sweetheart grip
noun

- a form of weapon customization during WWII involving photos of loved ones attached to the grips of hand pistols

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The term "sweetheart grip" emerged during World War II and derives from its most common use: displaying photos of girlfriends or wives under clear acrylic grips.

At the time acrylics were still a new creation with Lucite specifically having just been trademarked in 1937. The technology was perfectly timed for wartime innovation.

Infantry soldiers & airman took Plexiglas from downed planes and carved out grips for their Colt 1911s for example and also for their revolvers. After putting in pictures of their loved ones or favorite pin up girl this form of personalization earned the name "Sweet heart grips".

While the exact date when the term "sweetheart grip" was first coined isn't documented in available sources, it clearly emerged during WWII as soldiers began this practice of incorporating personal photographs into their weapon. 

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LOVE UNDER FIRE


What's fascinating about weapons’ modification is that it reveals a deep human need to humanize the tools of war. Whether it's a Bronze Age warrior's personal mark or a modern soldier's smartphone photo tucked into body armour, we've always found ways to carry our humanity into inhuman situations.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS 

acrylic grips, battlefield love token, clear/comfort/custom/darling/handmade/heart/honey/keepsake/love/memory/photo grips, home front hold, keepsake handle, lady lock, pocket sweetheart, sidearm souvenir, soldier’s darling (holdfast), sweetheart clasp, SWEETHEART GRIP, sweetheart hold, trigger keepsake, wartime love lock

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

“The SWEETHEART GRIP was a reminder of what most soldiers were really fighting for.”