If you're talking blue/CCH, and not all blue, I think the 1st gen and early 2nd gen non-eagle hard rubber grips are the best looking, especially on guns with a little wear to them.

Best regards,

 

IMO....Ivory on any finish, any generation.

 

Ivory.

 

Ivory, I hope the pre-ban ivory becomes available again. I've still got a couple that need new shoes.

For factory grips I agree with Monsai52, the bird-less hard rubber look good and fit my hand and point the best of any factory grips.

 

This is a matter of opinion, but, I think, there is nothing like the warm glow of an original set (or one piece) of walnut grips on a blued firearm with much original finish. The appearance of the walnut grips is unique in that it takes time for that look to be generated. It cannot be achieved through recent refinishing and it takes the tight grain of walnut unavailable today unless using blanks, or reclaimed wood, dating from the 19th Century. Original ivory from the 19th Century is a close second.

 

My sentiments too on a set of Stocks for the SAA revolver. The aged look of the close grain walnut is beautiful!

Ivory is 2nd to me too!

 

Bird-less factory grips, Sambar Stag, and most of all aged Ivory............................................................M*

 

very hard to beat the look of aged ivory....

 

Thanks for starting this thread. I really love looking and talking about colt grips. Guns to me are like my version of barbie dolls. I just can't get enough of dressing them up.

This is a matter of opinion, but, I think, there is nothing like the warm glow of an original set (or one piece) of walnut grips on a blued firearm with much original finish. The appearance of the walnut grips is unique in that it takes time for that look to be generated. It cannot be achieved through recent refinishing and it takes the tight grain of walnut unavailable today unless using blanks, or reclaimed wood, dating from the 19th Century. Original ivory from the 19th Century is a close second.

My sentiments too on a set of Stocks for the SAA revolver. The aged look of the close grain walnut is beautiful!

Ivory is 2nd to me too!

I can't disagree. Anyone know where to get good aged walnut? I also really like Elk stag grips from Grashorn. I have a couple of guns with those on them and love them. Ivory would be an option, but even if the US ban is lifted I am stuck in good old California which has its own even more strict regulation on ivory. I do have some tru-ivory grips that look pretty good as well. I think they're supposed to age, but I haven't had them on or used them long enough for that yet.

I hope people toss on some pics to this thread to make it more interesting. I'll start

Not a SAA, but the grips that came with these 2nd gen 51's just feel so great in my hands

Here's some sheep's horn on a 2nd gen saa

Elk on an open top

 

Walnut, stag, old ivory, for me.

Bob Wright

 

Amazing photos

 

Can someone explain the differnce between the hard rubber mentioned above and the plastic black eagle being used now?

 

Here's another with great grips (great everything actually). This one is not mine. It belongs to a fellow forum member that was kind enough to show me the picture. But ii is exactly what I want my next one to be:

 

I am just happy to be a SAA owner and like them all! Flareman

 

I like them all, little example of each makes for some nice SAA's

 

Stag for me.

 

gregguidry,

I'll take a pass at an explanation on the difference. The 1st and early 2nd generation grips (bird-less or not) were made of an organic material that used to be called "Gutta-Percha" sp. It is supposed to be from a plant that is similar to a rubber tree and was also called Hard Rubber. I believe it was a sort of trade name back in the day. It is very definitely tough stuff because so many have lasted so long. As I understand it when Colt changed back to the eagle grips in the late 2nd generation production is when they switched to a more modern polymer or type of plastic.

Grips are one of my other related addictions along with single action leather.

 

Walnut burl early black powder are gorgeous to me

 

Good figure, dense grain walnut does it for me, followed by Ivory and bone (or antler).

 

Red River, thanks for the info. As much as I like all of the natural material grips shown here, there is just something about the black eagle grip, set off by the case hardened color, that is hard to beat. Who are some of your favorite makers of gun leather? Are you aware of Big Bend Saddlery in Alpine, Texas or Horsewright in Tehachapi, California? They both do outstanding work.

 

These photographs depict what the classic walnut finish should look like on a 19th Century revolver. The first two photographs are presented because they have that timeless, classic look. These on a Colt conversion from 1875. The third photograph depicts the grip of a Cavalry model dating from 1882. Note the tight grain, which is virtually impossible to find today.

 

Kinda partial to ivory......these were done for me by Alan Harton of Houston.

 

On a blued SAA, I like the look of black grips. So I like the original plastic ones that came on them, but I am not particularly thrilled with plastic. A set of ebony blanks from swamprat fixed my dilemma. I did the final fitting and hardware mounting for two piece with screw. Up close you can tell they are amateur, but I happy with them. I want to do the same thing with service grips for a Python.

I am partial to fancy woods. Ones with really nice grains and a good color to match the firearm.

 

The kind you don't have

 

If they're done right they all look good, even pearl (in spite of what George Patton said). Personally I think ivory is the classiest:

2nd gen SAA, grips by Nutmeg Sports.

NF reintroduction 2014, factory (Paul Persinger?) grips.

Sambar stag is beautiful and eye-catching:

On the left from Ajax, on the right factory, both about 2001.

Elk stag also looks good:

By Patrick Grasshorn, 2016.

(click on pics to enlarge)

 

The old dished medallion Fleur-de Lis are my favorites:






Ivory is my 2nd favorite:





I also like Sambar Stag:





And the old Walnut & Eagle :


And MOP:



And 1st gen Gutta Percha: