A guy walked in with a Brazilian contract 45 and walked out with my money. Looks like several were bought at gunshows this weekend. Mine has a nice S&W period blue, many scratches in the finish but no rust, and the chambers and bore are excellent. It has a funky set of amber grips - seller said ivory - I said no, my wife said apricot. One guy said it looked like bakelite, and another guy said it was the same stuff John Wayne had on his colt. Either way, non original grips, but the gun cycles smoothly and the finish is better than I would expect. Have not shot it yet. I'm a happy camper. The all alum airweight is in another thread.
Charlie

That looks like a good one. Congratulations!

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David Wilson

Very nice, congrats.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Catalin? I believe the material is called catalin and I think they look great. I wonder if anybody still makes them.

I can't remember what the Duke's grips were made out of, some type of early plastic. He had the finger cutouts on the left grip panel like yours, they were used to help control the gun during spinning.

Just googled catalin. I'm sure that's what it is - and catalin is what most people call bakelite, although bakelite was earlier and had different properties. Catalin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The right panel has a piece of white tape with "KONDASAKI IVORY" written on it. I'm guessing Kondasaki is Japanese for FAKE.

Buy a set of service grips for authenticity and a set of Pachmayrs (or your favorite comfor grip) some full moons and shoot that gun. I love shooting my Brazilian

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I have those same grips that came on a 2nd model hand ejector and was wondering the same thing, never seen them before.

Thats a very nice Brazilian 45. Had one years ago and it was very worn. Let us know how it shoots. What ever the grips are, they look good in the gun, Larry

Your grips are bonded ivory. They are put together from Ivory dust and a bonding agent. They age just like Ivory but cost a fraction of what solid ivory grips would cost. Not sure on the manufacturer, but they are 1960's vintage grips. The finger grooves are the give away. I think, maybe early Ajax but not positive.
Cool gun that shoots a big bullet.

Use of Catalin goes back to the 1930's -1950's. Bonded ivory came in with the ivory embargo, around 1975. think these grips are older than 1975. Several sources have identified them as Catalin. They are marked 44 H.E. on the back.


Charlie

You're right, they are Catalin and that is what the Duke used on his Colts.

Is your gun flattened on the top strap with a sq notch rear sight (1937 contract) or rounded top strap with small u notch (1946 contract)?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Catalin is the type of material and the story of the doctor is legit. When he passed the family didn't know the recipe and it died. John Wayne purchased his in Mexico while filming a movie down there. I have a set for an early Colt Woodsman. I have heard that the Doc was from Corpus Christi.

I'm glad someone explained the finger grooves, I thought it was notches.

Good buy on the Brazilian.....I bought several back in the 80's when they came into the country....they ranged from excellent to almost no finish.....but were sound mechanically...I set the most worn one up with Houges, full moon clips and it has served me well over the years....big gun, big bullets.....good shooting. Enjoy your "new" Smith.

Jim,

this thread was resurrected from 2011, but to answer your question, it has a flat top strap.

Charlie

Very nice!