Beautiful Mystery Wood

[Snake45]

I bought these grips off eBay a couple years ago. They look amazingly like genuine factory S&W Target grips but they weren't even advertised as such—they were made somewhere in Asia, I forget where, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, I forget which (not China) but the seller was honest about it. I think I paid about $50 for them IIRC. Anyway, I loved the look of them immediately but they didn't quite fit. There was a very small fit issue at the bottom of the frame which I didn't get around to resolving until today.

I think they look fantastic on my Smith Model 28. Thing is, I have no idea what kind of wood they are. They sure are an interesting and beautiful mix, though. The darker part looks like the finest S&W Goncalo Alves of the '60s-'70s. The lighter part looks like very light walnut. Never seen anything like them. And no, it's not two pieces of different woods glued together. The wood is all one solid piece.

The underside pics show that the maker sure knew what he was doing about making grips, and matching them up.

Any ideas?

 

[GunnyGene]

I'm going to say one of the Rosewoods, or possibly Cocobolo. There is one variety of rosewood that's native to Burma, Cambodia and other parts of SE Asia. As with many exotic woods there is tremendous variation in grain and coloration.

It appears that he rip cut the raw piece down the middle that likely had some natural curvature to start with. A difficult cut, and I'd guess it was handcut with a thin blade, & not with any power saw. Excellent workmanship.

Here's a bowl made from Cocobolo that looks very much like your grips. One of the most beautiful woods there is.

 

[wolfsong]

Snake, I have no idea what type of wood those grips may be, but I do recognize that they are the ugliest pair of grips I've ever seen.

I'll tell you what - why don't you take them off and send them to me and I'll burn them for ya. I'll even pay the shipping costs.

 

[Ride1949]

Cocobolo was my first impression too. Great job of grain matching at the joint. Very nice grips and they look good on your Smith

 

[BROKENBEAR]

Rosewood 50% chance ..there are actually several woods from the same family of woods with slang and marketing names added to the name assigned by science
If you are correct in it's Asian origin it would almost have to be Bubinga wood
But appearance to the eye leans more to Honduran Rosewood if it is not Bubinga
Goncalo Alves (Tigerwood) only grows from Southern Mexico thru to Brazil but could still be a canidate

Bear

 

[eveled]

They remind me of cedar dark in the middle with white ring around it.

Nice grips.

 

[moparclan]

Those look awesome, my Python has a set of walnut with a similar appearance.

 

[GunnyGene]

Rosewood 50% chance ..there are actually several woods from the same family of woods with slang and marketing names added to the name assigned by science
If you are correct in it's Asian origin it would almost have to be Bubinga wood
But appearance to the eye leans more to Honduran Rosewood if it is not Bubinga
Goncalo Alves (Tigerwood) only grows from Southern Mexico thru to Brazil but could still be a canidate

Bear

I agree about Bubinga, etc. also being possibilities. Part of the problem with nailing down wood species in finished products (furniture, etc.) for the last 2500+ years is the widespread international trade in timber. Just because a species is native to Africa, doesn't mean it didn't show up in China (or the USA). It's right up there with the spice trade, when it comes to desirable trade goods. :)

 

[Snake45]

Snake, I have no idea what type of wood those grips may be, but I do recognize that they are the ugliest pair of grips I've ever seen.

I'll tell you what - why don't you take them off and send them to me and I'll burn them for ya. I'll even pay the shipping costs.

If you want to burn a pair, go on eBay and buy your own. These are mine, see? ;) :LOL:

 

[woodsy]

The light color is known as the "sapwood", and the dark is the heart. Very noticeable in other woods, like hickory. The sapwood doesn't have the minerals deposited in it yet, and is somewhat softer.

 

[Kevin]

Well they are very nice, regardless of which type of wood

 

[KS25-06]

I believe they are factory S&W grips made from Goncalo Alves wood. Not sure if spelling is correct. I believe they were used in the 70's and 80's on the N and K frames. Especially the ones with target triggers and hammers

 

[Snake45]

I believe they are factory S&W grips made from Goncalo Alves wood. Not sure if spelling is correct. I believe they were used in the 70's and 80's on the N and K frames. Especially the ones with target triggers and hammers

They're not. The seller specifically said they're from Asia (as I already discussed), and they don't have the factory markings on the inside.

 

[Snake45]

Those look awesome, my Python has a set of walnut with a similar appearance. View attachment 12505

Damn, now THAT's a "barbeque gun" if I've ever seen one! VERY sharp, my brother! :love:

(Lets see who the real car guys are here.) Compared to your gun, these grips on my Smith 28 is like bolting a set of genuine American Torq-Thrust D wheels on an all-black '66 L72 Biscayne. ;):cool:(y)

 

[caryc]

Looks like goncalo alve to me. Here is a board that I have.

 

[carbonfibrebob]

I have a set on my Alaskan that also came from ebay