Hairline Crack in grip?

[swDC]

I am considering purchasing a model 27-2 in very nice condition but from inspecting it I noticed a small hairline crack in the grip near the thumb. I am no gunsmith so I defer to those with experience... can this type of hairline crack be repaired by a skilled gunsmith? How much would this affect the value of the gun if it is otherwise in very good condition?

 

[stantheman86]

If the price is good, don't worry about it......you can put on a set of aftermarket grips or just get another set of Magnas on FleaBay for $30-40. The gun might be an ex-LEO gun and those grips took a beating.

I wouldn't pay top dollar for a gun that has cracked grips....but worst case scenario you can shoot it as is or just put a set of $20 Pachmayrs on it until you find something else.

 

[kytown2]

Most of the time when I buy a an older gun "50's - 80's" the stocks (grips) are not correct. Most people will "upgrade" them over the years. Like stantheman86 said, you can get a replacement set of correct period stocks on EBay very easily. What I do now, is look at the gun itself and it's condition and in my mind, most of the time, I am just buying the actual gun since the stocks are usually replaced...same goes for the box...many times it is not the correct box. Hope that helps.

 

[chief38]

You did not specify what kind (original or not, target or magna style) of grips are on the gun. If I can assume they are the original target grips that came on most 27's of that era, they can be usually gotten on auction sites and forum sites for between 35.00 and 85.00 depending on the condition. If you intend to buy the gun, see if you can negotiate a fair amount off the price. Good luck.

chief38

 

[stantheman86]

I wouldn't let a nice 27 go because of a crack in the grip.......grips are only an accessory and if the gun has holster wear or has been fired, it's not a prized collectible and changing the grips out won't hurt the value any.

 

[swDC]

They are the magnas, I really like the look of them except for the crack. Gun is in great condition so I will try to use the crack to bring down the price and look for some replacements. Thanks for the info.

 

[lagavulin62]

agreed with all the above comments. but one obvious question that comes to mind when a gun is sporting a crack or other wear in the grip is what caused this condition? normal wear is easy to spot but cracks can be the result of other more traumatic circumstances. remove the grips and check the frame area, especially the grip area for signs of possible damage due to the gun being dropped. I'm sure the gun is fine but you will feel better about your purchase if you take this precaution.

 

[srgvaz]

All wood is capable of cracking, but the crack on wood grips is usually caused from over-tightening of the grip screw.