Lucite grips

[tude]

My neighbor showed me what I think is a model 10.
The finish on it was not blued but could have been parkerized. The most interesting feature was the clear lucite grips. The flat inner portion of these grips were painted a bright red. Does anyone have any idea why anyone would make grips like these?
I forgot to check the serial number.

 

[hsguy]

Perhaps the gun is a Victory model. Troops often made grips out of the plastic window material from aircraft during WW2. John

 

[opoefc]

tude, Welcome to the Forum. Your neighbor probably has a pre-Model 10, called the Victory Model, or Model 1905, 4th change. They were made in WW2 and a popular embellishment by some troops issued theses guns was to make a pair of lucite grips out of salvaged aviation plexiglass. You could put your girl friends picture under the lucite. I made many of these from scrap plexiglass from the Consolidated Vultee B24 Bomber assembly line in San Diego during WW2 and traded them to sailors & marines for Hershey bars. A lot of these scraps were covered on one side by a coating of a protective film that was red. That may be what your neighbor has - could be one of a pair I made! Ed . swca#15

 

[hsguy]

Here is a link to a previous thread on this subject.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/101714-glass-handle-38-s-pistol-question.html

 

[tjsguns]

I've got a set of Lucite's just like u described on a documented 1911 from WWII
They've got a "pin-up" style pic of the guy who carried it's then Fiancee and future wife under one of the panels. They were made by the guy from a piece of Lucite from a Bomber.
I got a letter from him when I bought it with some of the guns history and the paperwork from the Army allowing him to take the gun home with him after the war.
It's one of my favorite Military pieces.

 

[vrichard]

Dick

 

[tude]

Thanks for the info it makes sense.

 

[moosedog]

I've got a pair that came back on a P-38 vet bringback. I also know of a pair that were done from a downed Nazi Luffwafe Aircraft and put on a otherwise mint Luger. The Luger has two matching numbered magazines and a correct holster.
That was the thing to do during and shortly after WWll.