The earliest target stocks have a more pronounced reverse curve where the panels meet the trigger guard when compared to later stocks. Earlier stocks also have a distinct flare at the bottom. The stocks on the left date to December 1952 and the ones on the right to 57/58.

Bill

I just picked up this gorgeous Model 57 from Ca. purgatory. If I'm seeing this right, these are coke grips, correct? Or am I only seeing what I wish to see?


I realize this gun is post-1961 and should be posted in the appropriate forum, but I want to be sure on the grips.

Pretty 57 Heetseeker - grips are Cokes

Thanks VM!

The fact that the grips are the desirable cokes is just an added bonus to a really sweet gun. I did remove the grips last night and did not find any numbers on them. Shouldn't they be numbered to the gun?

No, they shouldn't be numbered.
Again........ beautiful gun.
You did well!

I've got a pair of K Coke bottles that have been modified exactly like yours, but without the shiny finish. They are some of my favorite grips and I've used them on a number of different revolvers.

Excellent discussion and pictures here. Glad to see it still getting play.

As I reread it, I have a comment relating to the early discussion as to whether or not Roper and/or Gagne may have influenced the presence of the "coke bottle" contour. I think that, even if true, they weren't the first to utilize that curve.

Back in the early 1900's European bolt action rifles (mostly Mausers and Mannlicher-Schoenauers) made it to our country. Many of these rifles exhibited beautiful wood, fine checkering and gorgeous blue. Many of them were custom rifles which were tailored to the needs and fit of their owners. Some of the gunsmiths of that era were men like Fred Adolph, Adolph O. Niedner and Ludwig Wundhammer. I don't know that Wundhammer invented the gently rounded, palm filling swell on the pistol grip of many of these rifles, but it has always been described as the "Wundhammer Swell".

Bob

They just got cheap on the amount of checkering they were willing to do.

I've got some nice grips on Gunbroker.com if any of you are interested. Prices are very competitive, and screws come with them all. Search on: S&W grips (NR) to find my listings.

I'd like to have some of the coke bottle grips if someone wants to trade one for many... let's make a deal.

A pair of Coke grips I pulled from a 2nd Model HE factory parts gun (rebarreled, re-cylindered, lanyard ring removed and original grips long gone...) that I recently acquired.

Excellent shape overall except for some flattening of the checks on the right grip panel and a couple of superficial dings here and there. Also, a smidgen of hardened black goo (for lack of a better word), above the medallion on the right grip panel. Any suggestions for removing that "goo" without damaging the wood finish?

Picked up a pair of K diamond targets in a box of old grips the other day. I've been reading all of the posts here to determine what I have. Grips are dark, original finish with the large area of checkering similar to the photos. Slight swell also. They are kinda short, a little over 1/4 in from end of backstrap. I would say that the football cutout is small, compared to the pics. Checkering a little smooth and a couple of small chips, nothing major. I have no picture capability. Can anyone tell me from this description if I have K frame cokes? Did they make them in K frame thanks, Bob

If I remember correctly, there are no factory K frame cokes. I have seen some grips that said they were K frame cokes but were actually N frame cokes that had been crudely modified to fit a K frame. Hope this helps. I am sure others will be along shortly.

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Are these cokes ??? They have the larger area of checkering.

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Rikkn - your grips are not Cokes and do not have the larger checkered area. If you look at my post #10 on page one you can see a good comparison.
Also, your grips are non-relieved on the left panel - that is another dead give-away that they are earlier style grips.
Congrats on your new gun!

what A fantastic thread ......... I must check out Doc's Expert Commentary !

...I did check it out ............ but it is missing the images !

I sure have learned a ton about N-frame grips here on this forum . I have been trying to buy some nice stocks on eBay (which has more grips for sale then Gunsamerica, gunsinternational,and gunbroker ) but the demand far outstrips the supply . If i want a minty set of Cokes -I am going to have to shell out over 800$ !!
The auctions on eBay for the rarer grips are funny though - most seem to end early with some deep pocketed individual buying the grips outright . Seems dumb to me ......with high demand , if left to rum there course , the auctions might bring MORE then the buy it now offers .

sometimes your cheapest cokes come with metal in between

coke bottle stocks on S147213, a very early 44 Magnum with stocks that measure 4 3/16 inches and appear to be very similar to the stocks shown on the revolver featured on the early 44 Magnum advertisement


........not to be disrespectful of the gun or you -
but I could sure use a set of grips like that for my N Frame
and would be happy to offer you 2000$ for them .