Question about Fitz walnut grips

[beagleye]

I recently snagged a pair of walnut fitz grips off ebay, quite stylish I must say. The seller didn't know what they were for, I took a chance figuring if they didn't fit anything I had some one here would want em.

Anyway, I am a little confused by the fit.

They are marked M inside the top of the cut out. The grip shape fits an N frame pretty dang well, just a little roomy at the top, the pin fits the N frame, but the step is low. When they are tighten on there is no slop so I think I will use em but I am curious what they were made for, what does the M stand for? Anyone know?

Thanks!


See how the step on the grip is below the step on the frame:

 

[-db-]

beagleye, I, too, saw those on eBay but passed on them as I believe they've been modified and I didn't want to gamble on them. While some Fitz grips lack carved "washers" on the inside, like yours do, and just have a step or "shelf" instead, this shelf is normally notched:

In the case of yours, what I believe was done was someone, for some reason, removed some wood and lowered the sides of the shelf to the bottom of the notch, creating a lowered un-notched shelf. If I remember correctly, it was easier to see evidence of this modification in the original auction photos but yours also show what looks like some rougher tool marks in this area and a shadow of where the original notched shelf was located.

As for the carved letters, I don't know what they mean. You'll see different letters on different sets of these stocks, perhaps for no other reason than to keep matched sides together.

Those you got look nice and if they still fit ok, you did good.

 

[linde]

I recently snagged a pair of walnut fitz grips off ebay . . . They are marked M inside the top of the cut out. The grip shape fits an N frame pretty dang well, just a little roomy at the top, the pin fits the N frame, but the step is low. When they are tighten on there is no slop so I think I will use em but I am curious what they were made for, what does the M stand for? Anyone know?

Very nice pair of fitz thumbrest targets. I have a similar pair also marked "M" that fit the N-frame. The grips rely on the pin and frame outline for alignment so the step at the frame is offset simply to provide relief.

I also suspect your left grip panel is half-checkered as it is on all the N-frame fitz targets I've seen.

Russ

 

[-db-]

I'll check tomorrow a set I have for an N-frame. If they, too, are marked with an M, perhaps we can assume the M stood for Magnum back when these were made (prior to the Combat Magnum K-frame).

Edit: Mine, too, are marked M inside

 

[Gunhacker]

I have a Fitz fitment chart.

"M" does look to be for N-Frames as all of the models for the N frame has an M in them... GFM(Gunfighter), MS (oversized Stag), MG (standard size Stag).

K-Frame are K, J-Frames are F.

 

[beagleye]

Thanks for the info, that's great news, yes Linde, half checked. These will stay on my 1926. It would have been a strange coincidence if the pin and the frame lined up. Thanks!

 

[beagleye]

Also, you guys are quite knowledgable, your mothers should be proud.

 

[Gunhacker]

You learn a lot hanging out on this forum... I wish I could claim I was as knowledgeable before joining.

Some good info here in this post: fitz grips . . . the wood "semi-target" type

The owner of Fitz grip, John Paul Jones, retired to the SF Bay Area and was some what local to me.

He had a hoard of grips that he saved after his LA factory burnt down and put him out of business.

He started putting some of them up for sale in 2002, in 2008 I got the last remaining sets of NIB N-Frame "Gunfighter" grips, with the fitment sheet.

I wish someone would resurrect the Gunfighters, they are some of best feeling grips that I've had on an N-Frame.

 

[linde]

. . . While some Fitz grips lack carved "washers" on the inside, like yours do, and just have a step or "shelf" instead, this shelf is normally notched . . .

In the case of yours, what I believe was done was someone, for some reason, removed some wood and lowered the sides of the shelf to the bottom of the notch, creating a lowered un-notched shelf . . .

The notched shelf as -db- describes appears on my fitz targets marked "K" for the K-frame, but I've not seen it on N-framed grips marked "M" . . . don't ask me why.

I do believe, however, that the OP's shelf was modified to provide added relief but that shouldn't interfere with their fit on an N-frame. If wood was taken from around the edges, that's a different story.

Here's another "M" pair for comparison.





Russ

 

[-db-]

Russ, earlier I just glanced inside the top of my grips to see if an M was present and didn't look at the shelf but after examining them again, mine are like yours and beagleye's with a flat step or shelf minus a notch. Maybe the notch is found only on K-frame versions.

In other words, beagleye's grips may not have been modified after all. Or at least not the way I thought they were.

 

[-db-]

Here's the set I have (ignore the whittling someone did to the right-side stock):

To recap what what's been learned:

M denotes N-frame

N-frame grips have a flat step/shelf while K-frame versions are notched

 

[beagleye]

More Good info, thanks for the recap. I will post some pics of my cool new grips on my 1926 today.

 

[Culina]

Here's the set I have (ignore the whittling someone did to the right-side stock):

To recap what what's been learned:

M denotes N-frame

N-frame grips have a flat step/shelf while K-frame versions are notched

it looks like these were modified to fit a Colt revolver.

 

[Gunhacker]

I wondering whether or not what you're seeing is the evolution of Fitz manufacturing, with differences between earlier manufactured grips and other grips throughout the life of the grips.

Linde, in your post back in 6/23/13, you posted this pic that shows the flat shelf with a metal disc added, which to me looks to be an improvement over the original inletting made by Fitz, which is a "M" marked grip with just the flat shelf.



This is what the inletting looks like on the Gunfighter grips I bought in 2008, which are the most recent and last ones made... note that the inletting style is what you find on most aftermarket grips, with what S&W calls the "stock circle" incorporated into the wood:

 

[-db-]

Here's another piece of the puzzle:

I saw these on eBay awhile ago and saved this picture. I should have saved all of the photos but the grips were identical to, down to the bronze-colored screw, the Fitz grips we're all familiar with. The question this begs is were Fitz's wood stocks, perhaps the earliest ones, made in and imported from Germany?

Note the pencil marking found on many other Fitz grips and the notched shelf.

 

[beagleye]

Gunhacker

Notice the open back on those grips. I would think without enclosing the frame on the back, you would need some washer or disc to catch in the frame. With both sides enclosed, the disc mating into the frame seems much less important, or even irrelevant.

 

[Gunhacker]

Gunhacker

Notice the open back on those grips. I would think without enclosing the frame on the back, you would need some washer or disc to catch in the frame. With both sides enclosed, the disc mating into the frame seems much less important, or even irrelevant.

Good eye and good point....

Db.. would not be surprised that they were made offshore, the GF grip sets I have are made in the Philippines.

 

[diecidecimi]

Here's another piece of the puzzle:

I saw these on eBay awhile ago and saved this picture. I should have saved all of the photos but the grips were identical to, down to the bronze-colored screw, the Fitz grips we're all familiar with. The question this begs is were Fitz's wood stocks, perhaps the earliest ones, made in and imported from Germany?

Note the pencil marking found on many other Fitz grips and the notched shelf.

Maybe yes: it is the same question I asked about a set marked EIG, as you can see here: Unusual Fitz grips?

 

[red9]

I have a set of adjustable palm rest target grips that I bought online from the Netherlands.
No country of origin, but the coarse checkering makes me think Eastern European. Here's the kicker - On the inside, they have the Fitz stamp as used on the plastic Accu-Riser palm rest grips. Again, made for Fitz in Europe?

Bob

 

[diecidecimi]

This target adjustable set is only the second I see: another one was sold here in Italy , but until now it was unique to my knowledge. Never seen elsewhere, and, this is really astounding, there is no mention in USA.