.32 Safety Hammerless

THREEDFLYER · #1 11-26-2014, 08:59 PM

Will a letter confirm if these ivory grips were put on at the factory on this .32 Safety Hammerless?
The serial number is not etched/scratched inside the right grip panel, not sure if that was standard procedure on ivory or not?
Appreciate those in the know filling me in.
Tom

mrcvs · #2 11-26-2014, 09:08 PM

I don't know for sure, but it would be worth getting a factory letter on this one. The S & W medallions suggest these are factory original. Often one sees mother of pearl grips with medallions and they don't letter to the gun. A similar situation could have occurred with ivory grips. These could be of the same era and applied by a distributor just after delivery from Smith & Wesson, and just prior to sale, perhaps at the request of the customer.

THREEDFLYER · #3 11-26-2014, 09:27 PM

I think I will pose the question to Roy to see what he thinks.
I am also curious what value is added to the gun having Ivory stocks with the S&W logo?

murphydog · #4 11-26-2014, 09:40 PM

They look well-fitted to the grip frame, but as you know the letter will be a roll of the dice as to whether they shipped with the gun. Does the serial number of the gun put it in the 1910 decade?

THREEDFLYER · #5 11-26-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

They look well-fitted to the grip frame, but as you know the letter will be a roll of the dice as to whether they shipped with the gun. Does the serial number of the gun put it in the 1910 decade?

Yes, they are very well fitted to the gun.
The S/N is 20016X and I still need to research the production year.

H Richard · #6 11-27-2014, 11:01 AM

The value of the stocks is substantial by themselves. I don't deal in them, but would think $300 to $500 for just the stocks, on top of the value of the gun, (which looks pretty nice).

mmaher94087 · #7 11-27-2014, 11:35 AM

The fit and age screams "Factory". The serial number on Ivory (and Pearl) was often written in pencil and rubs off easily.

murphydog · #8 11-27-2014, 11:55 AM

Per the SCSW this likely shipped in the 1910 decade, by my reading. I'm guessing Roy will probably have to do a letter to confirm it shipped with these.

opoefc · #9 11-27-2014, 02:57 PM

Factory grips in pearl or ivory ( or any material ) left the factory with the serial number marked on the back of the right grip panel, in pencil or ink. Original grips on any S&W can be tested by feel ( with your eyes closed ). You should not be able to easily distinguish the junction of the metal and grip material, plus the serial number will match the gun's number. Original grips ( stocks, to S&W ) were always fitted to the gun's grip frame by polishing smooth. As Mike says, the penciled numbers can be rubbed off, however most prior gun owners did not spend time trying to remove the numbers as there was no upside to that effort. Over the years, I've seen many early top break guns with medallion pearl & ivory stocks applied to guns made before the medallion style was offered by the factory, and some times, by pure chance, the fit was very good, however the gun's manufacturing date and the lack of a number, or the wrong number indicated an after market application. Ed.

THREEDFLYER · #10 11-27-2014, 03:18 PM

Ed, the ivory grips are very well fitted with NO obvious fit issues when inspected as you instructed. I have to think that the penciled S/N may have just been rubbed off, but obviously a letter would tell the tale.

I need to find out when the factory started offering the pearl and ivory grips with S&W logos on them. If there is a specific year that would started, I would like to know.

Tom

mmaher94087 · #11 11-27-2014, 03:55 PM

As I recall, the medallion grips were phased in over time. They started to appear about 1893 and were standard by 1895.

opoefc · #12 11-27-2014, 05:27 PM

After 1894, S&W did not make any ivory or pearl grips w/o the medallions and they did not make any pearl grips for N frame revolvers. The did purchase pearl grips from Folsum Arms in NYC for N frame customers who requested them. An 1897 accessories price list has "Pearl & Rubber" grips. These are medallion pearl grips with a rubber backing added to help prevent cracking the pearl grips, if the screw was tightened too much or the gun was dropped. Examples of those grips are extremely rare, as over time the rubber disintegrated. Around the late 1920s to early 1930s, S&W quit supplying pearl grips as they stated they could no longer rely on obtaining quality pearl for grips. The majority of guns I see with pearls, medallion or non-medallion, are after market grips supplied by dealers or added by prior owners. Ed.

Skeetr57 · #13 11-27-2014, 07:30 PM

My S&W catalog D-3, dated March 1923, shows all revolvers except the .32 Safety Hammerless with non monogram wood stocks. In a preface it states that until large shell of the first quality becomes available, pearl stocks will be unavailable.

tjpopkin · #14 12-14-2014, 07:40 PM

here is my .32 ND 2nd with factory pearl grips…..the ivory is gorgeous.

THREEDFLYER · #15 12-14-2014, 07:44 PM

Gorgeous piece, thanks for sharing!
After giving it some thought I have decided to list my Top-Breaks for sale on GunBroker. Being an HE guy, I have to limit my collecting somehow, otherwise I will need to put an addition on the house soon!
Cheers,
Tom

THREEDFLYER · #16 12-18-2014, 12:10 AM

Since I am a Hand Ejector collector at heart, I have listed this on GunBroker along with several other very nice top-breaks......hopefully someone will enjoy these for their collection!
Tom