No big whoop though my curiosity has me wondering why the left diamond is on a horizontal plane whilst the right side is vertical, in relation to the orientation of the S&W trademark, on this I frame set of MOP.

I have a set of well worn K-frame magnas w/gold medallions and the diamonds appear square unable to favour 90* direction. Granted the engraving isn't nearly as fluid or articulate either, but it is the only other example I have on hand.

Was it a time period, model number or both occurrence?

Photos would help

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James Redfield
LM #497

Probably, if I could get enough resolution posted. Maybe I'll pull the old shutter box out of storage and stack some macro lenses.

I can see it but 69.8 KB doesn't bring it out nearly as well from 1.7MB.

ETA: I copied the upload and upon magnification it shows up better. At least it appears not to be a figment of my imagination. Added the right side as well.

Attached Images

	Med L.jpg (69.6 KB, 125 views)
	Best R Medallion.jpg (58.3 KB, 81 views)

The medallions should be vertical, are they loose enough to turn?

K frame Magnas didn't come along until 15 years after dished gold medallion usage was discontinued on wood stocks which all looked like these at the top: "Service Stocks".


Me thinks the stocks are not S&W made and the medallions were added.

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

I'll see if I can do better on the size. It's been a few years though I seem to recall using the zoom w/standard macro produced the larger pictures.

They don't seem loose though one side has a dark coloured adhesive, noticeable from the back, holding it into place. This is also evident in some tiny drops stuck on the back of that stock.

On both I see a hint of a blueish-green spot, coming from the MOP next to the medallions, only from the back. The surface on the back shows a wheel, guesstamted at 10-12", was used to gring the surface flat. On both the stocks were placed lengthwise on the edge of the wheel.

The area of the medallions on the back show grind marks running 90* w/length of the stocks. Both medallions exhibit the same grind marks though they've tarnished. The side w/o adhesive grind marks didn't quite line up w/medallion grind marks. After repeated squeezing betwixt the thumb & index and rolling I could restore the marks to line up.

The right side stock w/o adhesive, after lining up grind marks, is vertical compared to the shoulders of the stock. The one w/adhesive, right side, lists a bit CW. If the medallions represented a clock face & the shoulders were 9:15 it would be 9:17 ever so roughly.

However, if by vertical the reference the bottom of these I-frames then they aren't even close. Note the left side picture I posted. There's a pinhole on the right side close to the right diamond. After aligning the grind marks from the back the diamonds rotated CCW away from the pinhole and more in line w/shoulders.

I have to apologize and correct my statement; I was thinking of Colt and Ruger handguns. You are correct, the diamonds as you refer to them, or medallions, are not vertically oriented. With the barrel horizontal, they would align approximately with a 10 o'clock - 4 o'clock orientation when compared to a clock face.

These are K frame Magna stocks, 1st available c.1935:

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I don't think that the medallion orientation to the equator was the original issue here. The OP is inquiring about the shape of the diamonds that are left and right of the S&W logo on the medallion. One diamond appears more squat so that the points on the horizontal line appear longer and the other one the points are longer on the vertical line making the diamond appear taller.

I think that this is just a manufacturing boo boo and very insignificant in the eyes of S&W. I don't know if S&W made there own stock medallions or they were conracted out to another concern. I also have never contemplated how the medallions were actually formed or made. Assuming that it is some form of a stamping, then I would guesstimate that the original die was miscut leaving one diamond short and fat and the other tall and thin.

Who knows, maybe it is a hidden symbol of Smith and Wesson themselves. One being rather thin and tall and the other being a more rotund individual.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

Not to worry Hondo as I was so focused on the two diamonds, seemingly possessing different orientation by 90*, that I paid no mind to the overall relationship of the medallions to the gripframe. The more clues/possibilities/inquiries the better.

Could have been that the die maker became disoriented in the intricate work by 90*. Upon realization of orientation combined w/minute size figured, "What the hay."

It's just that the S&W trademark is so intricately woven that I discounted mere chance in favour of intent. Then maybe down the road someone decided to align the stars to mirror themselves identically on the hint of a vertical plane or none/square rotated 45*.

Of course as previously offered it could be nothing more than a clogged die. Possibly combined w/the differences betwixt the two engravings. They weren't minting money.

Or Perhaps the Illuminati in play signaling from horizon to horizon and terra firma to the heavens/ the four corners of the Earth encompassed.

ETA: JSR III, I am remiss in not having acknowledged your contribution of time & effort through sharing your esteemed experience. My oversight fueled by haste surely harbours no malice. Thank you.

Would macro pics of the inside help substantiate your assessment? If nothing else it should provide the grind patterns/one side depression and adhesive w/drips that's a darker gray than JB weld.

Factory/forged/enhanced/whatevah, it is what it is and as such is of no concern unto me save quenching curiosity w/potentially factual knowledge.

ETA: Also on the first pic post #4 SE of the S&W trademark lies the "napkin holder" that encircles the flowered vine/stem. This certainly should be a clue unto the pattern of engraving. Possibly pointing to the scribe or at least a hint at the style. The other side can be found here and to me doesn't match though I suppose each side could be considered an individual canvas unto itself.

Offered allegedly w/factory mop stocks combined w/factory engraving as a second model 1st change 1903 .32 1904-1906 I retained the arm on face value w/o one iota of worry towards possible error in evaluation, mine/theirs, or potential of provenance.

I'm rather sure that it's a fourth model manufactured in 1910. I also feel the second strike of SN is the assembly number and factory SN is represented by the barrel flat, extractor and partial on cylinder face.
However, I don't know that to be a matter of fact. There's little doubt that the set of numbers on the butt are indeed the SN of record, for sale/transfer, though I can't say when that took place.

Attached Images

1903SS4C32.jpg (113.3 KB, 6 views)