chaim
Member
I was able to pick up the gun today, I got a better deal than I thought. The salesman who processed my "not disapproved" paperwork (yes, MD won't approve you, but rather you get a "not disapproved" email after the waiting period and background check) and gave me the gun was the person who took this gun in on consignment.
First, it turns out it was in better condition than I thought. I guess my dislike of Pachmayr rubber grips makes it look more worn or it could have been due to some other odd play of the lights or something. This thing doesn't even have a turn ring on the cylinder.
The salesman was telling me how the original owner bought it and rarely shot it (maybe one or two boxes), and when he passed away, the son who inherited it never shot it. He still had the original receipt, and while the owner wanted to keep it, the salesman was able to make a photocopy blacking out all identifying info for the original owner. He bought it new for $239.50 in 1982. He bought the grips for $13.75, and a box of ammo for $6.95. It has the original owners manual (compared to the books of today, it is just a pamphlet). While it didn't have its box, it had a soft case: leather, real sheep skin lined, made in the USA (Frederick, MD)... I wouldn't buy it (in style it looks late 70s/early 80s), but I'm definitely keeping it.
I'm glad I hadn't yet ordered grips. I thought I remembered it was a square butt, but it is a round butt K-frame.
So, now the question...
What grips to buy? I don't think I'll ever carry it... I have plenty of more suitable revolvers for carry (2.75" S&W 66, .44spl 2.75" Taurus 431, 3" S&W 65LS, 3" Taurus 856 Defender, S&W 442, 2" Taurus 856UL, Taurus 85CH, and a new model 3" Colt King Cobra), and with the age plus condition of the finish, I don't want to add holster wear. Maybe in the future if I buy another in more worn cosmetic condition I may occasionally carry when I feel like it, but not this one. It will get range use, and will often be loaded as my bedside gun.
I'm leaning towards either the Altamont (or similar) service panels, or the Eagle American elk (though Tyler Gun Works elk looks good at about $130 less than the Eagle).
First, it turns out it was in better condition than I thought. I guess my dislike of Pachmayr rubber grips makes it look more worn or it could have been due to some other odd play of the lights or something. This thing doesn't even have a turn ring on the cylinder.
The salesman was telling me how the original owner bought it and rarely shot it (maybe one or two boxes), and when he passed away, the son who inherited it never shot it. He still had the original receipt, and while the owner wanted to keep it, the salesman was able to make a photocopy blacking out all identifying info for the original owner. He bought it new for $239.50 in 1982. He bought the grips for $13.75, and a box of ammo for $6.95. It has the original owners manual (compared to the books of today, it is just a pamphlet). While it didn't have its box, it had a soft case: leather, real sheep skin lined, made in the USA (Frederick, MD)... I wouldn't buy it (in style it looks late 70s/early 80s), but I'm definitely keeping it.
I'm glad I hadn't yet ordered grips. I thought I remembered it was a square butt, but it is a round butt K-frame.
So, now the question...
What grips to buy? I don't think I'll ever carry it... I have plenty of more suitable revolvers for carry (2.75" S&W 66, .44spl 2.75" Taurus 431, 3" S&W 65LS, 3" Taurus 856 Defender, S&W 442, 2" Taurus 856UL, Taurus 85CH, and a new model 3" Colt King Cobra), and with the age plus condition of the finish, I don't want to add holster wear. Maybe in the future if I buy another in more worn cosmetic condition I may occasionally carry when I feel like it, but not this one. It will get range use, and will often be loaded as my bedside gun.
- Initially I thought I wanted to buy some elk grips for it, even before I realized it was in LNIB condition. They would look great on this pristine blued gun. I am torn between a set with bark or smooth. However, at $200-500 a pair for elk, I'm thinking a nice set of wood grips may be more appropriate for this typical workingman's handgun of most of the 20th Century.
- For about $100-150 I could find a set of period correct, original condition, service panels for the gun. I wouldn't want to spend less, as at this point, for much less than $100 they'll be fairly used grips, and this gun is just in too nice condition for that.
- For substantially less, I could get some Altamont (or similar) reproduction service panels. They may not be perfect replicas, but they are close and they'd look like they belong on this gun.
- Altamont (or similar) round to square conversion grips that look a lot like period correct target grips. However, .38spl, even the hottest +Ps, out of a 4" K-frame will be pussycats with any grips so it wouldn't be for anything but looks.
I'm leaning towards either the Altamont (or similar) service panels, or the Eagle American elk (though Tyler Gun Works elk looks good at about $130 less than the Eagle).
