Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Antiques
o

Notices

S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-04-2017, 03:59 PM
tdennis tdennis is offline
Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central VA
Posts: 40
Likes: 3
Liked 40 Times in 15 Posts
Default S&W DA Frontier 44/40

I bought a copy of the latest "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition" by Jim Supica but could not find an answer to my question regarding supposed "Rare Deluxe Factory Carved Pearl Screaming Eagle Grips"

I could not find these grips listed in the section on grips nor with the narrative on the S&W DA Frontier 44/40. My question's are these truly Deluxe Factor Grips or maybe dealer installed? If factory, about how much do they add (or subtract) from the value of a DA Frontier 44/40?

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
tdennis
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-04-2017, 04:52 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
Absent Comrade
US Veteran
SWCA Founding Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Diego, CA. USA
Posts: 10,536
Likes: 3,529
Liked 6,883 Times in 2,796 Posts
Default

It's difficult to say. At the time your gun was being made, S&W did provide factory stocks of various exotic materials, pearl, ivory, etc. on special order. Whether proof of factory installation on your gun can be made , is uncertain, unless the invoice is still available in the archives and it show's a special order for the stocks. It's been my experience that factory installed special stocks, regardless of material , will be numbered to the gun, as they are polished & fitted to the frames before blueing or nickeling, so look for numbers. The factory dropped pearl stocks around early WW1 era as the quality of pearl they wanted was not longer obtainable in the world market. Dealers & distributors also provided fancy stocks as an after market upgrade. Ed.

Last edited by opoefc; 10-05-2017 at 02:02 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-04-2017, 07:25 PM
mmaher94087 mmaher94087 is offline
SWCA Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 4
Liked 2,494 Times in 1,296 Posts
Default

My guess: dealer installed at best. I'd venture that these are a much later addition. Ask the seller to prove the statement. I suspect the answer will be along the lines of "The owner said so".
__________________
Mike Maher #283
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-04-2017, 07:47 PM
K W C K W C is offline
Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: BONHAM TEXAS
Posts: 151
Likes: 161
Liked 68 Times in 25 Posts
Default

I have a very similar situation. I bought a DA 44/40 a few years ago. It had nice wood grips with medallions. I sent off for a factory letter and it stated that my gun was shipped with checkered hard black rubber grips. The gold medallion wood grips were not factory installed and not available until 1910.
So... a factory letter may be the only way you know for sure.

P.S. I found and installed factory checkered hard rubber grips. These are cool guns.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-05-2017, 09:03 AM
tdennis tdennis is offline
Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central VA
Posts: 40
Likes: 3
Liked 40 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mmaher94087 View Post
My guess: dealer installed at best. I'd venture that these are a much later addition. Ask the seller to prove the statement. I suspect the answer will be along the lines of "The owner said so".

Yep, and he was an expert. Even had a copy of the bill of sale to back up the price paid!
tdennis
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-06-2017, 08:26 AM
JSR III's Avatar
JSR III JSR III is offline
SWCA Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Massachusetts USA
Posts: 9,575
Likes: 3,695
Liked 8,924 Times in 3,545 Posts
Default

For the most part these guns shipped with black hard rubber stocks. Unfortunately due to the locator pin at the bottom, many of these old stocks get broken when removed improperly. You will find many of these with a section of the stock butt missing from the pin hole to the butt. They must come straight up off of the frame without twisting them or bending them. Anything short of straight up and the stock panel will break at the pin.

The .38 black hard rubber stocks are easier to find replacements for and Numrich even sells reproductions IIRC. The .44's are harder to come by and I am looking for a set for my Frontier model as well. There is a guy that repairs them but I understand that the price can be steep. I guess it really depends on how much you love the gun and what you are willing to invest.
__________________
James Redfield
LM #497
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-07-2017, 07:46 AM
tdennis tdennis is offline
Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central VA
Posts: 40
Likes: 3
Liked 40 Times in 15 Posts
Default

I will pass on it since he thinks the supposed deluxe carved screaming eagle are factory and wants a premium price because of them.
tdennis
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-07-2017, 08:17 PM
mmaher94087 mmaher94087 is offline
SWCA Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 4
Liked 2,494 Times in 1,296 Posts
Default

I feel that you have made a wise decision. I would ask for a Factory letter that would either prove or disprove the claim. I think, at best, these are distributor installed stocks. Often the distributor will "embellish" a slow moving revolver in order to make it more desirable to the consumer. Was it engraved too?
__________________
Mike Maher #283
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-12-2017, 05:29 PM
tdennis tdennis is offline
Member
S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40 S&W DA Frontier 44/40  
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central VA
Posts: 40
Likes: 3
Liked 40 Times in 15 Posts
Default

No not engraved, only nickel plated.
tdennis
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
S&W DA 44 Frontier strauner S&W-Smithing 2 12-09-2016 12:19 PM
help on a 44-40 Frontier F Troop Gunsmith LLC S&W Antiques 1 03-25-2015 12:57 PM
.44 DA Frontier ?? rjb1 S&W Antiques 9 11-10-2010 02:17 PM
44 DA Frontier NFrames S&W Antiques 19 09-27-2009 12:59 AM
DA Frontier .44-40 twaits S&W-Smithing 0 06-18-2009 12:15 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:00 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)