I found a very nice .38 M&P Airweight snubby today at the gun show. (pre model 12) It dates to 1956 or 1957 and no Model 12 is marked in the crane. This gun is in 98-99% condition but it was wearing a set of goodyears. At 1st I couldn't believe the low price for a gun show and then that it was still around...under $500..I won't say how much. I am happy...
now for the HELP part. (Edit: Found thanks)
Because the frame on these earlier guns was .080" thinner than a standard K frame I found my nice Herretts and my diamond magnas that I squirrel away for such occasions as this don't fit at the frame see pic.
Does anyone have magnas that will fit this? The SCSW doesn't say there are special magnas for this. But the fit of what I have in my stash plus the .080" thinner frame makes that inevitable unless I am missing something.

Some pics for your viewing pleasure..

Edit: This question about the stock fit has been answered thx.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Model 12s required special grips until the -4 variation which will use regular K frame grips.

Hopefully someone here will have a pair of the special grips or you may find them on E-bay

Yes, until the 12-4 these had the thinner Magna stocks as standard. Good luck in your search.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks I was looking at milling a pair of Standard magnas but I think the .040" per side will put me into the medallion screw. If I can't find a pair I bet DWFan can cobble me up some.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Randy has for sale a few sets of later square butt PC magnas for Model 12s listed here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...s-03-22-a.html

They won't be period correct but they're nice-looking and they'll fit until you find some proper older stocks.

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SWHF #448

Congratulations on an excellent find sir. Another Model 12 fan here. Yes the grips are a little differently proportioned. I found the correct fitting grips for my model 12 Sq butt on the forum. Pat Grashorn offered to make a set fitted to my frame. so if you cant find what you like here, Pat has some nice grips.

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The American dream is alive

I'm set to purchase a set of non diamond grips just have some that looks nice. I will find the correct era grips eventually. Thanks.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Many people just sand down a set to fit.

Use a piece of 80 grit paper put it on a flat surface.

Carefully stroke the stock trying to keep it flat.

A few strokes you will be done!!



Is that uncommon to be a square butt all I have seen are round?

Yes the square butt is uncommon. It would be nice to know how many .38 M&P Air weight Snubbies were made in sq butt variation. Prior to the model 12. It couldn't have been very many. SCSW indicates the Sq butt variation as not standard or very common. In fact most K frame snubbies (model 19 comes to mind) are round butts.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I've seen a bunch of 2" M15s and most of the 2" M10s that I've seen were square butts.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I thought about that and will probably do so. When I looked at the grips I have I was concerned that the emblem screws on back would get in the way. I did'nt have a pin mic to check... but if you have done it then that is probably how I will proceed. Thanks for confirmation on that. I am sure that is all S&W did back then.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Right.. what the SCSW says is that they (sq Butt) were uncommon on the early pre 12's.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor