Found some stuff (Ropers, early large frame rubber grips) and need help identifying.

dacoontz · #1 07-06-2011, 01:36 AM

Hey there group,
I just got back from vacation which turned out to be very fruitful. I grabbed a bunch of stuff along with some nice HE's that I will show off later. Anyway, I need some help authenticating what I have found. The first is a set of grips that look Roperish but not sure they meet the high standards that I have seen here. They are well used but still appealing. What's the consensus?

And the second grips are hard balck rubber grips for a large frame (larger than a pre-war K frame) with a number around 2200 scratched on the back like others that I have seen done by the factory. I have an idea but wanted an opinion on these as well.

I'll throw in a pic of the 38 safety hammerless (lemon squeezer) that I also picked up. These aren't my thing but this one is darn near perfect and you just don't see them in this shape with matching walnut grips. I will probably find someone that collects these and recover some of the funds spent from my vacation. Either way, wanted to show her off as well. Serial number is in the 250,000 range with a 3 1/4 inch barrel.

Thanks for the help.

handejector · #2 07-06-2011, 08:22 AM

We need better pics of the wood.

Black- #3 frame? Maybe a 44 DA?

boykinlp · #3 07-06-2011, 03:15 PM

More detailed pictures would definitely help. The back of the thumbrest grips appear to have the square "Roper" jigholes, but not the ribbon pattern that is familiar with Ropers.

dacoontz · #4 07-06-2011, 08:13 PM

Here's some more pics as requested.

dacoontz · #5 07-06-2011, 08:15 PM

Here's some another of the number on the large frame rubber grips, some stags (upper were labeled new departure, lower labeled top break), and some older, older grips. How rare are these top break grips and what is the stamp on the one pair of stag grips. I have seen that mark before but can't remember where.

TACC1 · #6 07-06-2011, 08:20 PM

You got me drooling over that 38 Safety Hammerless. Shouldn't
do that to us old guys. Might slip and fall. Let me know if you're going to put a price tag on that one!
TACC1

dacoontz · #7 07-06-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACC1

You got me drooling over that 38 Safety Hammerless. Shouldn't
do that to us old guys. Might slip and fall. Let me know if you're going to put a price tag on that one!
TACC1

Thanks, it was a good couple weeks. I came across some great stuff and some pretty guns. I am considering selling it to fund a couple nice N frames that I snagged as well, but I am sure some day I will regret it.

SDH · #8 07-07-2011, 12:56 AM

The walnut grips have the look of being professionally made but someone filed on the front edge of each, and rammed the ejector into the thumb rest. Don't look like Roper to me, really nice grips at one time, but....
I'm not the expert.
The large black grips could be New Model #3. I don't think the guns ever got over five digit serial numbers(?) If so they are really nice.

rct269 · #9 07-07-2011, 01:28 AM

Well, the outside of the "Ropers" certainly don't look like the typical Ropers, but the inside most certainly does-----------and that's all I have to say about that------except that I have seen other grips with checkering patterns atypical to "normal" Ropers that were absolutlely, positively identified as Ropers by folks who have forgotten more than I know about them.

Ralph Tremaine

dacoontz · #10 07-07-2011, 08:51 PM

Thanks for the replies Ralph and Steve. Anybody else have some opinions about the stuff above. Thanks gents.

Keith Brown · #11 07-08-2011, 11:06 PM

Daniel, they look like Ropers to me but someone modified them along the way. Looks like the toe has been sanded and probably the front strap opened up. They appear to have been drilled for a different pin location also, Colt maybe? Lots of Ropers got modified, dang bulls eye shooters couldn't leave anything alone! Have you tried them on a gun for fit.

Keith

dacoontz · #12 07-08-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Brown

Daniel, they look like Ropers to me but someone modified them along the way. Looks like the toe has been sanded and probably the front strap opened up. They appear to have been drilled for a different pin location also, Colt maybe? Lots of Ropers got modified, dang bulls eye shooters couldn't leave anything alone! Have you tried them on a gun for fit.

Keith

Keith,
Thanks for the reply. I did try them on a K frame and an N frame and they actually fit both. They are snugger on the N frame but you have a small portion of the grip frame on the right mildly exposed where the back strap of the grip was smoothed down. They also have a bigger gap between the bottom of the grip frame and the inner bottom edge of the grip. They are very secure and feel great on both guns. I came to the conclusion that they were likley originally for an N frame because of the markings ("44") on the inside of the grips as well.
On the K frame you can see a gap between the front strap of the gun and the inside front edge of the grip. They seem to have been made for someone with smaller hands as they are not substantially thick when applied to either gun. I did put them up for auction today, with a reserve, to pay for some recent guns I picked up. If they sell then I will probably regret it as they are the only Ropers I have ever laid my hands on. They felt really good and I removed them from the gun immediately so that I wouldn't fall in love and change my mind.

rlee1976 · #13 05-04-2012, 10:11 PM

Dacoontz, did you ever sell those Ropers? I'd be interested if they're available.

dacoontz · #14 05-04-2012, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlee1976

Dacoontz, did you ever sell those Ropers? I'd be interested if they're available.

Sent you a PM. Dacoontz.