Detective Special Grip Fitment Issue

[J.R.W.]

A couple months back I happened upon a 1950's Detective Special while on a road trip. The price seemed right, so I grabbed it. The only was the aftermarket grips on it had a chip where they extended below the frame which bothered me while shooting. Fast forward a month after waiting on a new pair of Eagle Secret Service, they don't fit. I'm hoping some of the revolver guru's here can offer some help. I called Eagle, but unfortunately they were closed for the day. I'm hoping someone can tell me if I needed to order something different or was shipped the incorrect item. I'm sure they'll take care of it and the finish and quality of the grips I got is awesome. They just don't fit. The grips on the left are the ones from the gun, the right are the Eagles.

 

[rcmodel]

Detective Special.

Early models had full length grip frames. The Colt Agent and all "D" frames made after 1966 have the short, "stubby" grip frame, usually with grips that overlap on the bottom.
All grips within type interchange.

You have an early gun with the long grip.

And grips for a short later frame.

Not to mention, somebody modified the steel frame on your gun and ground out a finger grove on the bottom front edge of the frame..

Then made custom grips to fit it.

rc

 

[J.R.W.]

RC,

Odd thing is, the Eagles sit flush with the bottom of the frame, just don't clear the trigger guard correctly.

 

[J.R.W.]

With a little brute force and ignorance, they do fit. They would be great, however the fit with the backstrap leaves a great deal to be desired. Posted over in the gunsmithing section, maybe some custom grips will be an option.

 

[hovercat]

A bit of walnut glued and clamped overnite, a bit of time with a penknife and sandpaper, and the old grips will be good for another 50+ years.

 

[Old Fuff]

Some if not all of your problem is caused by the location of a pin in the lower/rear part of the frame, as it doesn't line up with the matching hole in the Eagle stocks. Add to that, that the front (and maybe the back) straps were altered to match the stocks that came with the revolver. While both pairs are for the "long" full-length D-frame, the pair you got from Eagle were apparently made for a revolver that had the previously mentioned pin located in a slightly different place.

You may have to use lamp black to "spot" where a hole need to be drilled to match the location of the pin (be careful not too go to deep) and perhaps find other locations that need to be relieved. Once they are fully seated on the frame more changes may be necessary to match the wood to the frame at the bottom and back strap.

Or you might e-mail a copy of your photograph to Eagle and see what they might advise.

Wen it comes to buying stocks for custom altered frames it is best to send the frame or gun to the stockmaker to insure a perfect fit. You won't get it otherwise.

 

[MikeJackmin]

I have to say, I rather like the look of the original stocks. Somebody worked hard getting that grip just the way they like it, and they did a pretty nice job. Perhaps a gripmaker would agree to repair the chip for you.

Do I see a name scratched inside the grip panel?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Some if not all of your problem is caused by the location of a pin in the lower/rear part of the frame, as it doesn't line up with the matching hole in the Eagle stocks. Add to that, that the front (and maybe the back) straps were altered to match the stocks that came with the revolver. While both pairs are for the "long" full-length D-frame, the pair you got from Eagle were apparently made for a revolver that had the previously mentioned pin located in a slightly different place.

Exactly right. You can see in the photo that the pin holes in the replacement grips are damaged from being forced onto the gun. I note also these Eagle grips are labeled "Cobra" and the Cobra grip frame may be slightly different from the DS.

As an earlier poster suggested, I'd get a chip of walnut and some Brownell's bedding compound and repair the old grips.