Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns TLH Grover's Improved Number "Five"

Been wanting one for a long time and just took delivery of mine yesterday. I know a couple of the members here own one (EdM and DirtFarmer come to mind). Just a few observations from an avid single action fan that has owned several Bowen's and a few Linebaugh made customs as well as several FA revolvers.

This TLA, SN K53X, is as tight or tighter than any custom I've owned. Lockup is amazing. Hammer feel (4 click like the old model Rugers) and trigger pull is amazing. Bluing is beautiful. The grip frame is cast and milled. The frame on some of the later models, as I understand is cast by the same company that casts for Ruger. Not sure if mine is cast or one of the earlier milled from barstock. I understand Grover only made around 1,000 revolvers, including the #5. So mine is about halfway through production.

The #5 style base pin works like a swiss clock. There's really nothing that could be improved on except maybe case coloring and fancy grips. I will put a coat of spar urethane on these grips soon, as all the original finish seems to have worn off.

All in all, Grover was a genius that hooked up with a good machinist and put together a great plan and executed it perfectly, at least with the revolvers he was able to produce. Even the front sight is milled and obviously was filed and regulated before it left the shop.

That’s a nice specimen. What year?

I had this one, .45 Colt with factory .45 Mag cylinder. Holster is the style Mr. Grover designed.

The sear was too soft, had a hair trigger when I got it used. I sent it to Dave Clements to recut and harden the sear, Reportedly Mr. Grover's metal hardening was sometimes hit or miss.

He made great guns. A collector talked me out of this one, wanted it a worse than I did, made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

DF

Not sure. I think production started in 1984 and Grover passed in 2004. So somewhere in that 20-year frame. Somebody was researching and writing a book, but The link is dead now and I’m not sure if it was ever published or not.

Aww. I read your old post about that revolver. Yea. I hear that Alan Harton will go through these guns and harden parts as needed. I think Clements is basically retired now and not taking any work. This one will get shot some. I have other 44 Mags that I can shoot if shooting a lot.

Yeah, I heard about Dave retiring.

Hardening seemed Mr. Grover’s Achilles heel. But he got the rest of it down pretty well.

DF

I bought mine directly from Bill after a tour of his shop and a long chat in his office about his future plans, this was in 1993. He showed me stainless frames, flip up multi-blade "express" rear sights and, IIRC, some sort of rifle he was working on. My gun retailed for $980 then and that is what I paid. My serial number is my date of birth and the backstrap of the grip frame is engraved with "Made for MY NAME by Bill Grover, Inventor". Per the OP it is beautifully made, very accurate and accompanied me on a couple of Colorado elk hunts.

Here is mine
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/17144677/5

Beautiful. Who did the engraving? Grips?

I am not sure as this had belonged to my uncle. Grips are mammoth to best of my knowledge. The engraving is similar to one in Taffins book on revolver’s, only more coverage. I do remember my uncle sending it back in, I believe for hardening. Its chambered in 45

That's one of the nicest I've seen.

DF

How's the Chattanooga whiskey?

It’s a steal for $29/bottle. I bought 5. One is almost gone. It’s very good.