I think the word you are looking for is "functional"
Fanzite used to make grips for all manner of handguns back in the 50's is the earliest I remember seeing the name. I guess it would be no different than having "Hogue" or or "Pachmayr" or "Jay Scott" on your pistol, but in the case of franzite, I think that they were at least one of the very first to produce replacement grips for Lugers after WW2 and if you were a vet who brought a Luger home as a trophy and broke or seriously chipped one of your grips, they were about your only recourse at the time. They made them in many styles including stag, simulated ivory and heaven forbid - Mother of pearl!
I never thought them attractive but if you had broken grips or worse yet, no grips, and someone made some that would fit in your hand better than broken wood grips with electrical tape holding them on, you would probably have bought some too!
-regards,
John Sabato
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