Extraordinary Alvin A. White Engraved Grips

[cougar015]

Just acquired these grips from another well known gun collector/dealer. They are possibly the only grips Alvin A. White ever engraved for a Model 39. In all my years of collecting and discussing with other well known collectors, nobody can recall ever seeing another set for a Semi-Auto. They are carved Rosewood with Ivory Inserts and Silver medallions. Here they are mounted on a Class 'A' Factory Engraved (Tommy Freyburger) Nickel Model 39-2. I am very grateful for the opportunity to match this beautiful set of grips to this fine gun.

 

[gmborkovic]

Rich, exquisite. PM me on a deal.

 

[03Fatboy]

WOW, is all I can say! Stunning workmanship. And I have never seen grips like that either.

 

[Green Frog]

Oh my, just oh my. I'm as close to speechless as I get.
Froggie

 

[cougar015]

Still laughing

Rich, exquisite. PM me on a deal.

Bork, You always know how to make me laugh.

 

[gmborkovic]

Rich, with the amount of sorrow present in todays world, that is a compliment. I wish I could make more people laugh!

 

[BKLooney]

Beautiful work!

 

[JohnRippert]

Oh, myyyyyyyyyy! The patina on those ivory inserts is just the icing on the cake with those grips.

 

[sophie]

Absolutely stunning grips. Never seen anything like those grips. Bravo!!

Pretty fancy gun too. Beautiful.

 

[toddcfii]

I will offer an outside thought. I don't really like engraved guns but I do like these grips. I think they would really great on a nice non engraved gun. I know I am talking to some members who love engraved guns and this might be sacrilege in your eyes. But really this just looks like too much all together for me.

 

[cougar015]

I will offer an outside thought. I don't really like engraved guns but I do like these grips. I think they would really great on a nice non engraved gun. I know I am talking to some members who love engraved guns and this might be sacrilege in your eyes. But really this just looks like too much all together for me.

Thanks for your opinion. I agree that it can be a lot to look at and having them on a non engraved gun does set them off. I tried them on both and chose the engraved gun for this post.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. cougar, just for giggles, post a pic of grips on a blue 4digit.

 

[mokuloa]

Congrats Rich on your outstanding find(s). The rare engraved grip panels look great on the rare nickel engraved 39-2 as illustrated. Bring it to deer camp so we can see if it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[NCBeagle]

Rich,

Absolutely stunning. The grips themselves and on the pistol. Hope to see that one in Tulsa.

Ryan

 

[Marshal Tom]

I think he was starting to get the hang of that engraving stuff when he did those!

 

[Imissedagain]

I'd like to see it on an a lesser engraved or non engraved gun.
On this one, by White, the area near the grips doesn't interfere as much, to our eyes.
Still, super great and thanks for showing it all.

Tiger etc, looks better in original thread, post #6, from
4/10/23 by his Granddaughter.

 

[cougar015]

Added pictures with non engraved gun

After several requests, I mounted the grips on a blue non engraved gun to allow the focus to be on the grips. I think they are better represented on the engraved gun.

 

[gmborkovic]

Rich, I think you are right. They really pop on nic. engraved 39-2.
Hey B&R has 31 different ice creams flavors. But green eyed, red haired girls still shake my knees.

 

[RKmesa]

Rich:

I think they look GREAT on that nickel engraved gun. I am amazed how much the AAW and TF styles work together. It is almost like Tommy engraved that 39 to match the AAW grips.

Thanks for sharing and Congrats!!!

Just had to add - artistically I really like the way this B&W photo turned out.

 

[cougar015]

Perfect Symmetry

Rich:

I think they look GREAT on that nickel engraved gun. I am amazed how much the AAW and TF styles work together. It is almost like Tommy engraved that 39 to match the AAW grips.

Thanks for sharing and Congrats!!!

Just had to add - artistically I really like the way this B&W photo turned out.

Rkmesa, It's as if they collaborated on matching the gun up with the grips. The B&W is my favorite picture as it really allows for a subdued "look" of both the gun and grips

 

[seasoldier85]

Now THAT is a BBQ gun, dead sexy!

 

[Imissedagain]

After several requests, I mounted the grips on a blue non engraved gun to allow the focus to be on the grips. I think they are better represented on the engraved gun.

I like this one but as in your first post, the third picture is much brighter, which to my eyes works better for showing the grips.
Perhaps on a non engraved nickel or silver gun.
One of my favorite engraved guns, is one posted by RKmesa, with the grips show below. Have the full pic somewhere.
Just simple and elegant.

 

[toddcfii]

After several requests, I mounted the grips on a blue non engraved gun to allow the focus to be on the grips. I think they are better represented on the engraved gun.

I like them better on the non engraved gun. A B&W photo of that would be "hella".

 

[cougar015]

I like them better on the non engraved gun. A B&W photo of that would be "hella".

Best I could do for a B&W photo.

 

[Keith Brown]

Those are master class for sure, very interesting that they have the diamond added in the center. The 39/39-2 is my favorite S&W auto pistol, nice to see one dressed up !

 

[cougar015]

Diamond insert

Those are master class for sure, very interesting that they have the diamond added in the center. The 39/39-2 is my favorite S&W auto pistol, nice to see one dressed up !

Keith,
Thanks, That's high praise coming from you. Your post begs the question, where would you put the diamond? I know on your revolver grips it's usually centered on the lower grip screw but Is that an option on the 39 grips? Rich

 

[Keith Brown]

On auto pistol grips I think its more common to have a diamond around each screw hole, although it's purely a decorative touch so whatever works is fine. The work on the inlayed diamond is a real treat also.

 

[RKmesa]

...One of my favorite engraved guns, is one posted by RKmesa, with the grips show below. Have the full pic somewhere. Just simple and elegant.

You are referencing this Winston Churchill engraved K-22 Masterpiece, where Mr. Churchill took an understated approach to the grips and a minimalist approach to the engraving...





The engraver also made the grips and they fit like they were molded to the gun... very plain and simple, but perfectly fit and beautiful wood:








That is a totally different approach than was taken with the above Model 39 grips. They are meant to be a STATEMENT in and of themselves. They are spectacular and as I noted above, I LOVE those carved and inlaid Model 39 Grips, including the bordered carved ivory diamond (another STATEMEMT in those grips). I believe they look Stunning on any gun they are on. Heck, they look great even if they are not on a gun - amazing works of art. I personally have a fondness for them on the nickel Freyburger engraved gun, as I think the pattern and style complement each other very nicely.

Here is kind of an in-between approach to stocking an engraved gun. It is another Churchill engraved gun (unfortunately not mine). It is a Model 52-1, with a similar frame and grip shape to the Model 39. The photos are from:

Winston Churchill Engraved Smith & Wesson 52-1 - Online Gun Auction

 

[725734]

This is a pre 29 with some unusual grips.

 

[cougar015]

Here's another set of great grips this time from Keith Brown on a nickel Class 'B' factory engraved Model 39 .