Grip medallions or not? That is the question…

[styles]

I see a lot of grips that I like on the Rugers. Usually, my eye is drawn to stag with light bark or aged ivory-like magna or holly Wood. I keep waffling on medallions. Doest it make sense they look better in a bisley grip and not as much on xr3 grips?

 

[Ethan Verity]

No right or wrong answer there... whatever you think looks better is what you should go with. Personally I'm not a fan of medallions on any 1873-style gun, but I like how they look on my N frame Model 29.

 

[nofendertom]

Not big on medallions. Never on Ivory, other exotic materials or a piece of finely figured wood.

 

[doubleh]

It see it as a personal opinion. I like them on Ruger SA's but don't care either way on other guns. I usually make new grips for most of my Ruger's and have been known to punch out the medallions from factor grips to use them in my home made grips.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Im for the pro-medallion state

 

[Targa]

My preference is no medallions.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Team medallion here.

 

[Bazoo]

I think I prefer no medallions. Though both of my Ruger single actions have factory grips with medallions. The Blackhawk that I carry constantly has a lot of wear on the left side medallion due to sweat. That grip is darker than the other as well.

 

[Riomouse911]

My Blackhawks with custom grips go au naturale.



Stay safe.

 

[chicharrones]

It depends on the gun and the grips whether I like medallions or not. Simply a case by case situation for me.

 

[Pat Riot]

I’m with @chicharrones on this. Some guns look great with them, some without.
I like the bronze looking ones on the grips that came with my S&W 25-15. I don’t like gaudy and these are not. Also they’re not very big:


When i ordered my service panels from Altamont for my model 10 I didn’t realize they would have silver medallions. At first I wasn’t to keen on them, but once the panels were on the gun I liked them.


I installed Altamont Ropers on my models 17 & 19. They don’t have medallions and i think they look great.
Here’s the model 17-3


On my single actions i prefer no medallions.

 

[NeroM]

Prefer - NOT

 

[bannockburn]

If I can get factory medallions for S&W, Ruger, or Colt then I will have them put on.

Other than that I can be okay with my faux ivory grips without medallions.

 

[StrawHat]

When i ordered my service panels from Altamont for my model 10 I didn’t realize they would have silver medallions. At first I wasn’t to keen on them, but once the panels were on the gun I liked them.
View attachment 1194322

Does Altamont call those Sevice Stocks? I ask because they are similar to what S&W calls the Magna Stock which they introduced in 1935 on the Registered Magnum and the following year on the rest of the N frames.


These two 45 Hand Ejectors are wearing what S&W calls Service Stocks.




Kevin

 

[styles]

@bannockburn are the medallions that popular grip makers here use ‘factory’?

Grashorn, Chig, Texas, Sacks?

 

[BobWright]

My druthers.........................:






And:




But then, its up to you, the owner, to be pleased with what you've got.

Bob Wroght

 

[Pat Riot]

Does Altamont call those Sevice Stocks? I ask because they are similar to what S&W calls the Magna Stock which they introduced in 1935 on the Registered Magnum and the following year on the rest of the N frames.

No, it’s my bad habit of calling them that. Altamont calls them “Classic Panels”. They do have “Service Panels” that look just like Magna grips. I am pretty sure they supply them for S&W for their overseas contract revolvers, like for Hong Kong.

 

[mrcabinet]

Same gun without and with medallions. I wanted to add a little Colt snobbery to it, but I can go either way when it comes to medallions.

 

[Jimster]

I think medallions look sissyfied. Of course it’s all about what you like.

 

[bannockburn]

styles

@bannockburn are the medallions that popular grip makers here use ‘factory’?

Grashorn, Chig, Texas, Sacks?

I couldn't tell you as I never have had any grips made by these grip makers.

Maybe write or call them and see what they say. Numrich (gunpartscorp.com) sells them for a number of different gun manufacturers, as does Amazon.

 

[Bartojc]

I have them with and without. So, I guess no preference.

-Jeff

 

[Speedo66]

On factory grips, no preference.

On customs with great wood or horn, no thanks.

 

[Hillbilly Hydrographics]

I replaced my factory plastic grips on my ruger wrangler first thing with a old set of single six wood grips with medallions. They look so much better then the plastic crap grips.

 

[1KPerDay]

I like both, depending. I've seen ivories/wood/stag with medallions that I liked, and ivories/wood/stag without that I liked. IMO medallions make a grip look more "factory" and sans medallions looks more aftermarket/custom. In general I prefer SAA-type and 1911 grips without, but I also like some with.

 

[westernrover]

Did somebody say medallion?