Hi All, I was hoping someone could help me identify this spade grip that I have?
I was told it was from a Spitefire but I believe this is not true.
The grip would have come from an Aircraft with toe brakes, maybe a Harvard? But all the Harvard ones I’ve seen are slightly different, the fire button has the wires coming straight out of the back instead of the side like most. The two holes in the back of the grip are for wires and have a letter next to each one “I” “O” must be for in and out?
The grip is shaped more round than the spade shaped ones and there’s still traces of Green paint on it,the part number is 73-6 1044.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,Bob
By: timeseeker - 12th July 2012 at 00:10
Thanks TT and everyone for your help!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 11th July 2012 at 20:18
Postwar CCF Harvard IV grip!
ATB
TT
By: timeseeker - 11th July 2012 at 15:39
Thanks for the info Rocketeer, This one is made from magnesium so I think it’s the early one prewar?
By: Rocketeer - 10th July 2012 at 23:06
Nice grip. It is the ‘funny’ harvard shape but instead of the tacky plastic type buttn, it has a professionally fitted brass button but with wires – to me, this makes it a just post war RCAF Harvard grip. The part number being 73- does not preclude it being Harvard. NAA reused many parts (like spit mks using 300 prefix parts on later marks). The rudder pedals on both the Mustang, Harvard and B25 are prefix 73-.
Very nice grip you have there.
By: timeseeker - 10th July 2012 at 21:32
I got Ya! Cheers!
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2012 at 21:18
Ooooo….I really am having some senior moments tonight!
Had I read (properly!) TonyT’s post and your reply I’d have been up to speed.
Maybe its not a senior moment. This red wine is exceptionally good…..:)
By: timeseeker - 10th July 2012 at 21:13
Andy yes I was serious, the B-8 grip was used in the Fairchild Republic A-10.
This one was removed because of a faulty(sticky) lower trigger button.
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2012 at 20:55
A10?
Really???
:confused::eek:
Oh….OK…you weren’t being serious!
By: timeseeker - 10th July 2012 at 20:42
Thanks Tony!
Yes It’s American, this is from an A-10 Thunderbolt,Same style used in many A/C, they just added more Gun and Missle buttons to update 😀
By: TonyT - 10th July 2012 at 20:27
I don’t know Bob, but I would like to say you have done it proud in you choice of displaying it. What is the other one? Sabre? Looks American
By: timeseeker - 10th July 2012 at 20:20
Thanks for that AM! Yes I knew after seeing the back of the grip it ruled out some key Aircraft…. but i’m still happy to have it 🙂 As I’ve mounted it in a nice display piece.
Sorry I didn’t want to post another what is it thread but I’ve searched to no end with this grip. The good thing is I’ve learned quite a bit about them.
The part # on mine 73-61044 seems to rule out the this is from a Harvard, plus as noted in another thread this would not fit on top of the Harvard’s stick, the dia. is either to big or small.
Mine has an electrically operated gun switch with the wires running down inside the grips covering. I would say if this was modified it was done during manufacture because it’s never been dissembled from what I can tell.
I’m pretty sure that the American Texans used the pistol grip type control, could this be from an RAF Mustang?
Bob
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th July 2012 at 19:05
Not from a Spitfire, sorry.
Looks very much like a pattern spade grip fitted to some Canadian built Harvards, in fact I’m sure we’ve had one on the Board to identify before.
The “I” and “O” refers to inlet and outlet pipe for the compressed air gun firing tubes. Your grip appears to have been modified or repaired at some point with the tubes exiting differently, as you point out.
Lovely item!
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July 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm