info on grips

[cowboy45]

I found 2 sets of 22 auto grips I had forgotten about. Need info. 1 set of black eagle plastic and 1 set of checkered walnut with black eagle.
Both have medallion on left side. I believe they are for a standard 22 auto. What yrs and what kind of value?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Those are for the old original A54 grip frame, used up until about 1972.

They could have been used on either the early Standard Pistols or the early Mark I Target models.

They have a certain amount of appeal to those with the older guns.

Does the walnut pair have a thumb rest?

 

[cowboy45]

If I remember correctly, no thumb rest. They are both packed away right now and I can't get to them for a couple of weeks. I do remember that both have the eagle on the left side.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

When you're certain exactly what you have, we can get closer to "value".

Current RENE prices on black eagle plastics and walnuts range from about $20 to about $60, depending on details. The fact that yours are almost certainly of the A54 variety may affect that somewhat to certain people.

 

[street]

As a rule, grips with the medallion on the left grip have Black or Red Eagles. Grips with the medallion on the right have Silver Eagles. Every now and then you will see a grip with the Silver Eagle on the left grip and you will run across a set of grips with the Black Eagle on the right grip. I guess the Silver Eagle on the left grip was right at the beginning of the A-100 frame and it got put into one of the last A-54 grips. The Black Eagle in the right grip is probably "The Parts Bin Theory".

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Well, the change from the A54 grip frame (left medallions) to the A-100 grip frame (right medallions) took place around 1972, and the general switch to silver eagles took place around 1973, so "most" of the older left-panel medallions would be red or black, whilst "most" of the right-panel medallions woiuld be silver. And Chad has pointed out that replacement panels ordered for the older guns would have whatever medallions were available at the time . . . silver ones after 1973, for instance.

Yep, "parts bin theory" applies, and with Ruger "never say never". Makes for a quite interesting, challenging hobby.

JMHO

 

[cowboy45]

How about the checkered walnut grips?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

The Standard Pistols could come with the checkered walnut grips, while the Mark I Target guns could have the walnut grips with thumb rest. Those guns shipped with walnuts had a "W" in the number, such as RST4-W or T678-W.

The walnuts were also available as accessories.

This information is detailed in Chad Hiddleson's book and the Red Eagle News Exchange "Reference" Volume One.

 

[street]

This information is detailed in Chad Hiddleson's book and the Red Eagle News Exchange "Reference" Volume One.

Yes! Everyone that is interested in Rugers should have this. Back in the 80s I bought a Single-Six for $75.00. I recognized the gun was an all blue Lightweight because I read about them in the RENE. The money that I saved by knowing what this gun was, saved me many $100s. I would probably walked right past this gun if it wasn't for the RENE. Needless to say the RENE was paid for, for many years after that. The information that you get from Chad's RENE, you just can't put a value on.