Mystery K frame stocks

[wheelgun610]

...I think those grips on the right in the G&H ad are Ropers.

Those both look like Roper's to me. I had a set on a 1st Gen Woodsman that looked almost exactly like the ones on the left in that ad.

Mark

 

[wheelgun610]

The OP's grips look like dead ringers for this set of Roper's. Excuse the poor photo, but this set also has a serial number that would indicate they were originally made for, and fitted to an early post war K target revolver. Could've been either a K-22, K-32 or K-38. They're shown on my K-38 which is in the K 43000 serial range.

Mark

 

[younggun22]

Beautiful set of stocks! I think enough people have chimed in with the correct answer.

Enjoy!

 

[Flygas]

Not Sanderson…
I believe those were offered by Griffin & Howe. See the old advertisement in post #1 of this thread. They're labeled "Other Styles":
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...griffin-howe-grips.html?200209=#post136033004

Even if they were actually sold by Griffin and Howe, I still think they're Gagne produced. So whether they were retailed by G&H or Walter Roper, I still think they're made by Mathias Gagne.

 

[Flygas]

I agree with those that say they're Ropers, definitely not Sanderson. The G&H and Roper connection has never been established, as far as I know. Many G&H grips certainly look like Gagne's work but it is curious given that G&H were notable stock makers.

Griffin and Howe employed their own stock makers but also often contracted or farmed out work to independent craftsmen. And it's important to remember that times were tough then and men were doing whatever work they could to pay the bills, particularly in the gun industry. I don't claim to be the expert on Smith and Wesson's that many on here are, but I have been a very serious collector and historian on pre-WW2 custom gunmakers like Griffin and Howe, Hoffman Arms Company, Niedner Rifle, and R.G. Owen. A lot of the talent either jumped from one company to another or they worked independently in their own home workshops. Mathias Gagne was one of those talented individuals who produced work for anyone who would pay for his skills.

 

[gmborkovic]

Just curious, what was the price of these grips back in the day?

 

[Waveski]

Much too refined for Siles.
Sile grips were geared towards economy.

 

[skilled]

No mystery here…Roper !