1950's Colt Govt. grips

[Riftweaver]

I have a 1953-54, almost all original, Colt Government model. I received it with some Pachmyer wrap around grips on it. I want to get it back to all original but I don't know how to detertmine what are the proper grips.

I have also found some grips that look like they could be the proper ones. They are all brown and checkered with no logo. They are a "plastic" type grip.

Are there any markings on the inside/back of the grip to tell for sure?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[cliff731]

Riftweaver,

There's a company that specializes in making historical reproduction grips for Colts. I'm thinking your early 1950's Colt would have come with a plastic grip panel having the Colt logo design molded in... and not a plain plastic fully checkered grip panel.

I might be incorrect... probably am... but someone who is more knowledgable will be along soon.

Cliff

[OD*]

'53-'54 would use the same stocks as this 1950.

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1950b.jpg

[DuckRyder]

I believe this is the company Cliff is thinking of.

They are Colt licensees.

http://vintagegungrips.net/ao-c45.html

[Riftweaver]

Thanks for the speedy help!

So the grips I have are for the military style and the commercial ones have the pony in them.....

I'll be back to having this shooter in shape in no time. I've had it for years and always wanted to correct it. You guys are top notch.

[OD*]

So the grips I have are for the military style and the commercial ones have the pony in them.....
Yep. ;)

Although Colt did use up the military stocks on early postwar Commercials ('46/'47).

Best of luck on your quest, amigo.

[TJH3781]

I have an old Commander (1967) that has grips similar to the ones pictured. I believe they are Coltwood & are much darker in color. Are they proper to a 1967 Commander?

[OD*]

Are they proper to a 1967 Commander?
Yes Sir.

..............

[texagun]

'53-'54 would use the same stocks as this 1950.

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1950b.jpg


There is a pair of those grips, in very nice condition, for sale in a gun store on the square in Granbury, Tx. for $40. I don't remember the name of the store but saw them there when I passed through a couple of months ago.

[OD*]

Were they on a receiver or a form of some kind? The postwar "Coltwood" stocks have a tendency to shrink, unlike the war years stocks. I've seen a couple pistols that the stocks had shrunk slightly while mounted.

[texagun]

Were they on a receiver or a form of some kind? The postwar "Coltwood" stocks have a tendency to shrink, unlike the war years stocks. I've seen a couple pistols that the stocks had shrunk slightly while mounted.

They were un-mounted and I remembered the stories about them shrinking so did not buy them. Also, I had no idea what they might be worth. The store was an antique store with lots of old, old guns and accessories in the front part. My buddy who was with me bought a mint pre-64 Winchester Model 94 for $600 out-the-door. It was truly MINT. I just posted about the grips in case there were any fellow Texans in the Granbury area that might be interested in them.

[OD*]

In this day and age that's a steal for a mint pre-64. Sounds like an interesting place to visit.

[kenhwind]

I had bought a set of those grips once and they had shrunk and could not be used.
On the other hand I did have another set, where thay came from I do not remember, and they were fine.
I used them on a King Custom 49 GM that a fellow bought to steal the grips and the box, and then sold the gun to me for less than he paid for it with Pachmayrs on it.
I smiled and said " I have a set of those grips"
I kind of like those grips myself.

[dakota1911]

What I also remember about those old grips is that an almost invisible hairline crack could become a large hand pinching crack over time I did pick up a pair years ago in a box of stuff at an estate sale auction. One of those auctions where you bid so much on a box of "gun stuff", but don't know what is in it. Along with old Lee Tong Tools, etc. were a pair that had also shrunk enough they were unusable. I think a lot of people back then wanted nice wood grips, not "cheap" plastic ones.

In a retro move I found some at Midways for $20 to put on a Commander I bought in 2007 to save the nice wood grips, as I carry the pistol. They are not real soft but not brittle hard either.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/r_per_1.jpg

[1saxman]

Those black ones you have there are readily available and are a decent alternative to the old brown ones if you're not trying to be totally 'correct'.