Original 1919 PPS Gutta-Percha grips: replace, sell, save?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings,
As chronicled in an earlier thread, I recently bought a Colt Police Positive Special (.38Sp) for $120 up at DJ's in Bothell, WA. Locks up tight, almost no finish but cool patina. Just bought as a fun plinker.
It was built in 1919, and has the original hard-rubber "gutta-percha" grips. I'm told these are somewhat fragile and possibly hard to come by. Mine have a small chip on one panel, but aside from that are in great shape.
I bought this cheap as a plinker and cool retro gun, I am not at all a collector. So, should I:

a) Shoot it as is, and just replace the grips if they fall apart

b) Take off the original grips and put them in THR's "For Sale" ads so that someone can restore their more collectible PPS. Either trade for wooden grips or put the money towards some Hogue hardwoods and a Tyler T-Grip.

c) Gently remove the original grips, lovingly wrap them in wax paper and seal them in a hermetic tin in my toolbox until such point as beat-up PPS become valuable, and buy wooden grips for the meantime.

Thanks for your consideration. In the meantime, if someone desperately needs gutta-percha grips, drop me a PM. Take care,

-Matthew

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd keep the original grips with the gun rather than split them. Colt factory grips are invariably terrible, so I'd replace them with stocks from the good folks at: http://www.herrett-stocks.com

 

[Preacherman]

Gun Parts Corp. has a range of grips available for the PPS, including some old ones. You might want to get a pair from them as daily-use grips, and hold on to your others as "originals".

 

[Old Fuff]

If you carefully remove the grips and look on the inside you should find all or part of the serial number scratched into one or both panels. Back in 1919 the grips were individually fitted to each gun before the gun was blued or plated. Of course they don’t do that now. If for some reason your particular pair of grips were broken or otherwise destroyed you might be able to buy another set of originals but they wouldn’t necessarily be a perfect fit because they undoubtedly came off another gun. The relatively inexpensive black plastic replacements also are unlikely to be a perfect fit. The missing chip can be replaced/repaired using glass bedding compound (available from Brownells at www.brownells.com) that has been dyed black (the dye is also available from Brownells).

Back during the 1950’s many folks that bought a new Smith & Wesson revolver would quickly replace the Maga-style service grips with something else and toss the factory stocks into their junk box. Today a mint pair of such grips sell anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00 depending on the style, condition, and what kind of gun they fit. If I was in your shoes I’d keep what I’ve got.

 

[XavierBreath]

Here is a pair of $25 Reproduction grips that I fitted to my Police Positive.



Here are two links where you can get these grips.
http://www.gungrip.com/.
http://vintagegungrips.com/

If you decide to go reproduction, do realize that they will have to be fitted then "aged" to look authentic. After I had mine fitted, I used a cleaning rod to dull down the checkering a bit, then a bit of 000 steel wool (off the gun, of course) to knock down the shine and even out the artificial wear. If you can fit SAA grips, you can fit these. Make sure the top is fit first, nd the hole in the grip is aligned with the pin. You might have to deepen that hole a bit. Finally, use a jeweler's file to carefully blend the grip and grip frame margins. Go slowly. It's easy to remove to much, and impossible to put it back on. I used hardware off some old J frame grips to attach mine.

Someone might want your old grips. Sell them if you like. If you are going to use your gun as a shooter, they will likely be damaged at some point. Personally, I'd keep them. A mint gun would already have mint grips (which your's probably aren't) and a shooter gun would do better with less brittle repros.

If you want to read more about my Police positive, you can here.
http://www.geocities.com/xavierbreath2/ColtPolicePositive.html

 

[sm]

I am currently using a set of stocks very similar to those you posted a pic of on a '28 Det. Spl.

I don't know where obtained, have to ask Preacherman. Mine differ in the dancing pony logo where yours has the "Colt" with a slight depression for thumb. Mine also lack the scrill in the checkering.

As much I prefer Wood, and at such time I will relplace mine with wood - I'm having a ball shooting mine with the "Gutta-Percha".

Old Fuff - yeah , yeah yeah , I know, you were right - again.

 

[Old Fuff]

sm:

Duplicate post. Ignore and go on to the next one.

 

[Old Fuff]

sm:

You're close, but not quite there. "Gutta-Percha" stocks (a.k.a. "hard rubber" and "black hard rubber") were commonly used on handguns made during the latter 19th and early 20th centuries. Over time they tend to become brittle and are easily cracked or chipped. As a consequence it is becoming harder to find a gun so equipped that doesn't have degraded or damaged grips or stocks (take your choice in words). Pistols or revolvers that have original handles in good shape are becoming more valuable then a similar piece with replacements. Therefore it makes good sense to carefully remove original grips to preserve them, and substitute others if you are going to use or shoot the gun. The replacements you have (I think) are made from a modern rather then vintage plastic that is far more durable then the original ones. I have used them also, and they have proven to be very satisfactory.

At different times over the many years that Colt made the Police Positive/Police Positive Special revolvers (as well as other models) the style of hard rubber grips were slightly changed. In general the modern replacements are made to one pattern. This doesn't make any practical difference, and only the most advanced collectors would notice. It is however another good reason to preserve the originals because the pattern will match the time period during which the gun was made.

The correct checkered walnut stocks for your 1928 era Detective Special are difficult (and usually expensive) to find. However one never knows what might be found in some dealer's or gunshow exhibitor's box of "old junk and take-off's." I will keep my eyes open.

 

[sm]

Old Fuff-

Once again Wise Sage - Thanks!