Another set of Roper Target Stocks?!

CombatController · #1 12-02-2011, 01:37 AM

Wow! So I got lucky with the last two sets of ropers, who would have thought lightening would strike three times? I'm not sure if it actually did this time, but they are nice stocks. They *seem* to have some characteristics from the threads here, but I am unsure if they actually are, or are similar. More's the pity that they are left handers, but they will make good trade fodder, especially if they are Roper's after all.

Could I impose on the good members of this community to aid me once again in determining if these are the real deal?

Except no square jig marks inside; although I have read on this forum that they are not always present... Oy! They have a gradual palm swell (I tried to capture it in the pictures) and it has the same types of chisel marks as my other set although there is no ribbon nor checkering on the thumb rest.

Original thread here. Original Roper Grips?

Pics attached and thanks!

CombatController · #2 12-02-2011, 01:41 AM

A few more...

Barrocky · #3 12-02-2011, 03:01 AM

I'd say those are not Roper for several reasons. I've never seen a Roper with only one diamond, one sided ribbon yes, single diamond, no. Every Roper I've seen that has a thumbrest, the thumbrest shelf is checkered at a minimum, and often also grooved along with the checkering. On a Roper stock with a covered backstrap, never saw a set that the halves weren't checkered together on the back.

Looking more at the insides, the locating circles seem to be somewhat crude and the halves don't seem to exactly mirror each other in that area. I think they may be home made stocks.

gjamison · #4 12-02-2011, 07:37 AM

if i'm not mistaken there should be 2 similer jig
marks on the inside of the grips, i don't see them.

could be sandersons or harriets maybe, don't think there
ropers.

Timb1 · #5 12-02-2011, 09:05 AM

Barrocky,

I remember quite a few years ago a members Dad or Grandpa had a large collection of Smith's, most or all equipped with Ropers. Was that member you? If so do you have any pictures of those great old Smith's. I seem to remember a 22/32 in particular.

Thank you,

Tim

fat tom · #6 12-02-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjamison

could be sandersons or harriets maybe, don't think there
ropers.

Hey George. Where can I get me some of those Harriet's?

f.t.

Barrocky · #7 12-02-2011, 01:14 PM

Tim, Yes it was me .... posted several pics probably 8-9 years ago now. Grandpa had about 60+ sets of Ropers, about 40 Sandersons, and a few old Herrett. I'm sure the stocks in question aren't Roper, or Sanderson, or Herrett. Fitz made wood stocks but I don't think they actually made the wood examples themselves. Think all they did with the wooden ones was stamp their brand in them .... sometimes. Many of the Fitz are stamped inside as from another country and most of the wood isn't native, and most don't have any upper locating circles at all. Mershon advertised wood grips for like 2 months back in the later 40's, and I've seen a few old ads for Cloyce stocks .... don't know anything about either of those. Then there's G&H, King, and Kearsarge .... don't think these were crafted by any of those makers.

CombatController · #8 12-02-2011, 02:26 PM

Well shoot. Externally they strongly resemble a set for a Colt Python I saw that did have all the interior marks like a Roper. Lacking this internally didn't seem entirely like a deal killer but cast doubt for me.

Now I wonder who made them if not Sanderson or Harrit....

mikepriwer · #9 12-02-2011, 02:27 PM

Those look home-made to me - nicely done, but I don't think they are
the work of any of the well-known names.

Mike Priwer

SDH · #10 12-02-2011, 05:24 PM

There was a diamond in the center of the left grip and it looks like someone re-checkered them and ran right over it. They didn't remove the escutcheon on the left side. You can see faint over-runs on the right grip diamond.