
Do these KB's on a Model 35 meet your criteria...IIRC, Keith Brown announced that he was going to make several sets of Roper type grips for a J frame. This was a couple of years ago and I found out to get in on that group. I wonder whether anyone has a set they’d be willing to show off?
I picked these up at last years SWCA Symposium... then I purchased the Model 35 to display them on.
They are a beautiful set and a great example of Keith's outstanding work. Richard those are truly awesome. The slight "bulb" at the front of the butt just reeks of of old world panache.
I had a pair of custom grips I bought before I had the gun for them. When I did acquire the right gun, they fit like those, just a hair shy of the back strap. A slight interior fitting snugged them right up. I bet KB could make the adjustment.
I had a pair of custom grips I bought before I had the gun for them. When I did acquire the right gun, they fit like those, just a hair shy of the back strap. A slight interior fitting snugged them right up. I bet KB could make the adjustment.
Mossyrock
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As most of you probably know, Altamont grips has been marketing what they call "Roper" grips for several years. Not terribly well executed. No one will ever mistake them for originals or Keith Brown's, that's for sure. However, having said that, NC Ordnance recently introduced a
"Roper" grip clone that is actually pretty darned good! Here is a pic of a set on my model 24.
"Roper" grip clone that is actually pretty darned good! Here is a pic of a set on my model 24.
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MiniCombat9
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Mossyrock, is it possible you are mistaking Altamont for Ahrends? I don't remember Kim making Roper type clones.
Likely the case. Ahrends didn't offer Roper style grips, and they have also been out of business for the past 6 years.
Mossyrock
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Yes Sir, you are absolutely correct. My mistake. Corrected.
That’s cool, all in good fun. This probably belongs in the Spyderco thread but I figure it won’t hurt to have it over here either. And yes, I did the black one by myself way back in the late 90’s. Not sure where I sourced the orange/blue one but it’s been a long time as well. Like turn of the century long. Both knives are still going strong too
Tom
