Since the invention of the camera, soldiers have carried photographs of loved ones in their helmets, pockets, Bibles, cigarette cases, and anywhere else they could keep them close. The smiling faces of those waiting for them at home boosted morale and reminded them of home. During World War II, a new trend emerged of soldiers keeping photographs in their weapons.
In 1933, the Rohm and Haas Company introduced plexiglass to the market. The material was used heavily during World War II for windows in aircrafts and vehicles. Its durability and lightweight nature made it a desirable replacement for almost every instance where glass had been used. Servicemen began to salvage plexiglass from downed aircrafts to replace the grips for their Colt M1911 pistols. The transparent quality allowed them to personalize the grips by inserting a picture of a loved one or pin-up girl underneath the plexiglass. The trend became known as “sweetheart grips.”
The plexiglass grips were more than just decorative. The clear material allowed soldiers to view the magazine from the side of the gun and see how many rounds remained. To keep this view clear, sometimes the photographs would be inserted underneath the right plate, keeping the left unadorned.
Sweetheart grips are interesting piece of World War II and photography history, yet not much is known about them. A few collectors have sought them out for their military paraphernalia collections, but there are hardly any sweetheart grips in photography collections.
Brad Pitt’s character carries a sweetheart grip in the movie Fury.
