Can anyone ever have too many Ropers?

[Modified]

For your approval, yet another set of K-Frame Ropers! I'm well pleased with this set.







Certainly for a right hander.



Is this set right on my modified short action M&P Target (owned by a Massachusetts State Patrolman and competition shooter)? I'm not sure, still evaluating that.



With my collection downsizing lately (getting married and having kids will do that to a fella), there was no immediately obvious home for this set aside from this gun.

Curious of your opinions as to the rightness of this set on this gun.

 

[paplinker]

Thats a nice pickup and look righteous to me. I would have been happy to find them.

I am wondering if they have been cleaned up a little?
In one pic it looks like there is a coating on the checking?
Could just be the pic angle.

Anything interesting on the inside?

 

[Modified]

Thats a nice pickup and look righteous to me. I would have been happy to find them.

I am wondering if they have been cleaned up a little?
In one pic it looks like there is a coating on the checking?
Could just be the pic angle.

Anything interesting on the inside?

Some pencil that I can't quite make out:



As to being cleaned up a little I think that's just the pictures. I know what you mean, and I have found some of my other ropers photograph that way, but it isn't actually re-checked. It drove me crazy with one set in particular because the pictures look like someone re-checkered them, but then in person I can't see what I see in the pictures. I think you will see from the backs that they are original.

In any case they do seem fully righteous and I'm dang happy I saw them on ebay before any of you fellow roperphiles did Actually, the funny thing is that I was going out the door when the baby decided to start crying, and needed to be settled before I could leave. So I hit refresh on my ebay search one more time before heading out the door and there was my reward for calming the rage infant so my wife could take a nap.

 

[usmc2427765]

I believe in Texas the limit is 2 with any others provided to deserving shooters, LIKE ME. I will be awaiting your PM and my shipping info will be provided, and I will pick up the shipping costs!! You can't beat deal like that

 

[merl67]

Perhaps someday....

 

[weatherby]

You have too many KST's not Ropers.
And since you like flappers also.

 

[younggun22]

You have too many KST's not Ropers.
And since you like flappers also.

I wish I had this problem …

 

[mikepriwer]

Caleb

I was going to try to find that picture of the two Fred Miller guns, but you saved me the time! Those two guns were part of the Rex Applegate collection, which is where I bought them about 20 years ago.

Check out the 1st picture posted by Weatherby, just above this post. It looks like too much of the edge of the trigger guard is exposed, meaning that the lip you referenced is missing.

Regards, Mike

 

[Modified]

You have too many KST's not Ropers.
And since you like flappers also.

I have a mere 3 KST's, to my everlasting shame.

That specific set of Ropers you have is one that I have long been particularly envious of. I love the partial thumbrest, it's one of the cooler features of Ropers. My only set with that feature is a left handed set, so they don't really work that great for me.

Caleb

I was going to try to find that picture of the two Fred Miller guns, but you saved me the time! Those two guns were part of the Rex Applegate collection, which is where I bought them about 20 years ago.

Check out the 1st picture posted by Weatherby, just above this post. It looks like too much of the edge of the trigger guard is exposed, meaning that the lip you referenced is missing.

Regards, Mike

Looks like it, although the lip can be very very small. Would need Weatherby to take them off the gun and photograph it from a couple different angles probably to see if it is still present.

That said, the majority of mine are certainly lesser ropers, usually molested, and have been off and on guns untold times which breaks off the lip. I think the reason all of yours have the lip is the high quality of your collection.

 

[Keith Brown]

I hope I'm around when you have a display at a future symposium, I would expect to spend a great deal of time at your table ! That set was a particularly fine score IMO and look to be original in all respects, and I love them on that M&P Target.

 

[weatherby]

Caleb since you like that set maybe I can make up some ground in that envy thingy

Some old pictures and one at an angle to show trigger guard.
It's by far my favorite set as even I shoot great with them.

If you look close at the set in my flap holster.
You can see it has finger grooves like combats.

 

[fleabus101]

Roper Grips You Can Custom Order Today..

I like the look of Roper Grips very much too !!
I'm just glad we have a very talented craftsman
among our group that still takes commissions
and will craft members terrific Roper style
stocks/grips..I've kept him busy cause I can
afford his reasonable work and effort he puts into the type I like..I like the Roper style with
a bit wide bottom ribbons flowing upwards to thinner ribbons at the top..with nice bottom
flare and nice thick palm swells..
The originals are very nice..but I cant afford
the online prices for originals..esp having ones
I can tailor to my specific taste for handling and looks...
I few pics from member Curt's work for
me.. ..Scuse my amatuer pictures..
edit for my spelling errors..

 

[JJEH]

I was waiting to see boots but the grip pictures still didn't disappoint

 

[PALADIN85020]

I love the look of Ropers, and I think that forum member Curt Harlow (44magget) does a fantastic job of recreating them. Here is a set that I'm proud to use on this Model 27.

John

 

[lihpster]

I would also like to sing Curt's praises. I have 2 pairs of his grips, some service style stocks he made for me. Right now he's finishing up a pair of Ropers for me in bubinga. Curt has been a joy to work with. I was even able to pick out the exact piece of wood I wanted. If you're looking for a pair of high quality wood grips, 44magget is your man. Pics of the grips when I get them.

 

[RKmesa]

Caleb - your collection of Ropers is impressive and I love how you've paired them with specific guns (of course subject to change...). I also believe that there is a special connection between KSTs and Roper grips... kind of a marriage made in heaven.

 

[lestert357]

Forgive me for posting an example from the dark side, but it's the only Roper/KST combo I have…….

First with standard double ribbon Ropers…

and then with wrap around double ribbon Ropers…..

"CP" is scratched inside both sides of the wrap around Ropers so my guess is that they were originally made for a Camp Perry Model which is the same frame size as the Officers Model…..

I think you can click on the photos for a closer look.

 

[Modified]

Caleb - your collection of Ropers is impressive and I love how you've paired them with specific guns (of course subject to change...). I also believe that there is a special connection between KSTs and Roper grips... kind of a marriage made in heaven.

Hah, my collection is impressive? Coming from you that is quite the compliment. Your posts have fueled my captain ahab-ing about for Ropers and other such stocks in no small way.

I'm glad you enjoy my hobby of trying to pair stocks to guns. So often the original stocks were lost long ago, and with my taste in guns replacing them with a set not numbered to the gun just doesn't seem quite right. It's certainly fun to me, but I find that my tastes are well..my tastes. I'm kinda weird

I do wish I could have acquired more than the 3 KSTs I have found. They are a lot harder to come by for me than other lesser king examples.

On the issue of mating the "correct" stocks up to guns, I really do like finding high quality unknown (or simply more rare/less collectable) stocks to the "right" guns. Here a are a couple of my favorite examples:

Unknowns on a King worked 38/44 Outdoorsman (found the gun in a pawn shop wearing pachmayrs for cheap because they couldn't figure out what it was, got me addicted to looking for King stuff.)

Poulin grips on a 1917 that has been re-finished (and the US Military markings scrubbed), then equipped with a nice king front sight, target rear sight, and a Registered Magnum hammer (making the action weirdly snappy).

Forgive me for posting an example from the dark side, but it's the only Roper/KST combo I have…….

Man, I really like the wrap around set. It's valuable to see a set like that even if it's on a Colt and doesn't technically belong here.

I think the '86-'61 forum is kind of the home of D.W. King / Roper / Kearsarge. So when you have the whole package (like you do with your wonderful gun there), no one should get upset when it's added to such a thread.

I know I personally love it when Skilled comes by to post his amazing collection, it doesn't matter that it is primarily Colts. There is a lot of value in seeing different variations of Ropers in particular, but also to a lesser degree various King modifications. I've learned a lot about Ropers by seeing the examples made for Colts.

Hell I have a few myself:

And as long as we are posting Ropers I'll add a couple set that I found pictures of when looking for these other pictures:

This guy did one heck of a job;

 

[Keith Brown]

A heck of a job indeed ! A true master of his craft, I'm still trying to figure out out he did much of the work. He also made the footstool and lamp in that photo, and as I recall this photo was taken less than two years before he died. And as always great photos in this thread.

 

[lestert357]

Caleb, can you provide some further information on the Poulin grips? I have only seen them once before on a Registered Magnum with a Fitz modification.