Franzite grips.

[Vulcan Bob]

There is one guy I am glad added a set of "target" Franzite grips. Found a beautiful 1954 "my birth year" K-38 with the Franzite's on it with the original box. In the box was the unused like new factory stocks. A win-win for me, left unsaid it went home with me.

 

[mdf9183]

I bought a Ruger single six flatgate from 1956 that had a set of stag franzite grips. I don't know if they were original to the gun or not but I replaced them with a set of Ruger grips. I still have them in a box of assorted grips I have accumulated over the years.

 

[Absalom]

I didn’t read the whole thread, but just for fun, here’s a link to a Franzite catalog:

1955 Franzite Catalog - www.franzitegrips.com

 

[DWalt]

Interesting information. I knew from personal experience that they were made of some thermoplastic, but not what type. The article said they were made of a plastic "similar to" Tenite. If true, Tenite was one of the earilest plastics in commercial use, and is a cellulose ester. As such it is not petroleum based as the majority of plastics available today are. One of the largest markets for Tenite was in plastic eyeglass frames.

 

[Drm50]

I had a bunch of Franzite grip a few years ago. Picked up for less than a $1
each. From past experience they shrink, warp and attract mildew/ mold and stink. I was told the material in them was somehow dairy biproducts.
I think they were wrong if they had anything to do with a cow it was further back than the milk department.
They do have some psychological value. They amplify the noise of your pistol cocking. They create a hollow sound chamber. Bad guy might bluff
when it sounds like your cocking a canon.

 

[gunbarrel]

I have a pair of Franzite grips just waiting for the day I run into a nickel plated Victory model used by SAC's Elite Guard of hand-picked Air Police. Along with the grips, I have several items that belonged to a High School buddy who passed away about 3 years ago. I'll start with Ordnanceguy's 10-year old post on another Forum.

 

[gunbarrel]

Here are a couple more pictures...

 

[gunbarrel]

And here is one of their Victory models nickel plated wearing Franzite grips.

 

[153]

Franzite handles were preferred by both Matt Dillon and Steve McGarrett - must be something going for them …

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Like many things in the firearms world, even Franzite stocks have a following. Throwing them out should not be a consideration. People collect everything and I would bet that if offered for sale, someone would buy them. I have several pairs and would never consider throwing them away.

Yes. There is an interest in these for the nostalgia of guns used in movies and TV. Especially westerns like Gunsmoke. They have value, maybe not too extravagant, but they’ll always increase in value. I slap a pair on my 1911 Colt SAA occasionally just to look like a 50s western TV gun. One thing. everything I said applies to people of a later vintage like me (68). I think their value will drop later as those who relate to them aren’t around anymore.

 

[DARE]

A pair that came to me on an old .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model.

 

[Drm50]

I’ve gotten several S&Ws with Franzite grips. They aren’t what you would call a bonus on deals. I found things slide smoother if plastic grips of any brand are replaced with wood.

 

[DWalt]

I remember that long ago, I picked it cheaply at a gun show a nearly new-appearing pair of white left handed Franzite target grips (had a thumb rest on the right panel) for a M1911. Because I am right handed, I had no use for them. I later took them to a gun show and priced them at about double what I paid. It didn’t take long for a guy to walk by and he stopped to pick them up. I could see his eyes light up. He proceeded to tell me a story. He was a preacher from Cincinnati, and he once had a .45 with the same left handed Franzite grips that was stolen. He replaced the gun, but had never been able to find another pair of left hand Franzite target grips for it. I still remember how overjoyed he was. It made me feel good.