Question on Keith Brown custom grips

[mojave30cal]

When you guys get your custom Keith Brown grips for your
pre & post WWII guns, is there a mark or stamp to indicate they
were made by him?

If he doesn't mark them, is there anything else to look for to
determine if the grips were made by him?

 

[Modified]

All the sets I have seen have a KB on the back of them.

Also, there really aren't any other stocks quite like his. I expect anyone who has been around grips much would be able to ID them just by looking at the wood used, and the detail put into them.

 

[-db-]

I have a set that are unmarked and I've seen a couple others minus the carved KB, also. I assume these are probably earlier examples. If there's ever a question, though, like SixgunStrumpet said, there's no mistaking Brown's work.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Do they look so amazing they cause heart palpitaions? Then they are Browns.

 

[Art Doc]

I'm no expert, but the quality of wood used in KP stocks is so far superior to original S&W wood that they are easy to spot. Except for maybe a couple of presentation revolvers that were made to showcase the product and Doc44 now owns. There may be other stock makers who do similar quality work but I haven't seen them.

I keep thinking that I should get a set of KB stocks for my birthday or Christmas but honestly, I don't think I own a revolver that deserves them.

 

[Modified]

I'm no expert, but the quality of wood used in KP stocks is so far superior to original S&W wood that they are easy to spot.

One of the things I've found lately (deep in the depths of my old stock buying binge) is that it's really hard to "get" a lot of these grips and stocks without handling them.

Even some of the better write ups on things like palm swell and the little nuances involved in old Ropers and KBs just can't be conveyed with pictures and text. The quality and workmanship also isn't something that you can quite get until they are in your hand.

My latest set of Ropers for example:

Look amazing right?

If you look closely you can see how they were clearly hand made:

Don't get me wrong, these little details are why I absolutely love these grips, but you can tell that Gagne, for all his talent, was making a set of grips for functionality. The checkering pattern was a nod to beauty, but also (I'm just guessing here, this is my opinion) a trademark. That lovely ribbon pattern says ROPER. It also happens to be pretty. The wood though? It's nice, but not chosen for beauty.

A set of KB stocks will be a bit more obsessively perfect then Gagne's (in my limited experience, talk to me again in 10 years when I've had a chance to handle more then 6 Ropers ). Still clearly hand made, but with much nicer wood, and more of an eye and focus on making them beautiful in addition to functional.

 

[SDH]

I'm a firm believe in a craftsman signing his or her work and sent a pair of grips back to Keith that he forgot to sign. They now have a neatly hand-carved KB on the back of one grip and a Sharpie signature and date on the other.


A major problem with identifying old grips is the lack of a signature or maker's marking. The simple fact of the matter is that no one is absolutely certain who made any unsigned objects. Jig marks can tell you it was held in the same jig, but whose hand will always be a mystery.
I recently identifies a set of thumbrest Herrett grip by matching jig marks to another pair positively identified as Herrett.

Those of you that are familliar with my work know that all my custom guns, and a few other items carry my hallmark in 24kt.


Sometimes it is possible to tell if similar work was done by the "same hand" but one never knows whose hand that was... Kentucky longrifle collectors and researchers have demonstrated multiple rifles carved with the same tools!

 

[jjbrewst1]

I have also bought a set that were unstamped and unsigned. Smooth N Frame Redheart Magnas. Bought direct from Keith. No mistaking, but not marked.

 

[Keith Brown]

Originally I carved my initials and filled that with white paint for contrast after I was told that some thought I was trying to copy Ropers and that they thought the grips might be passed of as the real deal. I figured carving as opposed to simply writing which could be simply sanded away would prevent someone from try to pass them off as original Ropers. For a very short time I stopped carving and switched to stamping both my initials and the date, stopped this and went back to the carving on the advice of SDH. A few sets might have slipped past the QC guy, he's an idiot sometimes and I really have to keep an eye on him. I'd be happy to add initials if you have a set lacking them.

 

[SDH]

The carved KB adds a lot of class in my opinion, and it is pleasing to know it is from your "hand". If I were you Jim, I'd box them up and send them right back with a "please" note to Mr. Brown.

 

[bgrafsr]

Originally I carved my initials and filled that with white paint for contrast after I was told that some thought I was trying to copy Ropers and that they thought the grips might be passed of as the real deal. I figured carving as opposed to simply writing which could be simply sanded away would prevent someone from try to pass them off as original Ropers. For a very short time I stopped carving and switched to stamping both my initials and the date, stopped this and went back to the carving on the advice of SDH. A few sets might have slipped past the QC guy, he's an idiot sometimes and I really have to keep an eye on him. I'd be happy to add initials if you have a set lacking them.

You need to pay your QC guy more, and have him relax in the evening with a glass of Jack Daniels Honey or Crown Royal Maple.

 

[JSW]

Originally I carved my initials and filled that with white paint for contrast after I was told that some thought I was trying to copy Ropers and that they thought the grips might be passed of as the real deal. I figured carving as opposed to simply writing which could be simply sanded away would prevent someone from try to pass them off as original Ropers. For a very short time I stopped carving and switched to stamping both my initials and the date, stopped this and went back to the carving on the advice of SDH. A few sets might have slipped past the QC guy, he's an idiot sometimes and I really have to keep an eye on him. I'd be happy to add initials if you have a set lacking them.

I thought every one of your grips had initials carved in them. I guess you learn something new all the time.

 

[BillyMagg]

Originally I carved my initials and filled that with white paint for contrast after I was told that some thought I was trying to copy Ropers and that they thought the grips might be passed of as the real deal. I figured carving as opposed to simply writing which could be simply sanded away would prevent someone from try to pass them off as original Ropers. For a very short time I stopped carving and switched to stamping both my initials and the date, stopped this and went back to the carving on the advice of SDH. A few sets might have slipped past the QC guy, he's an idiot sometimes and I really have to keep an eye on him. I'd be happy to add initials if you have a set lacking them.

You got a brother in law too, huh? yeah, I bet mine is "uglier" than yours???? shame is he rubbed off on my sweet little sister???? wanna trade BILs?????