Hello to everyone,

is there somebody who can let me know when the S numbered N frames grips were changed from sharp shoulder to the newer style? I have a pre-model 27 in nickel with 8 3/3" barrel and a model 27 in blue, also with 8 3/8" barrel. Both have S prefix. I attached a pair of sharp shoulder grips to the nickeled gun. The blue version came with coke bottle grips which are not right for sure. I love them anyway, but would like to know if there is a break at a certain S number when a change was made.
Thanks for any help.

I cannot provide an answer, but I'd guess that any SN greater than around S100000 would probably not have been shipped with the sharp shoulder style. And there would not be a definite changeover date, even though the engineering notice to make the change would have a definite date (and I don't know that either). Like everything else, S&W would not have simply thrown away any perfectly good earlier SS stocks they had in parts inventory, but would have used them up over time. Therefore there may have been a fairly long transition period over which both stock styles would have been used in assembly.

The changeover on K frames began in about 1953. I would presume it happened about the same time on the N frames, so DWalt's serial numbers would be about right. My .357 Magnum shipped in May, 1952, and wears its original, numbered stocks which have the sharp shoulder. Serial number is S833xx.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

You have a 9" pre model 27 (8 3/3")??? Just kidding.

Cokes on a Model 27 from the factory is very possible, they were an option until ~ 1970. Or are they numbered to another gun on the inside of the right grip?

__________________
Jim
S&WCA #819

Me thinks S&W started phasing out the sharp shoulder N frame
diamond magnas around 1952-53 somewhere in there. They
were gone by the mid-50's from what I've seen on factory
original pre-27's on this forum. But hey, what do I know?

I have a HD with SN 1057xx (3/54) that does not have the SS grips.

Havent tracked the N frame Magna evolution as close but my K frame Magnas have the sharp shoulder with nickel coated brass medallions until mid to late 1951, Then sometime in 1952 the medallions change to plastic but still with the sharp shoulder roughly in the K-132,000 to K-135,000 range (Many believe due to brass shortages and Korean conflict) ,

My collection jumps to 1953 in the K-175000 to K-195000 which all have steel medallions with the new tapered shoulder,

My 1954 K Magnas are in the K-205,000 range and back to the nickel coated brass but with the new tapered shoulder

My non registered magnum went back to the factory in 12/52 and 1/53 and I believe these un-numbered stocks were put on at that time...

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Sorry, of course 8 3/8"
Rainer

That is one sweet short barreled NRM!


Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk