1932 Colt Official Police 38spl

[Reptile]

When I acquired this revolver I didn’t pay much attention to the grips, which I took to be faux mother of pearl. Now I’m thinking they may be real. How do I go about finding out?

 

[TI-tick]

When I acquired this revolver I didn’t pay much attention to the grips, which I took to be faux mother of pearl. Now I’m thinking they may be real. How do I go about finding out?

I may stand corrected but get the right fitting screwdriver into the slot and pull them off. If pearl they will heavier than plastic and you can feel the imperfections on the inboard side of the grip. I have a Police Positive 38 SW with what I thought was plastic grips but upon close inspection I believe they are MOP.

Right fitting screwdriver!

 

[Reptile]

I may stand corrected but get the right fitting screwdriver into the slot and pull them off. If pearl they will heavier than plastic and you can feel the imperfections on the inboard side of the grip. I have a Police Positive 38 SW with what I thought was plastic grips but upon close inspection I believe they are MOP.

Right fitting screwdriver!

Thanks. I have had the grips off and the back sides are definitely rough.

 

[TI-tick]

Thanks. I have had the grips off and the back sides are definitely rough.

Might take a magnifying glass for a close inspection to see if there are any marks on the inboard side. Mine don't have any but you never know.

 

[Bob A]

When you take them off, a hot pin stuck into the backside (of the grip, please) will tell you right away if the stuff is plastic.

 

[Threeband]

Somewhere in a cheap New Orleans whorehouse, a pimp is missing his roscoe.

 

[jokie]

Rub it against your tooth, it will feel gritty (not smooth) if it’s real mother of pearl… I’m sure there are other ways.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

There's other sites that can tell you the difference but this should help. https://mondoro.com/how-to-identify-if-mother-of-pearl-is-real-spotting-whats-fake/

If those grips are factory supplied that jumps the value a great deal. If you determine the grips are real MOP, it would do well to order an Archives letter on the revolver and see whether it left Hartford dressed that way. The screw is correct for Colt supplied grips...enters from the left side. If the grips are well fitted to the frame...no gaps and follows the grip profile smoothly they may well be factory fitted. Having no Colt medallion is not unusual.

 

[Reptile]

The fit and the obvious layering have convinced me to send for a Colt letter.

 

[TI-tick]

Kindly keep us posted on what the Colt letter states.

The fit and layering on my grips is similar.

The Colt letter's I've gotten for my 1911's have been a bit of a let down; 1 of 10K...

Good Luck!

 

[Reptile]

Kindly keep us posted on what the Colt letter states.

The fit and layering on my grips is similar.

The Colt letter's I've gotten for my 1911's have been a bit of a let down; 1 of 10K...

Good Luck!

Will do. Probably won’t hear back for several months.

 

[calicojack]

I'm not an expert but the pic shows (to me at least) a kind of iridescence you don't see with plastic.

 

[Reptile]

I'm not an expert but the pic shows (to me at least) a kind of iridescence you don't see with plastic.

It’s also much heavier than plastic and rough finished on the reverse. Good signs that it’s real.