Who was R.V. Ennis grip maker?

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

I just found some $5.00 special grips - they're pretty cool target grips with a thumb rest, and appear to be lacquered. Inside they are marked:

Made by R.V. Ennis
Beeville, Tex
13-9-40

They *almost* fit an L frame, but the top of the backstrap doesn't quite match. They have lacquer that looks a good 70 years old on it (probably hard as nails by now), and I don't know about shaving them down to fit - somebody loved them at one time.

But they are incredibly comfortable and ergonomic. I would like grips cut like this for my L frames.

Who was Ennis, and what frame were these for?

Muley Gil · Mar 17, 2012

Try 'em on an N frame.

K and L frame grips are the same.

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

I have no N frame.

Muley Gil · Mar 17, 2012

MikeChandler said:
I have no N frame.

diamonback68 · Mar 17, 2012

They look like homemade grips. Never heard of R V Ennis.
Look like they would fit an N-frame.

lawandorder · Mar 17, 2012

Mike,

R. Vail Ennis served as Sheriff, of Bee County Texas from about 1945 to about 1953. He enjoyed breaking up slot machines and if I remember right he was known as a shooter.

Yep found the info I was looking for. Ennis was a sniper in WWI. He also was said to have killed more men than any other mid century Texas Sheriff.His count was supposed to be 8, some maybe questionable.
He once mounted a Thompson on the hood of his patrol car rigged to fire when he pulled a chain. First became an Officer in 1941. He was a trick shooter who often shot Quarters out of the air.

He died December 21, 1972. Tried to copy a photo of him but couldn't, if you Google Find a grave and put in his name you will see an image of him.

In 1940 the grips, if they are for a Smith, would have to be for a K frame.

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

lawandorder said:
Mike,

R. Vail Ennis served as Sheriff, of Bee County Texas from about 1945 to about 1953. He enjoyed breaking up slot machines and if I remember right he was known as a shooter.

He died December 21, 1972.

In 1940 the grips, if they are for a Smith, would have to be for a K frame.

Thanks so much for the info.

Did you know him, know of him, or was there some resource that had the information?

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

I just found this article titled "Hellbent Sheriff".

I am not a subscriber so I cannot read the full article.

-db- · Mar 17, 2012

R. V. Ennis was apparently the Sheriff of Bee County, Texas back in those days. You've got a piece of Texas lawman history in those grips.

Page 16, Kokomo Tribune, July 25, 1947: NewspaperARCHIVE.com

Texas Sheriff Shuns Bullets Beeville Old West Still Lives Lanky R V Ennis sheriff of Bee County makes his own bullets and swears they're better than any store jobs. Using an electric melting pot resizing and lubricating apparatus and a machine Ennis can whip up a batch of bullets to supply all the county officers...

You can read an account of him shooting to death a prisoner who attacked him in 1952 here: Page 10, Evening Journal, February 11, 1952: NewspaperARCHIVE.com

He also made Time magazine in 1947: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,887740,00.html

lawandorder · Mar 17, 2012

Did not know him,I have done way too many years of research on old Peace Officers of the Southwest and the names tend to stick with me.

-db- · Mar 17, 2012

Needless to say, don't modify those grips at all. You never know who Ennis, after some more research, might turn out to be and there might be some serious interest, among the right party, in those grips in original form.

-db- · Mar 17, 2012

Ennis gets more interesting. William S. Burroughs crossed paths with him, ending up arrested for drunken driving by Sheriff Ennis: The lost years of William S. Burroughs: beats in South Texas - Rob Johnson - Google Books

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

Are you kidding? They are going in a case, I won't even mount them, unless I found one of this guns. These are part of Texas history.

I bought access to time - this guy has some serious history. Apparently "concerned citizens" tried to ouster him more than once, with no luck.

Is it okay to print the article or portions of it?

-db- · Mar 17, 2012

Looks like we were all finding and typing stuff at the same time. In any case, now you know who Ennis was. Cool find.

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

-db- said:
Looks like we were all finding and typing stuff at the same time. In any case, now you know who Ennis was. Cool find.

$5 in a LGS "junk bin" along with a bunch of other old police stuff. I am going back to see what else is in there. I am also going to see if these belong to one of the old S&W revolvers these guys just laid out.

Funny those articles don't mention his woodworking skills!

Muley Gil · Mar 17, 2012

"In 1940 the grips, if they are for a Smith, would have to be for a K frame."

Why do you say that? S&W was selling .44 Specials, .38/44s, 1917s, and .357s in 1940.

MikeChandler · Mar 17, 2012

Here he is!

lawandorder · Mar 17, 2012

MG because they look like they fit the L frame pretty close and didn't think they would fit an N but I sure defer to your .44 Knowledge.

mbliss57 · Mar 17, 2012

This is getting really interesting!

Muley Gil · Mar 17, 2012

Look at pictures # 6 and # 7. See how the wood stands proud on the right grip? Should fit an N just right.

Look at the pictures in this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ly-i-found-heavy-duty-picture-heavy-duty.html

Those are K frame Magnas mounted on an N frame. See how much exposed metal is shown?

Who was R.V. Ennis grip maker?

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