Fuzzy Farrant Grips

[saemetric]

There was a thread awhile ago about grips by Fuzzy Farrant. I know he passed quite a few years ago. His grips were probably the best around-they had beautiful wood, fine checkering, palm swells open backstrap except for a recoil shoulder at the top. They are the most naturally pointing grips for a revolver I have ever used. And the best part, for me at least, is they were hand made.
I recently aquired 3 NOS sets of his grips and thought to share them with you guys not old enough to have seen them.

1. Fits a SW J frame RB or SB now on my SW 637

2. Fits a SW K frame SB now on my SW 66 with an early 6 1/8" bbl.

3. Fits Colt I frame now on my Colt Python with Armoly hard chrome finish,Elliason sights, and 4" bbl. Note that most Farrant grips for Pythons required grinding off the frame at the lower forward position. The ones in the pic. DO NOT require this mod. These are extremely rare. Enjoy a piece of history. bruce

 

[Jim Watson]

Very fine grips. I have not before seen Farrant grips that did not require cutting off the corner of the frontstrap.

I think the grips Hogue was making BEFORE he designed the Monogrip were very nice, too.

 

[dfariswheel]

I "thought" that Farrant had one or two sons that continued making his grips for a while.

 

[Richard]

I AM JEALOUS! Regards, Richard

 

[jj4255]

Fuzzy Farrant used to have his workshop in the back of Louis The Tailor at 182nd and Crenshaw in Torrance, ca along with a guy named Gonzalez who made the sweetest Saps from sifted lead shot, spring steel and supple calf's leather. Probably the best law enforcement tool of the 20th century.

Fuzzy made me a sweet set of Coco Bolo's for my S&W Model 27. On the order form you had to trace out your hand on the paper.

The closest match today would be to get a set of the Hogue hard plastic grips, attach them to your pistola, then brush on some catalyst to the plastic, coat your hands with vaseline or put on some latex gloves then the vaseline and while the epoxy catalyst is softening the plastic hold the grip for 20 minutes to reshape it, then set it aside.

 

[Gordon]

Hey Bro. , you are giving up your age!
I have a set of Fuzzys on a Dick Special and a 19 snub from my narcing days. I got a set also on a Colt Snub Python too. Here is my 19 Zebrawood set, I don't have pictures of the others for some reason. These grips, like SuperVel ammo , were the hot set up in the 70s

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I have been collecting Farrant grips for awhile. I have three for the Colt Python and one for a Ruger Security Six, later model grip frame, that I will be selling. Anyone interested, email me. None require cutting the grip frames. [email protected]

 

[Snowbandit]

I still have two sets of his grips but mine are smooth, without checkering. The ones for a J-frame are okay but a little big for my taste. The N-frame (round butt) are great at the bottom but seem too big at the top. I've been planning to cut away the wood that goes over the backstrap but I'm afraid they might not fit tight if I do. Maybe I should just do it because I don't like them the way they are. Worst that can happen is I'll destroy as set of grips that somebody else might like and have to buy something else.

 

[tipoc]

Snowbandit,

I would not slice up a set of Farrants. Once destroyed they will be useless. You can get a set of currently made stocks that fit you at any time and sell the Farrants for a profit. If you don't collect them and they don't fit you, you have no need of them but another fella might.

His sons did carry on the business for awhile but left it. Rodgers (Safariland) and Jim Hogue learned a lot from Fuzzy and their early designs showed his influence. They were in business together for awhile making stocks then parted ways.

tipoc