"Farrant-Clipped" Revolvers

[das073]

When I acquired this pre 26 I was told that these were Farrant grips. At that time I did not know who he was but I did like the grips. I don't mind that the frame is clipped just seems like some cool history to me.

 

[Vtgw938]

When I acquired this pre 26 I was told that these were Farrant grips. At that time I did not know who he was but I did like the grips. I don't mind that the frame is clipped just seems like some cool history to me.

I agree completely, as long as you know about the cut when you buy it and the serial number is intact. Agree as well that they are Farrants.

 

[LazyH]

I've got some Blackford grips that go on a cut gun. What's the best way to make the cut? Hack saw?

 

[RKmesa]

I've got some Blackford grips that go on a cut gun.

We would love to see some photos of the grips - please.

What's the best way to make the cut? Hack saw?

It is a bold person who will take a hacksaw to one of his S&Ws. To me, the best way would be to take it to a revolver smith, or machinist who could secure it in a mill and program a precision cut. NOTE: I like nicely modified guns, but feel woefully inadequate doing any modifications myself.

 

[SG-688]

Kanthack

I've cut two and finished one -- Hacksaw, file, Dremel and crocus cloth.
I'd not do it again to a S&W, but I'd cut a Ruger. ...Taurus...

I've shown this pair of grips before on a 3 inch Mathews conversion now owned by Joe Kent. The frame was round butted rather than cut, but the effect is similar. They are in the style of Joe Blackford but were made by Art Kanthack, an LAPD officer who made just a few grips. Note the straight cut. I said no others than Hurst -- but there's Art...

A warped gap at the rear make these painful to hold, so I can't properly judge them. Posed picture of instructor Art Kanthack on the range.

And then, a cut frame 3rd generation Hurst from the same LAPD officer who owned the Mathews/Kanthack. The profile is similar, but not as good as Farrant in my hand.

 

[OIF2]

Below gun was John Hurst's PPC revolver that was gifted to me by John.

Frame was cut with a hacksaw by John. Stocks are Micarta, late 70's vintage.
Bob

 

[Keith Brown]

This thread keeps getting better and better each time I look ! The cut gun in post #8 appears to have had a little slip with the hacksaw. One thing I have noticed on some of the grips made for a cut frame is that frequently the wood is still left quite thick at the cut, could be just a customers hand preference but it seems to somewhat negate the need for the cut.
When I cut a frame I cut the wood close to the toe of the frame, sometimes a bit too close !
The K-38 I shoot nearly every week has what I call a Fuzzy type of grip and it works very well for me.

 

[RKmesa]

Below gun was John Hurst's PPC revolver...

Bob

Bob's Hurst PPC revolver has a shallow clip much like my 6" Masterpiece... Interesting.

It has me wondering if different craftsman had different opinions on how aggressive the clip-cut should be...

 

[SG-688]

....One thing I have noticed on some of the grips made for a cut frame is that frequently the wood is still left quite thick at the cut, could be just a customers hand preference ....

Correct!!

The one K I ordered direct from Fuzzy has more wood to suit my hand. It's only a little less than the profile on a RB Farrant. Grips with the wood cut close to the frame are cut away too much for me.

 

[The Kid]

I passed a Farrant cut K38 with matching double palm swell grips at Tulsa last spring. Price was very reasonable, seller claimed to have no idea what the cut was or who Farrant was. But the gun had obviously been shot a bunch and was rather loose. I also wasn't sure if I wanted to be more or less married to the one set of stocks so I passed. Should have probably bought it.

 

[LazyH]

Some pictures. Pretty sure they are Blackford's.

 

[LazyH]

They are for clipped frame

 

[LazyH]

Picture of the backside

 

[younggun22]

I bought a set of badly damaged clipped framed John Hurst stocks because they were cheap and I figured that one day I would stumble onto a clipped frame smith.

Well the day didn't come soon enough and I was tired of waiting … they fit fairly well on K Rd butt so I had Kurt, our resident wood magician, modify them to fit in a boot grip type configuration.

In my opinion they are better than when they started

 

[Vtgw938]

Some pictures. Pretty sure they are Blackford's.

I agree they look to be Blackford's.

 

[SG-688]

The wheels grind slowly at my house -- I took new pictures of my 4 cut frame Farrant grips. The smooth pair are for an N frame. My 25-2 is currently wearing a regular pair of Farrant grips instead.

The pair on the lower right are the ones I ordered from Farrant in about 1983. The others are gun show and auction finds.

 

[6string]

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.

Mores pics

By any chance, was the cylinder also reamed to 357 Magnum? My understanding is that many of the 38/44 Heavy Duties worked over by Micro for these target conversions also had the cylinder modification.

Thanks!

PS: Lots of great looking revolvers and grips! Nice to see there are folks who appreciate the craftsmanship and thought that went in to these practical modifications.
Also, it's great to read the history!

 

[Keith Brown]

A great continuing thread. Just remembered I have an old gun magazine somewhere in the stacks that I'm pretty sure has an article that has a couple pics of the Kanthack mentioned in post 25. I shoot the Farrant style of grip all the time, love it and am this close to running an old 66 into a hacksaw. I've done it a few times in the past ! Don't hurt at all.

 

[dsf]

Some pictures. Pretty sure they are Blackford's.

They look quite a bit like mine. I've done more on line checking and the general consensus is mine are Blackford also. Very comfortable.

 

[LLOYD17]

Here's a pair of non-clipped lefties…