"Farrant-Clipped" Revolvers

[RKmesa]

Nothing conscious, but over the years three K-Frame 38 specials with "Farrant-Clipped" grip frames have migrated into my collection. I had them all out today and snapped a few iPhone photos...














The 6" K-38 Masterpiece came to me with it's numbered magnas, but having them on the gun with the clipped grip, left a grip void on the toe of the grips - too weird. Luckily, I had a set of diamond targets that I thought looked great on the gun, so I threw them on as well for the photos.









The forum has multiple threads discussing this modification, along with discussions of the various craftsmen who made grips to fit these guns. As always, I appreciate your comments, thoughts and observations, and of course, I'd love to see some more photos of your similarly modified revolvers...

Thanks for letting me share

 

[quinn]

So, Richard, theunspokien implication is that Farrant did not scratch up his guns??
Nice colletion. Until Kansas Gunner bought his Reg Mag at the symposium, I had never even held on of the clipped variety. Fortunately, Tim got a correct set of grips for his.

 

[SAFireman]

Very nice Richard!

All of my Farrant's are non-clipped. I would love to find more to add to the collection

 

[Bullet Bob]

I almost had one of those. When eBay and I were much younger I bought a pair of Farrant grips for Colt's E/I frame.

I didn't want to grind on the grip frames of the ones I already owned, so I bought a holster worn Colt Official Police with excellent mechanicals just to modify for those grips.

The handgun came with a pair of worn Herrett Jordans, with rough file work done to expedite speed loaders.

I like shooting it so much that I never changed anything, having finally gotten old enough to not fix what works. Sold the Farrant's after a few years.

 

[dsf]

I bought a Colt OMM and got a good deal because the frame was clipped and these grips attached -





No idea if they are genuine or knock offs.

Went a different way with the grips on it now -

 

[Vtgw938]

I bought a Colt OMM and got a good deal because the frame was clipped and these grips attached -

No idea if they are genuine or knock offs.

Went a different way with the grips on it now -


Those are most likely Joe Blackford or Walter Stark. My guess is Blackford. I have cut-frame grips from Blackford, Guy Hogue and actually Patrick Hogue. Two guns are cut but I did it myself with the right guns.


Joe Blackford:

Patrick Hogue Custom Monogrips:

Guy Hogue:

Model 686-2 with Guy Hogue Stocks:

 

[Toyman]

There are people in the collector field who find that guns have been modified by the user to make the gun perform better for the task they were going to use it for is a sacrilege.
Roper sights and King ribs come to mind.
Most of the work that the L.A.P.D. officer/grip crafter did were for men that were serious about their profession and wanted a weapon they felt comfortable with and they could depend on.
A collector today would mortified to see a gun with the frame cut, the officer carrying it a depending on it loved it.

 

[mikepriwer]

Richard, et al

My experience with clipped frames starts with LAPD Chief Ed Davis. In 1996, his guns went to auction, and I bought two of them. One of them has the clipped front corner of the frame, done by one of the LAPD grip makers. Herewith my story about the grip makers, and the gun I own.

First, here is a quick biography of Ed Davis.

Fuzzy Farrant was one of a small group of LAPD grip makers, but he was not the first. All these LAPD officers were taught how to make grips by Walter Stark, a LAPD armorer. The next picture is a good story about the early history of these men.

This next picture is a 'must' for this thread!

The next set of pictures is K80333, shipped Jan 16 1950 to the Elysian Park Range for the LAPD, and subsequently acquired by Ed Davis. The clipped frame and grips were done by Walter Stark. The grips have a lot of wood behind the frame knuckle, which causes a very comfortable position for the hand and arm when shooting.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[SG-688]

I bought a Colt OMM and got a good deal because the frame was clipped and these grips attached -

View attachment 694670

View attachment 694671

No idea if they are genuine or knock offs.

I agree with Vtgw that these are by Joe Blackford - the originator of the clipped frame grips according to Walter Rickell. Walter Stark first made finger groove grips and then Blackford cut the frames. Fuzzy and John followed and then Guy bought the bank.

Previously discussed: I'd call the OP's grips on the 2 inch as John Hurst and the 4 inch grips may be too. A picture of the inletting off the gun would help, but the straight cut rather than doll's head is a tell on a Hurst as is the dip on the top right. OIF2 has written that Hurst would make grips in the Farrant style for a customer.

I need to take newer pictures. These are from me and Joe Kent.

 

[schutz5]

I used to own 3 pair of Farrant combat grips for my N frame.
But they were square butt type.
In general,to my experience, the grip frame cut Farrant grips could be had at better prices. Fewer folks with the grip frame mod I figure.

 

[dsf]

I agree with Vtgw that these are by Joe Blackford - the originator of the clipped frame grips according to Walter Rickell. Walter Stark first made finger groove grips and then Blackford cut the frames. Fuzzy and John followed and then Guy bought the bank.

Previously discussed: I'd call the OP's grips on the 2 inch as John Hurst and the 4 inch grips may be too. A picture of the inletting off the gun would help, but the straight cut rather than doll's head is a tell on a Hurst as is the dip on the top right. OIF2 has written that Hurst would make grips in the Farrant style for a customer.

I need to take newer pictures. These are from me and Joe Kent.

I had done some research earlier and that name popped up.

Not to be too mercenary about it, but any idea what they're worth?

 

[SG-688]

As we know, prices are zooming. I kick myself for the ones I let get away because I thought $75 was too much.

Blackford less than Farrant or Hurst, although they should rate high for historical significance and collectability.

Early Hurst (Generation 1, like yours, in my ranking.) are nearly indistinguishable from Blackford. The main clue for me is the right side dip on 1st and 2nd generation - but not 3rd. Blackford tend to have "pointier" finger grooves and the upward kick at the recoil shoulder. And that's all from a couple of pictures from Walter Rickell. I might be wrong....

We have so little confirmed on Stark grips that I'd guess many are wrongly identified as Farrant. Two confirmed - Chief Davis - and a suspect pair are "fatter" than the usual Farrant. [Another possibility on the grips on the 4 inch.]

 

[Vtgw938]

My understanding is that many of these cut-frame guns were made during the time that single-action shooting was king. I have found the radical cut and very small bottom of the stocks on most to not be particularly comfortable for double action shooting and do not provide enough advantage in grasping the gun in a struggle or when maximum control of the revolver is required. I have found the Hogue stocks had less of a frame cut and along with the rounder shape and large finger grooves provide for more grasping ability and are better for double-action shooting.

 

[RKmesa]

Great information so far - Thanks for sharing!!!

In looking my three clipped guns, the 6" K-38 Masterpiece, has a much less aggressive clip, where the 4" and 2" have an almost identical clip.



I would love to hear any thoughts on the differences in the angle of the cut.

 

[SAFireman]

Great information so far - Thanks for sharing!!!

In looking my three clipped guns, the 6" K-38 Masterpiece, has a much less aggressive clip, where the 4" and 2" have an almost identical clip.



I would love to hear any thoughts on the differences in the angle of the cut.

Richard,

IIRC Fuzzy sent a order form out to his customers and got a tracing of their hand. I would be willing to be that he measured your hand and cut accordingly?

 

[tt66]

I have a clipped frame but it is a N Frame, 38/44 HD. 4" barrel, Micro adjustable rear sights, Micro front sight. I have posted this one before and I believe these are Hurst grips.

 

[tt66]

Mores pics

 

[SG-688]

Fuzzy asked for a tracing of the frame too in a nod to the variability of frame profiles back then. Recall that S&W fit stocks to frames and stamped them with the serial number for that reason.

The one pair I ordered for a cut frame, I cut the frame to match what Fuzzy sent. I think Joe's were all that way. Stocks I have bought second hand were all cut to the same profile as on the 2 and 4 inchers above.

Regretful now, I wish I had cut the frame like the 6 inch - and sent a tracing of that.

They work fine for DA for me, but I do prefer those with the little finger more in line with the fingers above. That profile varies considerably - they were all hand made.

Noting comments from my retired LAPD friend who said that for in-person orders, Fuzzy used the tracing of the hand and took measurements. John Hurst examined the buyers hand, but took no notes.

 

[SG-688]

Mores pics

I call those second generation Hurst; the best of them -- the Hurst, I mean.

The inletting without the usual dolls-head is what I mean by an indicator for Hurst. Not all of his, but enough to be significant. I've never caught another of the the LAPD grip makers using the straight cut.

 

[Keith Brown]

Fantastic photos along with great history ! I knew the names of these gentlemen and early on tried to copy Fuzzys but was not smart enough to start searching them out, or pick up a phone and call them, the window for that closed well before I woke up.