Hurst Grips Revived - All Mounted

[Vtgw938]

Picked these K frame John Hurst grips up for $37 but wasn't sure how good I could make them. They were rough, and not only had the name of the owner in crayon on the backsides, but had his name scratched into the right panel. Checkering was all but gone on the right side, maybe a set of duty grips.

I got them cleaned up, made some repairs and got everything smooth and they looked pretty good except for the checkering. Member 44magget stepped in and re-cut the checkering to perfection.

I'm not done with the finish but I think you can see they were worth saving. We aren't sure what the wood is, so if anyone has an idea what John Hurst often used, we would appreciate knowing. Curtis said the wood was very hard.

 

[LPD256]

I love Hurst grips. I have a pair made for a k-frame for someone with small hands and another pair made for someone like me with gorilla paws. If you think about it, most have been on duty guns of another cop in history who ordered them based on a pencil drawing of his hand. That kind of hits me.

 

[Aircrewman]

Wow! You sure did a wonderful job in saving and reviving these rather historic grips rather than passing on them and possibly relegating them to the scrap pile/trash pile. They are very good looking again!!!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Outstanding work by both of you who touched those. Kudos!

I'd be mighty proud to put those on a K-frame S&W.

 

[LPD256]

Here are the Big Paw grips we’ve been discussing on PMs. They are extended more than usual under the bottom of the frame. Curtis does great work. He has a pair of my grips for checkering right now. Jim

 

[Vtgw938]

LPD256:

Those are nice and I like the smooth finish.

 

[boykinlp]

Vtgw938, if you get the opportunity, could you please show us what the inside of each panel looks like?
Larry

 

[Vtgw938]

Here is a few more pics, including the backsides.

Name appears to be "GATTIS"

These pics show off the checkering job better:

 

[LPD256]

Hey guys. Here’s the difference between small hands (checkered) and gorilla paws (smooth). I’ve been told the checkered ones are rosewood. Enjoy.

 

[SG-688]

Hey guys. Here’s the difference between small hands (checkered) and gorilla paws (smooth). I’ve been told the checkered ones are rosewood. Enjoy.

Unusual for 3rd gen. Hurst upper right side profile on the checkered grips.

 

[SG-688]

I've previously cited this note from retired LAPD LT Max Hurlbut:


I attended the LAPD Academy starting (“class of”) 1 August 1960. JOHN HURST and EARLE M. “FUZZY” FARRANT were range instructors. (We must qualify on the target & combat ranges monthly during our LAPD career). Most of us obtained grips from them throughout the years as we bought and sold our revolvers.

Although they had distinctive styles of grip making, and usually used rosewood, many cross-variations exist.

They used a wood-carving machine to make the basic form and then carved to fit your hand (or your wishes, usually “target” or “combat").

FUZZY would draw an outline of your shooting hand and make various notations on it. HURST would examine your hand, but took no notes.

 

[Baxter6551]

Look at those palm swells. Those grips must be SO comfortable. What a home run to find these.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Those are nice, very nice. I wish I had some type of artistic talent besides making noise on the Hohners! Pics 4 & 5 on post #8, the stock panel on the right; that is some awesome-looking wood. I'd be proud to have something like that on a revolver.
My BIL is a professional artist. I must see if he can do any wood working for me on some stocks. I know it's a completely different skill, but I'm gonna find out this Christmas Season if he wants to try his luck on something for me. Another thread I mentioned I have a M27-9 back at the factory (it's the one behind the cobwebs) and I believe it would be a perfect candidate for some nice wood. We have a leather worker/shoe repair guy next to where my wife works in the shopping center where I had some work done before on a holster belt. I never thought about it but he may be able to engineer, design, and fabricate a nice holster for my M27. Now to set up a go-fund-me acct. to pay for the wood & leather!!
In the OP I thought that was anything besides wood. I'm impressed.

 

[Elroy]

I like a Hurst grip as well. Over the years, I've owned two Boss 302 Mustangs and two Super Cobra Jets. These days it's pre-war Walnut. The GT40 remains a pipe dream

 

[Vtgw938]

jeffrefrig:

Those glossy grips to the right of the Hurst's are more work of 44magget. The pic is actually taken on his shelf when he had them.

 

[Ruger 13]

Look good…….very nice work!

 

[D1911]

Those look fantastic. Curt does phenomenal work!

 

[SmithNut]

Great job at resurrecting/refinishing those grips, as noted above they must be very comfortable in the hand.... love the palm swells...

Congrats.....

 

[Vtgw938]

Somebody must know what kind of wood they are. I have seen several sets on the forum and elsewhere that have the same distinct wood.

 

[schutz5]

I like a Hurst grip as well. Over the years, I've owned two Boss 302 Mustangs and two Super Cobra Jets. These days it's pre-war Walnut. The GT40 remains a pipe dream

My initial association as well,haha.

Then I recalled the Farrant grip history and Mr Hurst.