Vintage Ruger grips.........

[Bob Wright]

I really regret Ruger's decision to discontinue the use of Lett's grips on their Single Action guns. The cheapy looking laminates from Altamont degrade an otherwise fine looking revolver.

Consider these older grips from years back, from Lett:





Ya jus' can't go back.

Bob Wright

 

[G2]

Bob, I agree the Lett grips were the best, and when you ordered a "select" they arrived and we're always nice.

However, Ruger didn't make the decision to discontinue, Lett decided to just shut down. :shock:

I had a set on order and they didn't fill my order, returned my payment.

I sent them a letter back asking if there was any chance they were going to sell the business, reply was .... No, just shutting down.

I recall there was a forum member that lived close by and he mentioned it was over quick with little fan fare.
Really too bad there quality was very consistent.

 

[steelshooterco]

Didn't the Lett factory burn down and they decided not to rebuild, or is that just a rumor?

 

[Kevin]

How long ago are you talking about?

And Bob, do you think Ruger knows many people get aftermarket grips and have thus decided to use the laminated grips instead of seeking out a better replacement?

 

[Joe S.]

I agree. I used to prefer the laminate. then I dunno, maybe I grew up, er, out of it... :mrgreen:

 

[G2]

No fire,
The story goes, Bill Lett & Bill Ruger were good friends, After the death of Bill Ruger (7/2002) "things" as we all know it started to change. Mr. Lett hung in there for a few years but didn't care for the changes, shut the doors and retired. IIRC 2007/08, that was my last order.

It was rumored that Ruger was leaning towards plastic grips, but I think this is just a rumor.

It was quiet and weird, I would have thought there would have been some equipment, old stock, parts, ect. get liquidated, but I fairly remember a discussion back then here on the forum, it was mentioned that one day the doors were locked and lights out, no vehicals in the parking lot.

FWIW; Bill Lett subscription #24, some of these # 24 guns have been sold off over the years.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Just when it was all going sideways I had ordered a pair of "fancy walnut" XR3RED panels, and I had even sent Lett a set of blue-black Old Model escutcheons and "blackbird" medallions to use in them. It took quite a while for them to arrive, and they were not "fancy" at all. Nicely made and really good match of "good" walnut, but not what I was led to believe "fancy" would be for the extra money. I e-mailed them and expressed a little displeasure at this. I received a very nice response explaining that the company was essentially shut down and they had used the best wood they still had available. I said "Thank you very much, they are quite nice, and I'll keep 'em." I did so. Didn't seem proper to demand a refund of the "extra" money.