Beautiful Birdseye Maple on Engraved Blue

[RKmesa]

...When Charlize Theron is posing in a Versace dress and has some of Harry Winston's jewels around her neck and hanging from her ears I see things that enhance each others elegance

That is what those grips do on that revolver

Thank you Mark. Very apropos word picture comparison.

 

[heeter3]

That revolver grip combination is perfect RK,but who could expect anything less from you.

 

[reddogs]

I have changed my mind i do want a safe queen with fish lip grips.

 

[John Patrick]

g-dad:

I really like your perspective and I have struggled with that very issue with many of my guns - how do you pair the correct set of stocks with the correct engraved gun. You highlight at least one reason that most factory engraved guns shipped with smooth factory "presentation" stocks - the stocks, though generally made from very nice wood, did not compete with the engraving. Here is a photo of one of my highly engraved guns with some smooth KB presentation stocks where I took the same approach...



I also agree with you that the Birdseye Maple stocks would look beautiful on a high polished blue .357 or .44 Magnum - I really like the contrast of the light Maple with the dark and deep blue.

All that said, I think there can be a balance where the engraving on the gun and the checkering/carving on the stocks can be complementary and even elevate the package as a whole - I believe that is the case with the paring of the checkered KB stocks with the engraved .357 revolver in the first post. Recognizing the subjectivity of aesthetic tastes, one of things that I like about this paring is that the golds in the maple stocks accentuate and bring out the subtle gold bands on the engraved revolver. I also love how the ebony diamond inserts/medallion circles tie the stocks to the bluing. Another finer point that could be missed by a quick look is how Keith left a significant amount of uncheckered, smooth, high-gloss, un-adorned space on the stocks as they merge with the gun, leaving a clean "evolution area" where the eye transitions from the engraving on the gun to the checkering on the stocks.

I also love that stocks are never permanent on S&Ws and with a few twists of a screwdriver you can trade them out for something that you like better at any given time.

Thanks to all for your comments, thoughts and likes.

The revolver featured in this post looks fantastic to me.

I've always believed "striking, beautiful woman, very simple, elegant dress or gown; not so striking or beautiful woman, busier dress or gown." Pretty much the same for revolvers, pistols, shotguns and rifles.

I also enjoy "fun with grips" days, and am often pleasantly reminded of how changing grips can really alter the look and feel of a revolver. I even find the occasional ascetic or function mismatch entertaining.