Same Outdoorsman, different grips. One set from one of the world's most famous grips makers, versus the world's best grip maker.







My vote is for Keith, hands down.

Best regards,

SRT

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STAY ARMED, VIGILANT, SAFE!

Same Outdoorsman, different grips. One set from one of the world's most famous grips makers, versus the world's best grip maker.







My vote is for Keith, hands down.

Best regards,

SRT

__________________
STAY ARMED, VIGILANT, SAFE!

Actually, Roper did not make his own grips way back when. The guy who originally interpreted and executed Roper’s design was Mathias Gagne. So, in that sense, Keith’s interpreting Roper/Gagne’s grips carries on this tradition of the craftsman interpreting the original Roper design. (I wonder if the distinctive swirls/ribbons and the location of the checkering were originally Roper’s or Gagne’s idea?)

So maybe the thread title should be “Brown versus Gagne.”

No one could dispute that the quality of wood used by Keith is better than that of the Gagne grips, and I can’t believe anyone would think Gagne superior in carving or finishing (‘cause I just can’t see how one could get any better than Keith).

If Keith sees this: I am sure you must have studied the MGRs (Mathias Gagne Ropers) carefully. What are the differences in your carving, checkering, and finishing technique and his, if you do not mind saying. (And if you do, that’s fine, too!)

I am also very confident that if Roper were alive today he would be very happy to see Keith producing his grips. He himself said that his grip design would have amounted to naught without Gagne to execute it.

So, yeah, I think the KBRs are a superior product to the MGRs! All they lack in comparison is the patina of history, and that, my friends, comes to one and all.

I am proud to own a set:



Edited: "MBRs" to "MGRs."

S

If it weren't for Roper, there would be no Keith replica's. Keith is very
good, but Roper came 70 years earlier. Give the man his due. Your question is
a bit like - Which do you like better - a model T or a 63 - 64 Mustang ?!

Later, Mike Priwer

OK I'll be the devils advocate here. For some strange reason Roper made stocks for shooters with some very plain wood. Keith on the other hand makes high end historicaly correct repos with top grade woods, better finish, for the collector. The quality of the work is on Keiths side with wood choice and finish. Can you imagine what Ropers would go for if he just used nicer wood? I personally think Keith is a better craftsman than Roper was but that's apples and oranges.
DW

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"NUTS"

SRT:

Both sets of grips are beautiful, BUT what I see is an absolutely stunning OUTDOORSMAN !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

I'm a bigger devils advocate. I wouldn't keep the Ropers if someone gave them to me.

Okay, Jelly, I'll bite: Why? (No fair just sayin' "'Cause I don't like 'em." Why don't you like 'em?)

(I'm guessing it's because you are into carry guns/defensive shooting and not target guns/target shooting.)

Innovation dies when no one improves upon that which came first.
Keith's an innovator, in addition to being a world-class craftsman.
The fine woods that Keith uses were available to Mathias Gagne, Lew Sanderson and Charles Wendell.
It takes a lot of talent as well as the guts to try and improve on what was considered 'the best' long before your time.
Yes, I believe the past masters would be real glad to see what Keith Brown has done with some of their ideas.
Don

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NRA Life

Thanks for biting Onomea, it's because I'm left handed. They do look nice though. Target shooting was a large part of my defensive shooting by the way.

WOW-
I have never seen a thread where such insight was immediately presented:

I thought this said it all:

Then Mike made a very salient point:That pretty well wrapped it up, I thought, till DW and Don said more:andI'm left at a loss for any significant comment.
Yeah, RIGHT. You did not believe that, didya?

All I can really add is a comment on the plain wood Roper/Gagne used- it has often puzzled me. Then, it came- a moment of "crystal revelation". I believe they had to CHOOSE plain wood on purpose. There is little other for an explanation. Ropers are usually SO plain in the grain that it could not be random. If it were random, 20 or 30% of them at least, would be figured, just like you OCCASIONALLY see some grain on a 30/30 stock.
I think they CHOSE plain grain.
Why? The grips were for Target shooters, cops, soldiers, hunters, campers, backpackers, canoers(canoists?), horseback packers, bush pilots, etc, etc. The grips were to be USED. Grips that are used get exposed to ALL the nasty elements, like rain, sun, wide humidity changes, sun, deserts, capsizes, bucking horses, etc.
Grainy wood is NOT as STABLE as plain grain. It is more subject to cracking, chipping, and warping. Pretty, grainy wood is maaahhhhvelous, dahling, simply maaahhhvelous for things like furniture, but it sucks for building your back deck with!

One more thing- Keith has definitely taken the art to the next level. Yes, his stuff will DEFINITELY be sought after by generations to come. What more could an artist want?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Keith's Kearsarge type stocks are my favorite.

Bill

First off a thank you to SRT for posting the pictures of the beautiful Outdoorsman revolvers wearing my grips. I have a total of "
"one" pre-war N frames, so I really enjoy seing what the grips look like on really fine guns. Mike is correct, without Walter Roper and Mathias Gagne I would have nothing to try to replicate. My take on the Roper style is always evolving, from the first set I sold to Michael Stern to the set at the top of this post. I look at pictures of the originals, read about them and sometimes get to handle the real thing at the gunshow. All this changes how I end up working the wood. I've read that Mr. Gagne was a clockmaker, this would suggest fine woodworking skills and the grips made by him reflect this. I think it also explains the wood used by him, it always is solid strong and sound lumber but only rarely figured. He no doubt could have found fancy wood but worked instead with what he was comfortable with and had a steady supply of. Mr.Gagne also checkered with a chisel, I've not tried it yet but imagine it would be quite frustrating and I think shows complete control of his tools, truly a master woodworker. DW mentions the finish used, I think that's the reason for the drab look of some of the originals. Soaking in liseed oil and rubbing with rags and any number of types of wax is not much of a finish. Grips finished with this method and then used a bit would pick up all kinds of grime and also cover any figure. Onomea, I remember that piece of wood, figure and color that really jumped out just rough cut and sanded smooth. Doc, thanks for the picture of the Kearsarge style grips on that beautiful S&W. I like the style quite a bit myself and they feel great when shooting.

Thanks guys,
Keith

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Here's a nice set of Keith's work on a non-registered magnum, serial number 61253. Definately awesome.

It is generally assumed that Martin guitars from the mid-late 1930's are the finest ever made. The Brazilian Rosewood used then was very plain - almost no figure. CFM believed the straight grain quarter sawn wood was the most stable and best suited for instrument building. Today BRW is scarce and VERY expensive. For reasons unrelated to rarity, modern BRW is often more figured than that used in the 30's. Now the more highly figured wood is considered more desirable and costs more. Time and tastes change, I suppose, but it's interesting how practical considerations affected choices then and now.

Todd