Ladies and Gentleman: I have a question regarding the fit of the grips on my 1934 Outdoorsman. The grips shown in the photos are new to the revolver. They are stamped with a number that is 542 positions greater than the serial number on the gun so they are from the same era. There is an approximate 1/64th of an inch gap between the semi-circular cut out of the frame and the semi-circular protrusion of the grips. I believe I can reduce the gap by filing the shoulders on either side of the semi-circular protrusion but I'm wondering if I should. The gap is common to both sides. The remainder of the grips fit the revolver well. This is my first pre-war revolver so I don't know if this is common or "acceptable." Thoughts?

Attached Images

	DSC_0031.jpg (99.1 KB, 247 views)
	DSC_0032.jpg (88.7 KB, 236 views)

This is not too uncommon. 1/64th in. "gap" could be caused just by shrinking of the wood do to age and exposure to the elements. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it myself. You can file the shoulders and that might help close the gap, but that can have ramifications at the bottom of the grip that requires further "adjustment" and before long you have a real problem ! Ed.

I don't think I would fool with them, They look pretty good and as was said before this isn't uncommon.
SWCA 892

If you have a good, light-pressure fit between the shoulders and the alignment pin thru the buttstrap, I'd leave it alone. Trimming the shoulders may result in rattly stocks.

Larry

There's a reason that stocks had serial numbers... they were hand fitted to each gun. I tested 3 pairs for fit on a transitional 38 M&P and was shocked at how much difference there was. Only one pair fit acceptably well. I think the fit you have there is pretty durn good!.

__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd

On several occasions I have needed to do some fitting on non-original grips, and my tool of choice is a ladies' fingernail emery board. But in those cases, I was unable to make the grips fit without some wood removal. Yours do not seem to have that problem, so I don't believe it is necessary to do anything to yours.

Leave them alone. The pin won't let them move up even if you file the shoulders, so all you'll be doing is making them loose.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

You have a very nice set or factory stocks, I would say please leave them as they are. Removing wood from those small flats is not all that would need to be done, you actually would end up needing to remove wood from the area of the stock circle that is now contacting wood. All of this would have to be done in near perfect symmetry in an amount equal to the existing gap, and Lee is on target, the existing pin hole would have to be filled and then re drilled. Very nice stocks, no one has been in the checkering, getting harder to find such things.

__________________
kbgrips.com

Someone once said "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get."

There was a reason for that.

There still is.

I once had the exact same situation---really spiffy grips on a really spiffy Registered Magnum no less. If you held it up to the light, you could see right through from one side to the other. I fixed it by not holding it up to the light.

Does it hurt when you do that? Don't do that!

Ralph Tremaine

To All: Thank you very much. You have alleviated my anxiety. I will leave them alone and enjoy.

And I hate your signon ID!

__________________
Dick Burg

Are you and the OP related?

__________________
Get off my lawn!

Probably not, since we spell it differently.

__________________
Dick Burg

Well we know the forum won't allow identical user names.

__________________
Get off my lawn!

Is it possible that a treatment with a good wood oil product , such as teak oil , might swell the walnut ever so slightly and relieve the marginal problem a bit? I can see no down side to that approach.

If you swell the wood, there's a chance the wood will stress crack between the escutcheon and the grip pin. Best to leave it alone.

__________________
Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I know nothing of the "how to's" to fix the problem, so I have nothing constructive to add. I just chimed to say those stocks are beautiful!

I have a 1934 Outdoorsman that would love to wear those nasty old,poor fitting stocks!!!!!!

Wiregrass -

I could see that swelling resulting in a crack such as you describe might happen if the grips were immersed in water for a prolonged time , but not if rubbed with teak oil. I have oil rubbed a lot of old grips - a standard practice of mine (if there is not a barrier coat such as varnish...) - no excessive swelling noted. Sure does preserve nicely.

That said , the consensus here is to leave well enough alone , and that is certainly a viable , no risk option.
I know what I would do , but that is moot - not my grips!

Are those wood things grips, or stocks, or panels or scales or handles or what?

Sent from my ME173X using Tapatalk

??? No idea of the intent of the question.

Yes---all of the above.

If your audience knows what you're talking about, you're using the right words---or at least satisfactory words---except maybe for "scales". I knew what you were talking about because "scales" was thrown in with all the rest---otherwise------you'd have stumped me for sure and certain!!

All that said, "handles" is my favorite. I always get a good laugh from "handles".

The real answer continues to elude us. Some/many of us refer to (and defer to) The Historian (Roy Jinks), who has forgotten more than likely any of us knows about S&W lore. I'd suggest referring to his letters for guidance, although he's been known to use the term "stocks" and "grips" in the same letter--sometime in the same paragraph. So either one of those is most certainly acceptable.

Bottom Line (and good for a laugh): Next time the question comes up, just say the stocks are what attach to the grip frame---and then watch your audience's face(s).

Ralph Tremaine

Thanks for all the additional info. I don't believe I have any family in Kentucky so Dick ("Rburg") and I are probably not related. However, I recently had the pleasure of traveling down the Bourbon Trail and have fallen in Love with the great state. Just jealous...

Dean "Rberg"