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Eagle Grips

1216 Views 28 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  Windsor Arms, 
H
My wife found these Eagle grips for my SAA. She got them from the son of a local gunsmith who has passed away and the son is selling off the contents of his shop. I plan on keeping the "Gambler" grips that came on her put away so nothing happens to them. I had to do a bit of sanding but not much - man talk about a stink - that gutta percha stinks when it is sanded. Reminds me of working with Water Buffalo horn for knife handles. When did Colt stop with the Eagle grips? According to the archive letter my Colt was made in 1897.

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M
The Eagle grips were completely phased out by 1896. Therefore, an 1897 production revolver would have not originally had gutta percha Eagle grips.

Edit: Not an original set, I got fleeced by the smell. The additional photographs provided proves these aren’t original First Generation grips.

Since the smell was mentioned, when you sand gutta percha, you cannot miss the distinctive burnt rubber smell. The smell you experienced, as these are later grips, wasn’t that.
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Mikebiker
Those sure look like 3rg gen grips to me. If they are first they are the best set around. They show zero wear and would have to of come off a near mint gun. A good picture of the inside would help.
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H
Mikebiker said:
Those sure look like 3rg gen grips to me. If they are first they are the best set around. They show zero wear and would have to of come off a near mint gun. A good picture of the inside would help.
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Took some more pictures as requested.

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Mikebiker
Sorry they are not original 1st generation grips. I am not sure if any of the seconds had eagles but the thirds did.
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Mikebiker said:
Sorry they are not original 1st generation grips. I am not sure if any of the seconds had eagles but the thirds did.
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Agreed, I wonder what the bad smell was as it sure sounds like gutta percha.

Yes, they look too good and too crisp to be First Generation grips.
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H
Ist gen or 3rd, at least I have a factory set of grips on my Lady. At some point I may make a set of grips for her out of some stunning Desert Ironwood I have been saving for a special project. The work that Lever Action Bill did on her for me is top notch and he assures me that I can shoot smokeless 41 caliber cartridges with no problem. She may not be first rate but she is mine and I feel so blessed that she was willed to me.
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Mikebiker said:
Sorry they are not original 1st generation grips. I am not sure if any of the seconds had eagles but the thirds did.
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The mid-later 2nds had eagles
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Mikebiker
They do look good on the gun! I am a fan of original colt grips and these do give that look and are real Colt Parts!
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R
1st Gen eagles? Time to crack the books. :giggle: Smell is from sanding plastic.
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H
In my defense I never said they were 1st gen Eagles, I merely stated the gun itself was 1st gen and asked when Colt stopped with the Eagle grips.
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tony56
the colt pat stamp on the inner post ww2 3rd
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C
Eagle grips are gone from 1st Gen SAAs around serial #142,000.
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cascabel said:
Eagle grips are gone from 1st Gen SAAs around serial #142,000.
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Yes, circa 1891, they were mostly phased out. But a few are found on some revolvers as late as 1896. Not as late as 1897, the date of the OPs revolver. It’s debatable if some of these fitted 1892 to 1896 are original to the revolver. Some are, but probably not all of them. There was no firm cutoff date.
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M
Here’s the thread I was thinking of when I posted that these Eagle grips might be as late as 1896.

The general consensus is they are not original to this particular revolver but there is a possibility they might be original.

www.coltforum.com

Well Worn Nickel SAA from 1896

Ive been offered this 1896 SAA in 45 Colt. I think it was probably factory nickel plated but do not have a letter for it. Very little nickel is left as you can see. Terrible pictures. I know the seller and he is very honest. Any thoughts on what it is worth?
www.coltforum.com www.coltforum.com
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Hammerforged said:
In my defense I never said they were 1st gen Eagles, I merely stated the gun itself was 1st gen and asked when Colt stopped with the Eagle grips.
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Didn’t mean to infer you thought they were 1st Gen. Some did.
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Mikebiker
The term used " Gutta Percha " would imply a set of first generation grips. That term is incorrect as they were mde from Hard Rubber and are not actual Gutta Percha. The recent grips are a form of plastic.
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Kycoltguy
Late second or 3rd gen grips. The second gen guns went to those in 69 or 70 I believe.
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M
Mikebiker said:
The term used " Gutta Percha " would imply a set of first generation grips. That term is incorrect as they were mde from Hard Rubber and are not actual Gutta Percha. The recent grips are a form of plastic.
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Yes, I get a little careless and use the term gutta percha when describing hard rubber first generation grips. Both are plant (tree) based materials, however.
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JOG
What grips would my 1919 Colt saa left the factory with?
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