Roper stocks

handejector · #1 03-01-2020, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet

- Odd features, and ropers for odd guns, can reduce the value as it seems much of the market is populated with people looking to buy a set for their gun, often for some classy shooting, and not to collect the stocks themselves.

Depends on the "odd" gun. I had a set years ago for the Colt Model P- the SAA. Only set I have seen to this day. Can't remember where I got them.
This was 10-12 years ago. (more, maybe?)
I stuck $1000 or $1200 on them. Can't remember. Took them to Tulsa. This was when nice N frame Ropers could be had for $250-350 all day long. Colt Ropers for $200-325. A guy looked at them. Haggled with me, but I wouldn't budge. He called me a day or two after I got home. I can't remember who paid the postage.

paplinker · #2 03-01-2020, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

This was when nice N frame Ropers could be had for $250-350 all day long.

I wonder what that would be like.
Seems I am always a day late when it comes to collecting.

When they were bringing that did you have any thought or indication that they may take off in value years later?

handejector · #3 03-01-2020, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paplinker

I wonder what that would be like.
Seems I am always a day late when it comes to collecting.

When they were bringing that did you have any thought or indication that they may take off in value years later?

It is all relative to the dollar of the day.
Remember when gas was a quarter a gallon? 15 cents in a gas war? I still had trouble feeding those four barrel carbs.

handejector · #4 03-01-2020, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Depends on the "odd" gun. I had a set years ago for the Colt Model P- the SAA. Only set I have seen to this day. Can't remember where I got them.
This was 10-12 years ago. (more, maybe?)
I stuck $1000 or $1200 on them. Can't remember. Took them to Tulsa. This was when nice N frame Ropers could be had for $250-350 all day long. Colt Ropers for $200-325. A guy looked at them. Haggled with me, but I wouldn't budge. He called me a day or two after I got home. I can't remember who paid the postage.

Thought you might like a few pics.

boykinlp · #5 03-02-2020, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Thought you might like a few pics.

Lee,
Have you ever seen another pair?
Larry

Keith Brown · #6 03-01-2020, 07:18 PM

Great thread and great photos !
Determining original Roper/Gagne grips requires considering a number of features, the "feel" of a set is one indicator for sure but you have to handle many other stocks to be able to get that part of it I think. The jig holes are what most people seem to think is the single best indicator, I disagree completely with that. If someone shows me a set that kinda look Roper-ish, maybe even close in a feature or two including the "jig marks" but lack that delicate little fingernail like sliver at the trigger guard or remnants of it and the "feel" is questionable then to me the likelihood of them being authentic to me is very very small. I've also looked at a few sets to confirm what the owner wants them to be and when stating, I don't think so, its taken as a personal insult.
Disclamer: I ain't no expert !! but do consider myself a student of it all.
Opinion:
The most popular and valuable Roper/Gagne stocks are N frame, no thumb rest, and fingertip pattern on both sides is the most popular.
There are many one off or near one off Ropers around but they most often fall short in dollar value.
There are plenty of Colt Ropers around but again the cash value falls short IMO.

Roper had made a marketed the stocks but Gagne made them, a few others made a few, but the lions share are by Gagne, again IMO.

Mathias Gagne made them over a long enough period the his style developed, changed with time, age probably played a part also.

paplinker mentioned a large checked type that he prefers, if its the set I think he is referring to, its not so much the the checking is large, but coarse, these are the purest Gagne/Ropers to me because they were undeniably from the masters hand, the checkering is cut with a V chisel !. Very few would try it and most would fail miserably. Very sharp tool, strong steady hand, good eyes and the confidence to keep going row after row knowing that a slip could run it all. Mathias Gagne was the Master !

paplinker · #7 03-01-2020, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Brown

Great thread and great photos !

paplinker mentioned a large checked type that he prefers, if its the set I think he is referring to, its not so much the the checking is large, but coarse, these are the purest Gagne/Ropers to me because they were undeniably from the masters hand, the checkering is cut with a V chisel !. Very few would try it and most would fail miserably. Very sharp tool, strong steady hand, good eyes and the confidence to keep going row after row knowing that a slip could run it all. Mathias Gagne was the Master !

Below are two sets of Ropers. The set on the right have the coarser checking and seem to be much harder to find.

I notice the stumpier looking diamond on the coarser also.

Modified · #8 03-01-2020, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Depends on the "odd" gun. I had a set years ago for the Colt Model P- the SAA. Only set I have seen to this day. Can't remember where I got them.
This was 10-12 years ago. (more, maybe?)
I stuck $1000 or $1200 on them. Can't remember. Took them to Tulsa. This was when nice N frame Ropers could be had for $250-350 all day long. Colt Ropers for $200-325. A guy looked at them. Haggled with me, but I wouldn't budge. He called me a day or two after I got home. I can't remember who paid the postage.

I wouldn't really call a Colt SAA an odd gun. I would say that you have brought up an example of a very popular gun, but with very few ropers ever made for it. That pony tax has been crazy for a long time now. It has kept me almost entirely out of the Colt market, outside of the "wrong" guns I've bought (such as those defiled by D.W. King or the Colt Service Department with icky icky modifications). I just look at good examples and think...thats just way too much money. Let some guy who has a big pension and grew up watching Gunsmoke as a child fight a guy who sold the Bay area house he paid 22,000 dollars for in 1980 for 73 million fight the guy who's favorite show was Rawhide for it. I can't compete against them.

When I mean odd gun I'm thinking mostly sets for Automatics. I've seen a couple sets go by that the seller couldn't figure out what they went on, and I couldn't either. I got a pretty good price on a set for a New Model 3. If a set for something like a broomhandle mauser, which does exist, would I think, sell for less then a set for an N frame. At least based on what I have observed.

I think the thing about the Roper market is that the high prices are for the stocks that people have a gun that needs them. I know I have had my fair share of great old Smiths...that came with some completely wrong modern rubber grips on there. It feels like the gun deserves a set of appropriate target stocks, especially with a fine old Smith. With the small number of them out there, and an increasing number of folks seeing all the great ones that folks post on the internet, the price is bound to climb.

I don't know that Roper Collecting proper is going to be the thing. When a market has so few examples it kind of chokes it off, ad makes it inaccessible. But given their fine craftsmanship, historical interest, and general attractiveness I expect their price will just continue to climb.