I think what you had were grips for the pre war and pre 1953 I frame and J frame.

The post 1953 I and J frame grips are the same and both longer than pre 1953 I and J frames. What vintage I and J frame did you try them on?

If you tried them on a pre war I or pre 1953 I or J frame and they were still too short, than they were for the .32 Top Break DA, or someone had modified them to fit the 32 DA which are smaller all the way around than the 38 DA Top Break.

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Jim
S&WCA #819