A friend recently decided to sell his grandparents home. His grandfather died in 1964 and the grandmother lived in the house until she died in 2005. John’s son and later daughter stayed in the house since it was in the college town where they went to school. I just spent a week helping John clean out the atict and basement. Among the massive and I mean massive amount of junk in the basement we found an old bank safe. Too heavy to move a locksmith was called. Once opened along with a lot of family records and some money we found an old Winchester 94 circa 1935 and a 2 inch S&W M&P. The M&P had ivory grips that other than a small amount of shrinkage appeard almost new.

Question, every set of ivory grips I have ever seen yellows with age. These look almost new. Based on the money and other papers found in the safe I can say that it has not been opened since 1962 or 1963.

Also I have never read that S&W made ivory as an option. These have the period correct medallions and washers. I told john that he needed to get a letter from S&W.

Any idea who might have made the grips in 1950/51?

Ivory stocks were offered by the factory for over 100 years. There are also aftermarket suppliers. If they haven't yellowed in 60+years, it is possible they are imitation ivory, some are even made with ivory dust impregnated in polymer.
This is a imitation ivory grip on a model 60. They are made by Ajax.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I don't know about the rest of the membership, but I'd sure love to see a photo or 2 of the revolver.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

May be way off base but I have been told that two factors that age or "yellow" ivory are handling, the oils in your skin and exposure to sunlight.
Not much in the way of either of the above if they sat in a dark safe untouched for 60 years.

A few years ago I saw a set of ivory grip for a 1903 Colt that was purchased form Colt in the 1920's that had been "lost" or forgotten in a gun shop. The person that had discovered the grips found them in the original box with the paper work from the time of purchase. Their was no doubt that these where NOS grips. Now to the point of my story these grips looked brand new. No signs of aging at all. I hope this helps.

Tim

Sounds like a very interesting M&P. If you are able to take a picture please post it.

Luis,

If you friend decides to sell the Winchester and/or the Smith I would be interested in them...depending upon the condition and details. If he decides, please PM me.

Thanks,
Bob

Thank you all for the responses.

First I promised that as soon as I see John again I will post some pictures. It might be sometime since we live in different states.

Thank you for the information that S&W has been offering ivory for a 100 years. I will have to read the S&W book again. I do know that they are real ivory because they passed the hot needle test on the back of the grips.

A part of the mystery that may never be solved even with a factory letter is why John’s grandfather owned the gun. John’s memory of his grandparents was that they very frugal like most that survived the Depression and all the stuff in the house proved the point. John remembers a story that when he got his gold shield he continued to carry a pencil barrel 4 inch M&P instead of purchasing a shorter 2 inch.

Seeing that gun makes me regret that I sold off two 2 inch square butt M&Ps several years ago. Stupid me.

If he was a cop, perhaps a retirement gift?

Tony is right about handling causing discoloration. If the gun set in a safe for decades they likely would look like new.

You don't need to burn the stocks. Just hold them in your hand. Genuine ivory is incredibly heavy. No faux stocks have the same massive heft.

"Pencil barrel" is incorrect terminology and marks one as a bit of a rube.

Well Luis, when you've been called "a bit of a rube" by an Arky, you've pretty well been put in your place!

Bob
(Sorry about that Tony but it was such a soft lob I couldn't resist taking a swing at it)