Those look like some early Herretts that I have. Very similar to the Sandersons.
Are there any markings inside the panels 1911?
Are there any markings inside the panels 1911?
Sandersons
- Thread starter Onomea
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OP
Buck, I think so. One of the guys over on the Colt Forum commented, "It is a Coltmaster sight, which was used by Colt apparently for a short period of time including the era of the OMS (1949-1953). Previous OMs used a windage-only adjustable rear sight while subsequent OMMs used the Accro." (Another guy commented that the same sight was used on the Woodsman Match Target.) I need to check The Book of Colt Firearms, but that sounds right to me. I think end date of production of the OMS was '52 tho.
Re Steve's guess of Griffin & Howe for the attractive unknown stocks above, if so that would be nice to know.
Earlier in this thread I cite Roper as listing Griffin & Howe among the fine aftermarket grip makers of the day. I was thinking to myself that I'd never seen a set, at least insofar as I am aware. I also have a set of Murads that I got from Bud a ways back, but they are plastic. Not sure if all Murads are plastic, but I expect they were.
Another thought I had is that i wonder whether it was Roper or Gagne that come up with the aesthetically pleasing "ribbons" on Ropers. I bet it was Gagne. I think it is the "ribbons" which give Ropers such eye appeal.
Lee, that is a great explanation for the prevelance of K Sandersons. Makes sense.
I like stocks/grips!
Did Griffin & Howe have any marks or stampings on the inside of the panels?
I just pulled a pair of Sanderson's for a Colt out and they have the number 30 stamped into both grip panels on the inside.
1911's grips have a diamond around the screw hole which I have not seen before on Sanderson's. I imagine you could order something special like that from any of the custom grip makers in their day.
Can someone post a picture of a pair of Griffin & Howes showing both sides?
I just pulled a pair of Sanderson's for a Colt out and they have the number 30 stamped into both grip panels on the inside.
1911's grips have a diamond around the screw hole which I have not seen before on Sanderson's. I imagine you could order something special like that from any of the custom grip makers in their day.
Can someone post a picture of a pair of Griffin & Howes showing both sides?
kwill1911
Member
May I add to the confusion? I claim no expertise but I have done a fair amount of research on King Gun Sight Co. (and Micro and Ricky), Roper/Gagne, Sanderson, et al. I had the priviledge of interviewing a couple of former King employees. I've published a couple of articles on these subjects but there is much that isn't known and may never be known.
Although I cannot document it, it seems that Roper passed the torch to Sanderson who later passed it to Herrett. Sanderson's methods were almost identical to Roper's, i.e. tracing of the hand, fundamental grip shape and propensity to use a thumb rest. Lew Sanderson had been a member of the Detroit Police Pistol Team for almost 20 years and starting making grips (stocks) after he retired from competition.
Gagne did develop the fleur-de-lis (three lobed ribbon) and used it often, but not always. At the height of their popularity Roper offered machine checkered grips and hired another woodworker--WDH Nichols--to carve the stocks for automatics.
D.W. King originally designed his anatomical grips and made them of walnut but then licensed the design to Murad who molded them from plastic. They don't look at all like Ropers or Sandersons. I also believe that the carved walnut grips that King continued to offer under his own brand were made by Sanderson. King also sold Roper grips.
The hallmark of Roper grips is the little square jig holes in the back and they often have an order number scribed into them. Sanderson grips almost always have the model number machine stamped inside.
Here's the closest I can come to a picture of G&H grips:
Although I cannot document it, it seems that Roper passed the torch to Sanderson who later passed it to Herrett. Sanderson's methods were almost identical to Roper's, i.e. tracing of the hand, fundamental grip shape and propensity to use a thumb rest. Lew Sanderson had been a member of the Detroit Police Pistol Team for almost 20 years and starting making grips (stocks) after he retired from competition.
Gagne did develop the fleur-de-lis (three lobed ribbon) and used it often, but not always. At the height of their popularity Roper offered machine checkered grips and hired another woodworker--WDH Nichols--to carve the stocks for automatics.
D.W. King originally designed his anatomical grips and made them of walnut but then licensed the design to Murad who molded them from plastic. They don't look at all like Ropers or Sandersons. I also believe that the carved walnut grips that King continued to offer under his own brand were made by Sanderson. King also sold Roper grips.
The hallmark of Roper grips is the little square jig holes in the back and they often have an order number scribed into them. Sanderson grips almost always have the model number machine stamped inside.
Here's the closest I can come to a picture of G&H grips:
OIF2
Member
I just sold a nice set of Sanderson's N-frame stocks to a forum member a couple of months ago for $80.00...think that was too much?
handejector
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Gary,
Steve may have it- those grips may be G&H. They are not Herrett's. Beautiful. They would be very happy with me.....
Kevin, As always, VERY interesting. What do you mean by "Roper passed the torch to Sanderson" ? Did he sell out, give advice, etc, or do you mean Lew just filled the gap???
Steve may have it- those grips may be G&H. They are not Herrett's. Beautiful. They would be very happy with me.....
Kevin, As always, VERY interesting. What do you mean by "Roper passed the torch to Sanderson" ? Did he sell out, give advice, etc, or do you mean Lew just filled the gap???
kwill1911
Member
Lee,
I don't think he sold Lew anything; remember that these were really very small 1 or 2 man operations. Also, Gagne continued to make and sell his grips after Roper died. However, Sanderson's order forms, templates, methods and designs are nearly identical to Roper's. Roper referred people to Sanderson in many of his articles and books. So, I don't think there was any formal transfer but that Sanderson became the top stock maker once Roper and Gagne were gone.
Regards,
Kevin
BTW, someone earlier mentioned Gagne's son, Albert. Although he supposedly did design the post-war "Coke" stocks, he was employed in the shipping department and was also a member of the S&W shooting team.
I notice a diamond around the screw hole of the grips on the right in the G&H add.
I don't remember ever seeing that on Ropers, Herretts or Sandersons before.
I don't remember ever seeing that on Ropers, Herretts or Sandersons before.
FWIW: Here are some Sanderson memorabilia that might be of interest to you folks.
Chuck
Sanderson's installed on very early Sept, 1957 shipped 5 inch pre-29
LS Business Card
hand template for ordering the stocks
Actual stock template for cutting stocks after the measurement.This one for the 44 Mag in the pictures above
Chuck
Sanderson's installed on very early Sept, 1957 shipped 5 inch pre-29
LS Business Card
hand template for ordering the stocks
Actual stock template for cutting stocks after the measurement.This one for the 44 Mag in the pictures above
roger bartlett
US Veteran
Gary, In my humble opinion your outdoorsman grips are Ropers that have possibly had the checkering recut somewhere along the line. There are several distinctive features that are clearly Roper,I have a pair that are almost identical on a O.M. Look for the triangular 'pimps' on the backs , the pattern is the same for all Ropers I have seen. Regards , Bart
handejector
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Nope, I don't think Gary's grips are redone Ropers. Over the years, I have seen several pairs of grips similar in style, checkering, and color, and several of them were attributed to G&H.
Moose- all Ropers I have seen had Diamonds. I recently looked through a collection of 10 pairs of Ropers, and all had Diamonds.
Moose- all Ropers I have seen had Diamonds. I recently looked through a collection of 10 pairs of Ropers, and all had Diamonds.
Onomea, that is a cool Colt you have there. You have great taste in guns and grips. Here's mine with a nice pair of Lew Sandersons on it.
How's yours shoot? I enjoy shooting mine, but it sure ain't no K-38.
How's yours shoot? I enjoy shooting mine, but it sure ain't no K-38.
OP
Moose, nice gun and nice pic there!
I'll have to wait until I get home on leave next July to shoot the OMS. (One thing I know is that it'll shoot better than I can -- haven't met the gun yet that won't!)
I'll have to wait until I get home on leave next July to shoot the OMS. (One thing I know is that it'll shoot better than I can -- haven't met the gun yet that won't!)
rswartsell
Member
What is the consensus of opinion about these grips?
rswartsell
Member
more,
rswartsell
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more
rswartsell
Member
They are from this revolver.
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