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There was a wood rifle cabinet with glass doors in the dining room of the house where I grew up. In that cabinet were my dad's guns. Some of them had been passed on to my dad from his dad. My grandfather was the gun buyer at Marshall Field & Company on State Street in Chicago during the 1950's. My dad visited his father often and one day he was struck by a gorgeous Winchester .22 pump rifle. Its high luster blue finish was set off by a stock and forearm that seemed to glow with gold. My dad asked about the rifle and my grandpa told him that it was a special ordered custom direct from Winchester with birdseye maple wood.
Months later the Winchester had still not been picked up. For whatever reason, the gentleman who ordered the little .22 said he could no longer purchase the gun. His deposit had to be forfeited. My dad saved his money and hoped no one else would buy the rifle. After a few more months, my dad was able to buy the stunning Winchester and he even got a 20% employee discount on top of the forfeited deposit already paid by the poor guy who ordered the gun.
This photo was taken of my sister before I was even born. It's a bit out of focus but I can see that gold and blue Winny in the gun case:
Around 1986, my dad really wanted one of the Colt 150th Anniversary engraved sampler SAA's. The Winchester was still perfect, as my dad had only fired it once. We took it to the CADA Gun Show and the very reputable Jeff Faintich looked it over. He told my dad he could offer him $3000 and that he would resell it in Las Vegas to a collector for $3500. My dad asked me if I thought he should sell it. I told him I had no idea what I would do with a $3500 .22 rifle I would be scared to shoot.
My dad sold the gun. He bought his engraved Colt .45 SAA.
Two years later I bought a S&W Model 624 .44 Special because Skeeter Skelton said stainless steel was the only way to improve on the perfect Model 24. Skeeter had his stocks custom made by Deacon Deason of Bear Hug Grips. I told my dad that I was thinking about ordering a pair of custom grips just like the ones Skelton used. I told my father I was thinking about having them made in birdseye maple.
He said that was a great idea. He even said he'd pay for them and that they could remind me of that great little Winchester Model 62 pump. They were pretty expensive grips for 1988 and they took a long time to make. Deason had his customers send him an outline of their shooting hand. When I got the custom handles, they fit perfectly and felt wonderful in my hands. They shoot great too!
I've since enhanced my 624 with a few other custom touches, but I still carry it in an El Paso Saddlery Threepersons crossdraw holster.
I have such a fondness for birdseye maple that I has a pair on my Witness Match from Sam at Home Page and I have two sets from Cary C at Ruger Custom Grips on two of my Ruger single action revolvers.
I posted some pictures of my 624 and my new Blackhawk .44 Special and a gentlemen by the user name of sharpsdressedman send me an email. He said he had a set of N-Frame Bear Hug Grips birdseye maple handles he didn't need. He wanted the same price as what they cost 22 years ago. I was amazed at my luck and, of course, I bought them.
They arrived today and I put them on my 1976 S&W Model 29. That blue and maple still looks great to my eye!
Deacon Deason passed away years ago and the current manufacturer of the Skelton style of grips isn't quite the same as these beauties. The price is about 2 1/2 times as much too.
My two N-Frames look and feel terrific!
Here's a group shot of all the birdseye maple guns:
Many thanks go out to for offering these stunning Bear Hug Grips to me. I will treasure them forever! My dad passed away several years ago. I have so many great memories of him, including that Winchester rifle and my Bear Hug Grips.
If I couldn't keep that rifle, at least I still have the Colt (and as much as I like birdseye maple, my dad and I liked elephant ivory as well)!
-Steve
Months later the Winchester had still not been picked up. For whatever reason, the gentleman who ordered the little .22 said he could no longer purchase the gun. His deposit had to be forfeited. My dad saved his money and hoped no one else would buy the rifle. After a few more months, my dad was able to buy the stunning Winchester and he even got a 20% employee discount on top of the forfeited deposit already paid by the poor guy who ordered the gun.
This photo was taken of my sister before I was even born. It's a bit out of focus but I can see that gold and blue Winny in the gun case:
Around 1986, my dad really wanted one of the Colt 150th Anniversary engraved sampler SAA's. The Winchester was still perfect, as my dad had only fired it once. We took it to the CADA Gun Show and the very reputable Jeff Faintich looked it over. He told my dad he could offer him $3000 and that he would resell it in Las Vegas to a collector for $3500. My dad asked me if I thought he should sell it. I told him I had no idea what I would do with a $3500 .22 rifle I would be scared to shoot.
My dad sold the gun. He bought his engraved Colt .45 SAA.
Two years later I bought a S&W Model 624 .44 Special because Skeeter Skelton said stainless steel was the only way to improve on the perfect Model 24. Skeeter had his stocks custom made by Deacon Deason of Bear Hug Grips. I told my dad that I was thinking about ordering a pair of custom grips just like the ones Skelton used. I told my father I was thinking about having them made in birdseye maple.
He said that was a great idea. He even said he'd pay for them and that they could remind me of that great little Winchester Model 62 pump. They were pretty expensive grips for 1988 and they took a long time to make. Deason had his customers send him an outline of their shooting hand. When I got the custom handles, they fit perfectly and felt wonderful in my hands. They shoot great too!
I've since enhanced my 624 with a few other custom touches, but I still carry it in an El Paso Saddlery Threepersons crossdraw holster.
I have such a fondness for birdseye maple that I has a pair on my Witness Match from Sam at Home Page and I have two sets from Cary C at Ruger Custom Grips on two of my Ruger single action revolvers.
I posted some pictures of my 624 and my new Blackhawk .44 Special and a gentlemen by the user name of sharpsdressedman send me an email. He said he had a set of N-Frame Bear Hug Grips birdseye maple handles he didn't need. He wanted the same price as what they cost 22 years ago. I was amazed at my luck and, of course, I bought them.
They arrived today and I put them on my 1976 S&W Model 29. That blue and maple still looks great to my eye!
Deacon Deason passed away years ago and the current manufacturer of the Skelton style of grips isn't quite the same as these beauties. The price is about 2 1/2 times as much too.
My two N-Frames look and feel terrific!
Here's a group shot of all the birdseye maple guns:
Many thanks go out to for offering these stunning Bear Hug Grips to me. I will treasure them forever! My dad passed away several years ago. I have so many great memories of him, including that Winchester rifle and my Bear Hug Grips.
If I couldn't keep that rifle, at least I still have the Colt (and as much as I like birdseye maple, my dad and I liked elephant ivory as well)!
-Steve
