G&G small grips.

[GAry W. Anderson]

I recently obtained a G%G replica. The gun is in fine shape but the grips seem to be too small for the frame. I've seen pictures of toher guns that appeared to have the same problem. Is THIS a problem or an actual way the gun was built. I don't like the way it feels in my hand and have a piece of walnut ready to make some new ones, but I thought it may be better to ask some of y'all who may know differently.

 

[sourdough]

Photos please! We also need manufacturer, date code, etc.

Original G&G revolvers had an upswept "tail" on the gripframe so someone may have been trying to emulate this.

Regards,

Jim

 

[GAry W. Anderson]

The only markings that I can find are, Williamson Arms Italy, XXV, and D1534. I would love to send a photo, but my phone and my PC have no desire to conform to any degree of unity and I don't know how to get a pic to post.

 

[sourdough]

Williamson Arms was the US importer, Italy was the country of manufacture, XXV is the Italian date code for 1969, and D1534 is the serial number. I would think at least the frame would have the two Italian proofmarks. Check the underside of the barrel under the load lever for other markings.

If it is a repro G&G it will be .36 caliber, brass frame, smooth/plain/un-engraved cylinder, with a part round/part octagon barrel.

If you have the photo(s) on your PC HDD, start a new post, click on "Attach files", download the file(s), and then select "full image".

My Pietta G&G (factory marketed) along with my R&A (parts gun):

Regards,

Jim

 

[GAry W. Anderson]

Both of yours are beautiful. Mine is as you said, a 36 cal. smooth cylinder. However, the grips on mine are of a darker wood, possibly stained from handling, There are some peculiar looking markings on the brass that I can not replicate here, and there are NO markings on the barrel save the Williamson on the top. Now, where the wood on your guns appears to be flush with the brass, mine is not. The wood on mine is at the very least a 32 of an inch below the brass frame and a hair more in some places. I suspect this may be shrinkage due to age, but I don't believe so, if they were oiled when they were installed, also, mine are darker colored than the grips on my 1851 Pietta Colt. Also, my barrel is only 5 inches. The previous owner said it had rust in the muzzle when he got it, and he had to cut it off.

 

[sourdough]

There are some peculiar looking markings on the brass that I can not replicate here.

Can you describe them?

Now, where the wood on your guns appears to be flush with the brass, mine is not. The wood on mine is at the very least a 32 of an inch below the brass frame and a hair more in some places.

It sound like a previous owner replaced the wood you have for the original wood. With Pietta and Uberti revolvers, the wood, the backstrap, and the trigger guard are finished in one assembly. Sometimes one gets lucky and can find wood and other parts to fit decently.

I suspect this may be shrinkage due to age, but I don't believe so, if they were oiled when they were installed, also, mine are darker colored than the grips on my 1851 Pietta Colt.

I don't think shrinkage at all.

Regards,

Jim

 

[B P Arn]

My guess is that the grips were refinished by someone with a power sander, and he carelessly removed too much wood with the sander. That happens far too often.

 

[sourdough]

One can remove too much wood with just hand sanding if not paying attention to the grip frame.

 

[B P Arn]

Here are photos of my G&G, partially "de-farbed" by a previous owner, probably Uberti manufactured;

 

[B P Arn]

One can remove too much wood with just hand sanding if not paying attention to the grip frame.

Sure can. It sounds like a lot of wood is missing though, so that's why I suspect a power sander.

 

[SOLANCO]

I love it when a group of guys go back and forth sussing out what happened to/with an older firearm.

 

[sourdough]

Here are photos of my G&G, partially "de-farbed" by a previous owner, probably Uberti manufactured

That's a nice one, with a 1965 date to boot.

Regards,

Jim

 

[sourdough]

I love it when a group of guys go back and forth sussing out what happened to/with an older firearm.

That's what it is all about. With the pandemic in Italy going on, give a thought to the idea that we may never see C&B revolver production as in the past.

The current market is all about older revolvers coming out of folks' closets/safes and selling for much more than pre-pandemic prices just because of supply and demand. That is where paying attention previously about older revolvers might get you a diamond in the raw.

Modern repro revolvers are now in a collector realm of their own.

Regards,

Jim