I have a lead on a pre-27 357 magnum with serial number s 1019xx. It has a 3.5 inch barrel, 5 screw. When I took the grips off I noticed the bottom of the grip frame was cut at an angle yet blued. The grips are not factory. Were the frames cut like this from the factory? I can post pics if someone can please walk we though the process. Any idea on production date. Thank you in advance!

Welcome to the Forum.

A gentleman named Fuzzy Farrant made grips that require the toe of the grip to be cut. The cut is definitely not factory.

I'm guessing early 1950s.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Muley, thanks for that info...hopefully others will jump on to expand more.....any chance you can walk me through the process of posting pics.....when I try it wants an url address....httm/...

Muley, I looked up Fuzzy grips and old literature shows and discusses the cut to the frame.....exactly what I'm seeing on this pre-27. Question is....does this take away or add to the value of the firearm?

Depends on the buyer. Some might think the Farrant grips add value. Some may think the frame cut degrades value. Is the original SN on the butt complete or stamped elsewhere on the grip frame? If not you have a legal problem.

The serial number is all there....they got close to the "S" but missed it when the cut was made.

I believe a cut like this is what you are describing.

Attached Images

IMG_3555.JPG (18.3 KB, 170 views)

__________________
Possum—The other white meat!

Dwalt, serial number is complete....the cut was just prior the "S" in the serial number.

That's exactly what it looks like....if I could post pics I would.....still need a little help in that department.

Here's what my 2." M&P looks like with the same frame modification you describe and the grips that came with it in the "Farrent" style.

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Generally speaking, since it is a non-factory modification I believe most collectors would think it takes away from the value.

Practically speaking it probably depends on whether you favor target stocks or Magnas. If you like Magna stocks on your N-frames that alteration to the frame is a disaster. If you like target stocks, no one will ever know it's there. (smile)

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

No one mentioned yet, it is likely from late 1953 to early '54.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

https://postimg.org/image/j1y92l0b9/

Being in LE, I dig the history of the grips. The current owner received it from an federal employee in the early 70's - late 60's. He is now in his 80'sleep and it is way too heavy for him to pack around.

All of your are awesome, I really appreciate the comments and information. Take a look at the picture link I posted and tell me what you think. Sorry I did not get a shot of the other side but it does have the top side plate screw.

I used to use photobucket, until they screwed up things. I haven't tried to post pictures since that debacle.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In general it will lower the value. If you like the Farrant stocks, (and the stocks on it are genuine Farrants), it may be worth it to you. I personally don't like the feel of the Farrant grips, and if I had the gun I'd probably have S&w Target stocks on it. If Photobucket hadn't thrown us all under the buss I could have posted a picture of a 3 1/2" Pre 27 with Targets.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Just posting the photo to display in the thread...

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan

As many are surely thinking: Farrant-like but not Farrant grips. The lines, especially at the top, of the grips do not match the generally known style of the Stark - Blackford - Hurst - Farrant - Hogue "California style" grips. Perhaps by a talented amateur. (Which reminds this Avengers fan of Emma Peel!!)

Please show us the inletted side.

What about the trimmed frame? Is there a style that would point toward Farrant work or does the price drop a bit and make it just a nice shooter.

Hmmmm.... As far as I know, the owner cut the frame - or had it done. I wouldn't be surprised if one of those guys would do it for a friend, but it wasn't on the Farrant price list.

Both Farrant and Hurst are noted for colored pencil marks (numbers & letters) inside the frame, generally to match the two sides and sometimes denoting the frame size. Farrants also turn up with a stamped J, K etc. Hurst sometimes wrote the name of the buyer and sometimes - why didn't they all??? - wrote his own name. There can also be hints in the style of inletting. Later Farrants often have swirl marks from the router, but what I think are my earlier grips do not. Mike Priwer's Stark show them too. "Islands" inside the frame are a signature of Hogue - and the plastic Rogers copy - but also show up on some suspected Blackford grips. None of which means much.

Also, of course, the grips may have been altered since new, but even mangled Farrants are still distinctive.

Currently, only the Farrant grips add a significant price boost.

The target trigger, which may have been a later addition, was introduced in '55.
It would be nice to see the insides of the stocks for some more guesses on whether they're "Name" brands, but I don't think they're from Fuzzy.

If you don't mind, what's the asking price?

__________________
Good shooting.

Asking price was 800

As I have stated in many threads, to me ANY N frame S&W that is not a boat anchor is worth $500 all day long. Depending on the collector, there are some that are fascinated by shooter modifications. Guns were tools and some find individual changes made by shooters in an effort to improve a gun worth collecting. Others see it as an abomination to a fine S&W and will walk away.

That is still a very cool carry piece and many think that a 3 1/2" .357 is the cat's patooty in carry guns. You have very significant knock down power in a short barreled gun.

One of the reasons that I have considered buying one of the new .45 caliber Shields. And I don't typically buy S&W's built after 1970.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

I checked the inside of the grip and no markings....actually pretty rough wood work. Very cool clean pre-27, will definitely consider for a fun shooter.

I spot two names marked on the gripframe, one along the bottom and another along the backstrap. What do these read?

As others have said, a photo of the backsides of the grip panels would also help with identification.

__________________
SWHF #448

I believe the name is a previous owners name.