New to me gun - Question about grips

[westtx28]

I just picked up a Beretta model 70S in 22LR. I'd been looking for one for a while and finally came across one in pretty good shape. It is a fantastic little gun and shoots great. I love small .22 pistols and quality wise this is probably one of the best I've ever had.

I want to replace the grips with ones without the thumb rest. The thumb rest makes it extremely comfortable for me but this is a plinker and there are members of my family who are left handed. Vintage Gun Grips makes a set that should work perfectly. I was just now fooling with the existing grips and I can't seem to pop them off. With the screws out the top of both sides are loose but bottoms are still locked in pretty tight. I didn't want to pry them too much fearing I'd break one thinking maybe there is some trick to it.

I've know several of you out there have this model and just thought I'd ask.

Also, anyone know why the Gun Control Act of '68 required the manufactures to incorporate the thumb rests on this type of pistol? I have a Daewoo DP52 of around the same year that has the thumb rests as well. Seems stupid since there are obviously so many southpaws. Just curious.

By the way, here is a pic of my new gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

You are going to have a tough time of it, as the older guns that had flat sided grips also had a crossbolt safety in the grip at the top, not the thumb safety as shown on yours. There may have been transitional grips before the 1968 inspired "thumbrests" were added for importation points, but probably darn few. And custom grip makers will probably get a headache if they take on a grip project for wraparound grips for these guns.