How do you ID Colt factory Delta Elite grip?

[tbeb]

I bought a new grip for my friend's Colt Delta Elite on an online auction. (His used pistol came with Pachmayr's.) Seller said it was a Colt factory grip, and it probably is. My friend says delta insignia kind of looks like a stick-on decal. Anyhow, how can one tell if it is indeed a Colt factory grip? It has the number 10 stamped on the inside, and inside under each delta insignia it looks like the point on a thumb tack is ready to punch through. Thanks.

 

[boofus]

The Delta Elite grips are a different texture. They don't have the checkered pattern but have slightly lumpy rubber. If you bought the 'factory' Delta grips off Ebay you probably got ripped off.

The seller on Ebay shows pictures of the real Delta Elite grips with the lumpy texture, but then sends you regular Colt 1911 checkered grips with Delta Medallions glued in.

I was trying to find some regular DE grips for mine because I bought the gun with Hogue grips and wanted the stock look. Never did find the real DE grips and the seller never did get it right. I should have asked for a refund but just said to hell with it when I sold the Delta.

 

[GaryP]

I purchased my Delta Elite (NIB) back in 1996. It came with Rubber (Pebbly texture) wrap-around grips with the DE emblems. The only marking on these grips is a small number 10 on the left inside next to the small hole where the DE emblem goes. I am looking at mine, sans DE emblems, as I write this. I do not like the OEM rubber wrap-around grips from Colt and have replaced the Delta's rubber grips with a set of Ajax Diamond Checkered Silverwood grips with Original Colt DE Emblems. Ajax was unable to supply OEM Delta Emblems so I had to send my Original rubber Delta grips to them so they could remove the DE emblems and use them in the new grips they made for me.

I should add that several manufacturers have supplied rubber wrap-around grips to Colt over the years. I have several sets from the 1990's that are umarked, except for the Colt Emblems and 2 sets with Colt Emblems that are marked as follows on the underside:

A Palm tree and what looks like two small islands with the words Radical Grips underneath and all this inside a circle. Then directly under the circle is
@ 1990 by R.J. RENNER CO.

Also the OEM DE set came with DE Emblems and only the number 10 on the underside as described above.

Colt has used Pachmayr rubber grips in the past but I doubt these had the Colt DE Emblems.

 

[tbeb]

I did buy them on Ebay. However, they have the pebbly texture (not checkered), and the only marking is a small number 10 on the inside of grip.

 

[GaryP]

tbeb,

The grips you purchased on EBAY are indeed OEM Colt grips!

 

[tbeb]

Thanks. My friend feels better. He wanted his Delta Elite to be like original. It's one of his favorites.

 

[BigG]

The Delta Elites come with wrap around rubber grips with the Delta insignia. There ain't no two piece factory stock imho.