Farrant or Hurst?

[Polecat]

Gang, how can you discriminate the two? I ran across a pair I picked off the table of local show several months back. Not sure? They are for a K frame SB, have finger grooves s palm swells and checkering that extennds around backstrap. The screw head is not apparent from the opposite side.

Thanks for your insight.

Dave

[LtDave]

Classic Farrant combat:


Classic Hurst (for a cut frame):


Hurst grips generally have much more prominent palm swells on both sides. Farrant grips could be ordered smooth, palm swell on either or both sides, smooth or checkered on one or both sides. Hurst also did uncheckered grips to order. Checkered Hurst grips also have a diamond or a rounded area around the screw. I believe the diamond was the later treatment. I have several pairs I got directly from John Hurst in the early '80s, all the checkered ones had diamonds around the screw. Farrants almost always covered the top of the backstrap, and are checkered right up to the screw hole. I believe there are a lot more copies of Farrant grips around as he advertised them in gun mags. AFAIK, Hurst was only word of mouth.

[SeriousStudent]

Great question.

I have two revolvers that I think are cut frame Farrants. I'll take pictures and post them when I get home from work.

[LtDave]

Some more pictures. Farrant target grips:



Hurst palm swell:


70's vintage Farrant order form:

[Jim Watson]

Some years ago, I read a book that showed pre-Monogrip Hogues. Got any of those?

[Polecat]

Guys, thanks. Jim I dont know they could be Ill have to post pic when I get back.

[LtDave]

Some years ago, I read a book that showed pre-Monogrip Hogues. Got any of those?

Here are some pics of what I believe are pre-monogrip, handmade Hogues:

[DpdG]

Here are a set that are likely Hurst:
Unfortunately there is no maker’s mark or signature, so there is a chance they’re Hurst inspired but not made by him.

[LtDave]

Here are a set that are likely Hurst:
Unfortunately there is no maker’s mark or signature, so there is a chance they’re Hurst inspired but not made by him.

I don't think they are Hurst's work. I have a bunch of pictures of his grips. None has a checkering pattern like these. He does have some with the fine checkering, but the checkering on all of them goes down to the butt of the gun. Additionally, I haven't seen any Hursts that are checkered all the way to the screw hole like Farrant's work. My best guess is that they were done by another one of the LAPD grip makers. Hurst K frame RB grips:

[DpdG]

When I first found them some folks on here with much more exposure to the LAPD guys suggested Hurst. I agree about the checkering though- to me it’s always seemed more Ferrant than Hurst, but the grip shape is more Hurst than Ferrant. Unfortunately without a maker’s mark it’s impossible to know for sure. Either way, they are incredibly comfortable and that 3” 65 really doesn’t do them justice. I’d love to put those stocks on a nicely holster worn 3” 13 or 19.