[Thaddeus Beauregard]

I just joined the Diamondback club! Last week, I bought this 99.9% condition D-back, R22XXX serial number, which I believe puts it made in 1978. It didn't have the box or anything else that came with it, so that limits collectability. I plan to shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it anyway so I don't much care about collectible value. Honestly, even though the grip design is classic, I think the grip feel kinda sucks! They are very awkward feeling to me; very un-ergonomic! So, I replaced the originals with these western diamondback skin grips, because hey... why not have diamondback rattlesnake grips on a Diamondback, right?!!! The original grips will sit safely inside my gun safe in the event I ever decide to sell it later. Here she is with the original grips:

...and with the diamondback rattlesnake skin grips:

I replaced the grip medallions on the rattlesnake grips from the classic gold style to the ones shown that I bought on Ebay, as I liked the looks of them better.

 

[6shots]

 

[Lonestar57]

Haven’t had this one out in a while. 1982 in Electroless Nickel (lettered). My observation has been that this type finish is fairly scarce on Diamondbacks. More so than any of the other Colt revolver models. I’ve never seen the e-nick finish on any 22 caliber Diamondbacks or on one with a 2.5” barrel. However, there is a guy on GI that has a DB snub up for sell currently but for several reasons I suspect the finish is not factory original.

 

[Alan Woodward]

Haven’t had this one out in a while. 1982 in Electroless Nickel (lettered). My observation has been that this type finish is fairly scarce on Diamondbacks. More so than any of the other Colt revolver models. I’ve never seen the e-nick finish on any 22 caliber Diamondbacks or on one with a 2.5” barrel. However, there is a guy on GI that has a DB snub up for sell currently but for several reasons I suspect the finish is not factory original.
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. Here’s one I picked up at the CCA show.

 

[Lonestar57]

. Here’s one I picked up at the CCA show.

Super nice! I love it when someone shows me something I’ve never seen before.

 

[4Adam5]

Took awhile to find some round butt handles for this one …

 

[Highkey]

 

[rth548]

It’s a 22, never fired, inherited from my father in law. I’m up in the air about shooting it. I love 22 revolvers but just can’t bring myself to shoot it at this point.

 

[Thaddeus Beauregard]

It’s a 22, never fired, inherited from my father in law. I’m up in the air about shooting it. I love 22 revolvers but just can’t bring myself to shoot it at this point.
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Beautimous!

 

[cda926]

Here is my ‘78 4” .38 Spl. that I found on the Century Arms website in the “Surplus Corner”. 🙂

It was extremely dirty. But, it cleaned up nicely.
Best,
Charles

 

[Alan Woodward]

1969

 

[JC in OH]

It’s a 22, never fired, inherited from my father in law. I’m up in the air about shooting it. I love 22 revolvers but just can’t bring myself to shoot it at this point.
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I wouldn't shoot it either. It's only "UNFIRED" until you shoot it. Very rare to see one still in the plastic. Truly NIB conditon.

 

[392heminut_7035]

Many years ago I had a 4" blued Diamondback 38 that I let a friend trade me out of. I always regretted letting go of that gun. Recently I started looking at them on Gunbroker and I ended up getting an awesome deal on this one to replace the one that got away. It's an R serial number made in 1978 and looks to be close to 100% condition to me. I won't make the same mistake twice, the only place this one is going is to one of my kids when I'm gone.

 

[Rattler]

I just bought this D-back, which appears to have Pachmayr presentation grips. I've seen other posts in this thread showing similar grips (posts 61, 125, 143, 145), and a couple of other threads about them where it was discussed that the original grips that Colt would have installed at the factory have medallions on both sides. As you can see, mine do, although it may prove nothing. My gun is a 1983 model.

For the experts - do these grips look like they may have been factory-installed originals? The gold medallions are located lower on the grips than I would expect, but I'm new to Colt wheel guns and know next to nothing about past production models.

 

[Alan Woodward]

I just bought this D-back, which appears to have Pachmayr presentation grips. I've seen other posts in this thread showing similar grips (posts 61, 125, 143, 145), and a couple of other threads about them where it was discussed that the original grips that Colt would have installed at the factory have medallions on both sides. As you can see, mine do, although it may prove nothing. My gun is a 1983 model.

For the experts - do these grips look like they may have been factory-installed originals? The gold medallions are located lower on the grips than I would expect, but I'm new to Colt wheel guns and know next to nothing about past production models.

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As far as I know Diamondbacks only came with wood grips from the factory.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

It’s possible Colt installed Pachmayr grips with the Colt medallion on electroless nickel Diamondbacks like they on e-nickel Pythons…but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know whether an Archives letter would say. But I don’t believe they were factory for blued Diamondbacks.

 

[JC in OH]

It’s possible Colt installed Pachmayr grips with the Colt medallion on electroless nickel Diamondbacks like they on e-nickel Pythons…but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know whether an Archives letter would say. But I don’t believe they were factory for blued Diamondbacks.

I can't speak to whether they are factory or not, but I had a set of the rubber grips on a 4" blue .38 DB. It made for a really sweet target/plinking gun. (Everyone liked to shoot it better than the large square bottom walnut grips on a nearly identical gun.) In fact, I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day a long time ago. Nothing says LOVE like a Colt Diamondback!

 

[Rattler]

It’s possible Colt installed Pachmayr grips with the Colt medallion on electroless nickel Diamondbacks like they on e-nickel Pythons…but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know whether an Archives letter would say. But I don’t believe they were factory for blued Diamondbacks.

Suppose they were factory originals. In such case, why would the factory install them? Would they have been special ordered by the distributor or gun store? Are there any other grips that the factory could have installed on a blued 4" D-back aside from the regular wood grips?

I'll probably order a letter anyway, just because it's a good idea. But, all the examples I've seen say "not listed" for type of stocks so I wouldn't expect it to be much help.

Maybe I'll send a text to Gurney Brown to see if he can shed any light. Meanwhile I'll order a set of repro grips from Deer Hollow as I like them better than the black rubber.