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I'm dying. Please someone post pics as I have not seen a semi permanent pin in a GP-100. Nor have I seen two piece grips. I've only seen the rubber grips with the inserts.
I never realized there was a 2 piece factory grip either, but when I bought my GP100 several months ago, and started looking at Ebay for the old style grip, sure enough, there they were. Apparently they were used early in production, but my Super RedHawk from '89 has the one piece grip. Did you know there was a compact grip with wood inserts also? Looked just like the original grip, but used the smaller SP101 insert. It is slightly shorter, but still allows all your fingers to get a purchase. It was standard issue on the 3" GP100 and 4" fixed sight GP100s. Have a look at Ebay, and you will see examples of each grip.
 

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I'll try to get a pic up of my '89 GP100 with the semi-permanent grip locator, if I can figure out how to do it with my new iPhone:)

The 2-piece grips look like the later one piece wood insert Large Letts, except they are a different, harder kind of rubber and are in two halves instead of a slip on grip body. They are all over Ebay and Gunbroker, so a search for "GP100 grips" and you'll likely see a set of the 2-piece Lett grips for sale on one of these sites. The GP100 in my earlier thread about my 1980's GP100 has the two-piece Lett grips, but it's hard to see a difference in the pic. I like the 2-piece Letts, they are "slicker" and not as grabby as the later one piece Letts, and feel great in my hand. There is a seam though, and they don't fit as clean as the one piece models.

The locator pin is fitted into the hole, in the earlier adjustable sight GP's and is not easily slipped in and out like the later and modern GP100's. It can be tapped out, but I chose not to do this with my 1989 GP, since I bought it to keep it original.

The early fixed sight GP100's do not have the semi-permanent grip locator and used the same Compact Lett from the start. Why Ruger chose to use a 2-piece grip on the adjustable sight GP's and not the fixed sight models is a mystery to me. I know fixed sight GP100 production is not thought to have started until late 1989 or possibly 1990, since Service and Speed Sixes were still being assembled from "cleanup" parts until as late as 1988 and some say even 1989. Adjustable sight GP100 production started in 1986, and Security Six production ceased in this year.
 

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IF you have a vise and a large socket slip the socket over one side of the pin and put the frame and socket into the vice jaws with the jaws over the pin on the side opposite the socket. Then screw down on the vice jaws to force the grip pin into the hollow of the socket. No, I didn't think of it on my own but found the advice somewhere on one of the Ruger Forums.
 

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Members here have said they were able to "work" a newer one piece Lett grip body over the existing locator pin, and it worked fine.

The only issue would be if you wanted to use Hogues or some other grip where you would have to remove the pin. Pachmayr grippers should also fit right over the pin.
 

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I wouldn't suggest buzzing down the gun itself (only as a last resort), but I'd take a piece of emery cloth and chuck up the insert in a drill and give it a spin holding the emery cloth to the pin. After thinning the one side, flip the pin and thin the other side. That should make the pin very easy to install and remove at your wish. I've never had a GP or SRH that I had problems getting the alignment pin in or out with just finger pressure. Smithy.

P.S. My choice for this type of frame is the all nylon, Hogue finger groove grips. They slide right on and are held with only one easy to thread screw and the grips do not catch on clothing or pockets.
 

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Hi Gang, Hi Smithy! The grip on my Avatar is a two piece, like the original Ruger GP100, which I got from Midway USA for under $7. Something in the package made me think this is a "factory OEM" grip... Not sure. But it fits well and works great.
I don't mind the Hogue grip on the range, but it seems to be problematic when carried about, even in the field.
The Silver/Black insert is from Altamont and is about $14 plus shipping.
Looks real sharp.
 

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One more thing McD, If I didn't post this already. I'm not sure the "part" number I ordered, but the grips I got directly from Hogue (the solid nylon ones) were of a smaller profile than the original Hogue rubber grips that come with the gun. May not be much, but they were shorter in length and thinner. I've always liked one piece grips (except for the old Colt single action grips as they tended to be weak at the joining piece of the wood), but with the way Ruger has the "peg" grip frame: It just lends itself to a one piece grip to slide over the peg and lock into place. Smithy.
 
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