Floral Grips

Kochd79 · #1 01-18-2017, 07:12 PM

Picked this up recently.

I have read a few threads on this forum about the rarity of these floral grips.

The grips appear to be from another gun.

I can make out "1911" barely in pencil on the inside which does not match the gun.

Wondering what the grips might be worth if parted from the gun.

crossv · #2 01-18-2017, 07:32 PM

Can you post a photo of the inside of the stocks to compare with the photos I posted about a month ago of similar stocks?

gmborkovic · #3 01-18-2017, 07:48 PM

Hello 79. neat grips. Post some more pics that you did not take from the roof. Wink.

glowe · #4 01-18-2017, 07:53 PM

I agree that those floral stocks do not match the revolver since what you found on the inside of the stock is the is a serial number for the gun they were originally mated to. You have a 32 Double Action revolver that was built from 1883 to 1919. There were five models of this revolver made and yours is either a 4th or 5th Model.

The little 32 with a 6" barrel, however, is a real gem and an uncommon barrel length for this model revolver. Could you post the serial number? We are always interested in details like ship date estimates, model numbers, etc.

If the stocks do not match, personally I would pick up a standard set of diamond stocks and sell the florals separately if you are thinking about selling the gun and stocks. Condition of the stocks are critical to the value and your pictures are not clear enough to tell. Floral stocks can sell for $200-$300 if in great shape.

JSR III · #5 01-19-2017, 09:44 AM

Welcome to the forum.

If you are willing to share, what was the purchase price for the gun. Being educated on pricing using real gun examples is educating to all.

I enlarged the stock photo twice by clicking on it and they appear to be in good shape. Not sure I would pay $200 to $300 for them but I don't have a gun to put them on. If I saw them at a show I would probably be willing to invest $100 just to have them in my collection but would have to have a real need to go any higher.

The gun appears to only be in fair condition so it is possible that you paid less for the package than the stocks may sell for to one of the forum members here.

If you really want to part them out, try an ad here in the for sale section and see what happens. Most of the serious S&W collectors are members here so your audience will be good.

Kochd79 · #6 01-19-2017, 09:59 AM

Thanks Guys.

Will try to get a better picture of the stocks tonight.

There is no excessive wear on them. Appear in good shape given their age. No chips or cracking.

Serial number is in the 250,000 range.

Paid $275 for gun. At the time felt like was over paying a bit, but I am drawn to these longer barreled top-breaks. Wasn't really focusing on the stocks at the time.

gmborkovic · #7 01-19-2017, 10:10 AM

Even with the std. grips, I would have bought it for $225, depending on function and bore. Best.

red9 · #8 01-19-2017, 10:36 AM

A few years ago I bought a Ladysmith online, because I had never seen (or heard of) Ladysmith floral stocks. The reason I had never heard of them is because these are modern reproduction (I think?). On second thought, what is the correct term? You cannot reproduce what never existed in the first place.

Bob

Club Gun Fan · #9 01-19-2017, 10:49 AM

I bought this .32 DA about 4 years ago. I bought it for the floral stocks. The factory records make no mention of the stocks other than hard rubber. I had it for sale at the last show, it got no interest what so ever.

glowe · #10 01-19-2017, 12:26 PM

Just finding a 6" 32 DA is a daunting task. They do not show up for sale often and I think that combination of stocks and gun would sell for $300 plus at any of the large online auction houses.

Don, I am surprised that you did not sell those stocks, but it is a specialized market. I still think that great condition florals with no wear, should sell for $200. Heck, I see pristine 32 HE stocks going for that much on ebay and they made hundreds of thousands of those.

The problem could be that there were very few guns that came with floral or mottled stocks. People that letter their guns don't know if florals were original or not, so maybe demand is really low??

deadin · #11 01-19-2017, 12:36 PM

I've owned several sets of Florals over the years and they all were on 32 DA 2nd Models with serials of 4 digits or less.

Kochd79 · #12 01-19-2017, 01:47 PM

Here is a closer picture. I can not figure out how to attach more than one image. It bumps out pre-existing image and replaces it with most recent attached image.

Kochd79 · #13 01-19-2017, 01:49 PM

Inside of stocks.

crossv · #14 01-19-2017, 02:33 PM

Thanks for posting the detailed photos. The backside is the same as mine and different from what is usually seen on what we call gutta percha stocks. I am reposting my photos from early Dec for comparison. I think my screw is a replacement common hardware screw, but you might comment on your stock screw as well.

JSR III · #15 01-19-2017, 04:42 PM

Just an observation but in post 12, the left stock appears to show more detail in the V or Y shaped area above and below the screw hole than the right panel. This may only be due to wear or holster carry but tough to tell without seeing them close up. It could be indicative of a bad mold job used when creating reproductions too.

With the prices that some of these older S&W items are bringing, one can not rule out chicanery.

gmborkovic · #16 01-19-2017, 05:15 PM

Will somebody please post a Vendor that has repro plastic grips.

glowe · #17 01-19-2017, 08:18 PM

vintagegungrips.com had florals for sale the last time I checked. You can usually smell rubber on original stocks and If you heat them up a little, it should be quite noticeable. Trying rubbing the inside hard and fast until your thumb is warm should be all you need. Plastic will not give you a rubber odor when heated, but rather a hydrocarbon smell.