Plastic XR3-RED RUGER grip panels

[twriggen]

John wrote an article on these that is published somewhere but I was unable to find which publication to share here. In the early 80's Ruger was turning out revolvers faster than their suppliers, Sile and Lett & Associates, were able to provide wood grip panels. They decided to experiment with making a plastic molded grip panel to take some pressure off the grip maker and speed up their shipments. Bill didn't like the end product, so it was scraped. I was lucky enough to have located a set of the brass grip frames some time ago, but the plastic version has alluded me for a long time. Luck was on my side, and I was recently able to add the black plastic panels to the brass frame. Now to find one of the throw away off color panels to complete the trifecta.

[gunman42782]

The stuff you come up with never ceases to amaze me! It actually looks a lot like the cheap plastic grips they throw on the Wrangler!

[T.A. Workman]

Both pair are RARE finds!, Congratulations on both.
I've had a set of the black one's for some time now, but have never seen a set of the brass finished panels for sale.
As a matter of fact I cannot remember anyone posting a color picture of a set until yours.
IIRCC Chad or Radical once posted or answered a post on these panels over on .com years back.
Thanks for sharing that picture.
Terry

[johncdougan]

Good morning,

The article appears in RCA JOURNAL Vol. 35, No, 1 on page 20

regards, John

[rpm enterprises]

I've had this set of brass grips for a long time. John and I had talked about them years ago he also had a set. When I first got mine I asked Chad about them he gave me a number of a guy who worked at Ruger I just don't remember his name at this time. But I called and the guy on the other end of the phone was very hard of hearing, I asked about the black plastic with the word RUGER on the bottom, he vaguely remembered them then I asked if they did any solid brass ones. He did not remember but his comment back to me was, at pine tree we did all kinds of things and mostlikly we did those. Few weeks later the gentlemen had passed. I only know of two sets of the brass grips.

[twriggen]

Does your set have the logo with a red background?

[rpm enterprises]

Does your set have the logo with a red background?
[/quote]

No red on these.

[contender]

Gotta appreciate how some of these rare items are now in the hands of real collectors & the history is being saved. Excellent!