K Frame Target Grips, Made of Morado (Pau Ferro)?

[Vtgw938]

I know most target grips are walnut or goncalo. But I have this set I just picked up and they just don't seem to fit in that category. Any chance they might be honduran rosewood or pau ferro??

On top of the different looking grain and color, the grips appear to have no finish and appear to be better quality. They have never been used and still had sawdust packed into the checkering border. There is a partial number stamping. I see no pore ends, and minimal side pores like I see on walnut and goncalo. Not a great change of color when wet.

The wood is lighter colored if anything than the pics. I have a bunch more of pics. If these didn't have the cut-out they would stay with me.

Added: The grips have not been re-finished or touched from what I can tell. They appear all original. There is no urethane finish, but might be a wax finish. The saw dust in the checkering border seemed to be mixed with something, possibly wax. The wood has a buffed appearance and the checkering looks brand new and untouched.

Added again: Magnifying glass of the grip bottom looks like pau ferro pores to me. Just doesn't "feel" like goncalo.

I would like to hear from anyone who has S&W Honduran Rosewood grips or pau ferro ones.

 

[StakeOut]

They look like factory Concola Alves Target Grips probably post 1985 when the washer was eliminated.There were a few variations of speedloader cutouts on one side or both sides>cutout style.
Many that were on shipped revolvers had date stamps on the inside.
Those sold separately in plastic package may not have a date stamp.
The date stamps also disappeared sometime later.
If you are not the original owner there no telling what may have been done to original finish

 

[Lou_the_welder]

Those are Goncalo Alves. GA woods.

 

[Vtgw938]

More Pics

Additional pics.

 

[krsmith58]

i don't know what kind of wood they are made of but i do know they sure are pretty. did i ever mention i like nice grips. krs

 

[rbmac52]

Back in the day when S&W was making grips without the washers, some were available in factory packaging labelled as "morado." I think your grips are made of that kind of wood.

 

[Vtgw938]

Morado is another name for pau ferro, thanks.

 

[M29since14]

I have a similar appearing set of K-frame targets, a bit darker, but similar looking grain and surface to what you describe. They also appear to have no finish applied, but I'm sure there is something there or else oil from my hands would probably have stained them long ago. I bought them new from Gil Hebards Guns, but I can't recall when. I would guess very early 90s, or very late 80s. I never cared for the shape of them, but they look nice and fit the gun well.

 

[weatherby]

They "are" GA without a doubt IMHO.
If you look at the front strap area it is a clear
Indicator of that.
The way it is cut can be a bit misleading.

I like them

 

[wproct]

I've only had one experience with pau ferro, I have a set of Hogue target grips for my MKII Ruger in that wood and they are quite dark. I like them.

 

[Chady734]

They are GA, looks nice .

 

[Vtgw938]

Pretty confident they are Marado grips which came on 29-5's or DX models? Found some threads about them. Anyone have one of these?

 

[rbmac52]

My money is on Morado as well, but there are a lot of doubters here.

 

[PatriotX]

Pretty confident they are Marado grips which came on 29-5's or DX models? Found some threads about them. Anyone have one of these?

Here's a set of Morado grips on a DX

 

[Narragansett]

Here's a set of Morado grips on a DX

I agree, they are GA and not Morado combats which IMO are the worst combats S&W ever made. I have a 29-5 classic DX with the ones pictured by Patriot X.

Yours are a well matched set. Keepers in my book

 

[H Richard]

This is Pau Ferro, but on a Hogue grip from the 80's. May have darkened just a tiny bit over the last 40 years.

 

[mikerjf]

I would say "Morado about nothing" but that is stretching it even for me.

 

[weatherby]

My money is on Morado as well, but there are a lot of doubters here.

How much if it ?
I'll take that bet.
You can put me down as all in too as I'm not a doubter......I'm certain

 

[Vtgw938]

Goncalo it is. Have you seen these unfinished or at least without urethane? The wood is super smooth.

 

[Culina]

I believe that they are in fact Pau Ferro, aka Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood, Morado. I also believe they are factory grips from the early 90's. Pau Ferro has a unique kind of sweet pleasant smell, you would have to sand a spot on the backs to get a whiff. The other give away is that Pau Ferro does not have any chatoyance unlike Goncalo Alves, it will also be harder and heavier than GA. It is not a true rosewood but it does have a lot of natural oils that interferes with oil based finishes properly drying which might have something to do with them being left unfinished.

 

[DR505]

I am in the Goncalo Alves camp as well...mine look very similar.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I don't really know that much about Morado.
But that grain is remarkable.
I don't think I ever grips with That many thin well defined dark lines that close together.
And they were so matched so well I just can't get over it.
I have never seen GA that looks like that.
I love the GA Grips, especially the Dark ones.
Here's a set of my favorite.
But they don't have the multiple well defined lines like the OP.

 

[Vtgw938]

And the beat goes on. What the heck, here are some more pics., taken outside and higher quality. Whatever they are, there getting their due now.

 

[rbmac52]

Thank you Kurac for offering your expert opinion. I agree with your assessment 100%.

 

[Culina]

Thank you Kurac for offering your expert opinion. I agree with your assessment 100%.

I plenty of examples of both species here in the shop so I have a slight advantage.

 

[SG-688]

1993 S&W K Targets

The OP prompted me to pull out an as-new pair of K targets than I can link to a S&W Model 686 with a serial number date in 1993.

The appearance is lighter in color than what I think of as the usual S&W Goncalo Alves. Indoor flash photography: the pictures are darker and more red than in person.
Finish is the usual S&W gloss. Ink stamp number 134.

 

[Narragansett]

OP, those are very nice, and while I have refinished many grips, and been satisfied with the results, I might reach out to Kurac or 44maggert, or Keith Brown to put a finish on them. The right finish on those will make them for sure

Just my .02

 

[muzzlestuffer2012]

Beauties for sure I think they are just dried out a little from age a few coats of boiled linseed oil will restore them just fine and no they won't be slippery when your done with them.
MS

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk

 

[Narragansett]

Beauties for sure I think they are just dried out a little from age a few coats of boiled linseed oil will restore them just fine and no they won't be slippery when your done with them.
MS

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk

I like hot boiled linseed and Renwax, but I think there might be a better way of capturing the figure

 

[scout II]

I have a similar set of grips that came on an L frame 586-3. I always wondered what kind of wood and finish these had.