Gonçalo Alves Grips, Anyone?

[wtf]

I've learned (but, haven't verified) that this wood was used by Ruger in the mid-'80s. I like the rich color. I'd enjoy seeing others' examples on their Ruger SAs -SBHs, or otherwise.
Have you got one?



1962 vintage SBH is plum-colored on GF, cylinder, loading gate, and frame. Bbl. & steel ERH remain blue.

[shorty500]

Sadly it seems much of the Goncalo Ales wood grips i purchased in recent years lead me to switch to Pau Ferro. the G/A was getting in aftermarket grips had a yellow thru lite orange color unlike what S&W and Ruger once used which had a richer dark color

[caryc]

I've made some really beautiful grips with goncalo-alve. Below is a board that I have. It's about eight inches wide.

On the right side of the stick the board is sprayed with alcohol to show it's true color. It's also called tiger wood.

[bobwright]

These are some very old (for a Ruger) goncola alves grips from Ruger. They were dark reddish-brown and have turned nearly purple-black:







I've got a couple of boards that look about like the plank in CaryC's photo also.

Bob Wright

P.S. This car is made for goncalo alves, too:

[klnc]

Not single actions, but a couple of goncalo alves grips I had made by Kurac for S&Ws. If you didn't know it, you'd never think they were the same wood. Shows the variations that can occur.

[rgp]

I had some of the old Ruger Gocalo Alves grips on a couple of single actions and they were absolutely perfect. I don't think there was any finish on them but they had the perfect texture. Smooth but not slippery at all, not even slippery when wet.

I wish Ruger still made those. The last single action Ruger I bought has the new laminated Rosewood which is like teflon coated plastic and it feels like it wants to go fly to the moon when you pick it up.

[wtf]

May 19, 2015 23:28:23 GMT -5 rgp said:

I had some of the old Ruger Gocalo Alves grips on a couple of single actions and they were absolutely perfect. I don't think there was any finish on them but they had the perfect texture...

I wish Ruger still made those...

I haven't shot my SBH with the new grips, yet. But, I agree with you, "rgp," that the Gonçalo Alveses are very nicely made.

And, as Cary has previously shared about the Janka Hardness Scale, I looked this wood up; it's well up there on the scale.

I'm fortunate (& grateful!) that a member on another forum offered these to me, at a very reasonable price. I'm now a fan of this particular wood!

Bob Wright, those are nice grips on some very nice SAs, too!


Nice grips on the Smiths, klnc!

Thanks, all for your informative posts and great pictures, showing the variety in grain and color.

God bless!
-Bill

[bobwright]

Just as a matter of interest, Ruger did not make those grips. A company named Lett supplied the original wood grips to Ruger. Lett has since gone out of business. They did offer custom grips as well as original Ruger grips. I bought several pairs and when Lett went out of business, happily dicsovered CaryC's grips.

I believe Altamont currently supplies the "wood" grips to Ruger.

Bob Wright

[wtf]

May 20, 2015 11:40:24 GMT -5 bobwright said:

Just as a matter of interest, Ruger did not make those grips. A company named Lett supplied the original wood grips to Ruger... I believe Altamont currently supplies the "wood" grips to Ruger.

Bob Wright

That's interesting, Bob. Thank you, sir.
I had heard of Lett, and seen them posted on the various forums. I hadn't heard about their relationship with Ruger, in the '80s. -Good stuff!
-Bill

[caryc]

May 20, 2015 14:15:25 GMT -5 wtf said:

May 20, 2015 11:40:24 GMT -5 bobwright said:

Just as a matter of interest, Ruger did not make those grips. A company named Lett supplied the original wood grips to Ruger... I believe Altamont currently supplies the "wood" grips to Ruger.

Bob Wright

That's interesting, Bob. Thank you, sir.
I had heard of Lett, and seen them posted on the various forums. I hadn't heard about their relationship with Ruger, in the '80s. -Good stuff!
-Bill

In the 80's? It wasn't that many years ago when Lett Grips went out of business. Anyone remember when that was?

[Jamey Worrell]

Would have been some time after 2000...Lett did a set of sambar stag inserts with scrimshaw for my sp101...parents got them for me for my 30th birthday...those inserts with scrimshaw cost more than the gun cost

[bobwright]

May 20, 2015 17:16:56 GMT -5 caryc said:

May 20, 2015 14:15:25 GMT -5 wtf said:

That's interesting, Bob. Thank you, sir.
I had heard of Lett, and seen them posted on the various forums. I hadn't heard about their relationship with Ruger, in the '80s. -Good stuff!
-Bill

In the 80's? It wasn't that many years ago when Lett Grips went out of business. Anyone remember when that was?

CaryC:

Some yahoo posted this on the Handgun Forum on January 26, 2007:

Farewell to Lett Grips....
Lett Custom grips has closed their doors, according to posts on the Ruger Forum. Too bad, Lett made the Original Equipment grips for Ruger for many years, plus offering some fine custom grips of exotic woods. Many of my Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks are stocked with grips of rosewood, walnut, and ebony, all crafted by Lett.

Bob Wright

[wtf]

Perhaps, referring to the 1980s created undue confusion. Not my intention; sorry, gents.

Elsewhere, someone had indicated that Gonçalo Alves grips were supplied (on SBHs) from the mid- to late-'80s.
Since I have no way of verifying that, I should not have repeated that time frame. I imagine Mr. Wright, et al, can attest to when their GA-stocked Rugers were shipped: '80s, '90s, or later. I initially posited the question on another forum out of curiosity.

As to Lett, I appreciate being edified regarding their association with Ruger. Learning something new every day!
-Bill

[caryc]

May 21, 2015 8:33:14 GMT -5 wtf said:

Perhaps, referring to the 1980s created undue confusion. Not my intention; sorry, gents.

Elsewhere, someone had indicated that Gonçalo Alves grips were supplied (on SBHs) from the mid- to late-'80s.
Since I have no way of verifying that, I should not have repeated that time frame. I imagine Mr. Wright, et al, can attest to when their GA-stocked Rugers were shipped: '80s, '90s, or later. I initially posited the question on another forum out of curiosity.

As to Lett, I appreciate being edified regarding their association with Ruger. Learning something new every day!
-Bill

Bill,

As can happen with the written word, I read it differently than you meant it. Sorry for my confusion.

[wtf]

Thanks, Cary. No worries, whatsoever.