did the 1st issue single shot have gutta percha (SP) grips ( plastic) looking grips ? Also would they have been dovetailed on the base of the grips to accept a shoulder stock . Picked up a mod .91, S/N 20081, it has ears on the recoil shield and 8" barrel . Will post pictures later after i recover from the shock.I am now educated BLACK HARD RUBBER grips .
that is what is great about this group(forum)
I agree with the above. The S-stock may be an adaptation of a Stevens stock. I have never heard of, or seen, a S&W adaptation of a shoulder stock to this model. Sounds like a neat idea though.
I've never heard the grip material for 1st and 2nd Models referred to as anything except "hard rubber". As to a refinish, it seems unlikely (unless done by the factory----and it will almost certainly carry service markings if that's the case).
The grips that came on these [first models] were black hard rubber grips as Ralph stated, of course a photo of them would confirm they are the correct grips.
There are many incorrect terms used for hard rubber stocks like plastic, gutta-percha, Bakelite, etc. The difference is that hard rubber is not a polymer (plastic), but rather a vulcanized compound with a high sulfur content to make it hard. One can often smell sulfur in hard rubber stocks, even those that are over a hundred years old. Bakelite and gutta-percha are actually early forms of polymers. The extended hard rubber diamond target stocks on the 1891 were all hard rubber as I can recall. By the time the 3rd Model Single Shot pistol started production, walnut extension stocks were an option.
If the stocks are original to the gun, they should have either a stamped or scratched serial number inside the right stock. We would like to see images of the altered stocks as you mention. Stevens wire stocks were attached at the backside of the butt-frame with a thumb screw and were slid into a dovetail on the bottom of the wood stocks, but they required a metal buttplate to work correctly.
pictures of the grips ,they soaked over night in baby oil to restore color to black .Gary it looks like it would accept the Stevens stock as your picture.
No numbers that I can see on the grips.
Walter, I think it is time to look for a Steven's wire frame stock!! Very interesting and professional job of altering the stocks. All in all, I still think the steel buttplate is the way to go, since 100 year old hard rubber can get very brittle and might not have the strength needed to hold the stock??
I believe there were several styles offered over the years and some had set screws for the buttplate. The one in the image I found has only a flat bar that would have fit into the steel plate on the Stevens butt.
1891 1st issue
Linear Mode
