Should a 1961 model 17-1 have the frame serial number inside the grips as in some of the older models ?

If it is wearing magna stocks yes.
If it happens to have targets...most often no.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

It's an interesting question, and maybe someone else can cast more light on it. I have several early model numbered K-frame revolvers with what I am certain are original Magna grips which are not serial numbered.

Trying to find out if the grips are original to the gun. Diamond magna grips with a 6 number series pressed into the right hand grip. Barely legible, don't match the frame serial and no K prefix.

Maybe Beckwith will pick up on this.

They never put the letter prefix on the serial number stamped grips, just the serial numbers. 1961 guns should have the standard magna grips numbered to it.

Thanks for the info.

If you mean the right hand stock is stamped with a 6 digit serial# that doesn't match your gun, they're not the original stocks. They're from 1964 thru 1966.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The never word. I have K 806 its stocks does have the k stamped with the serial on the right hand panel.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Yes, the letter prefix is occasionally stamped on the stock as well. I'd estimate 10% of the time or less.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

For a k22 at that time I think 6 digits is right ?

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

You know, I didn't say that correctly. I meant a 6XXXXX series #.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have two that the numbers are very close, but not the same. Did they just grab a close pair of grips?

Yes, Police gun stocks handled/cleaned by the dept armorer are frequently mixed up by the armorer.

But if not a police model, it's a well known mix-up at the factory during assembly before shipping. Numbers are reported to be from one digit to 2 dozen digits off.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The frame number is K43578x the grip number is 435893, I'm guessing a mismatch during assembly.

Sounds like a good guess to me and not something I'd be bothered with.
Hope it's affordable for you.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

In this situation the "K" designates the frame size the stocks are for, and only coincidentally does it correspond to the SN prefix when they are on a K-T frame. It isn't related to the stamped SN, but separated above or below the screw hole from the SN. At least every one I have seen this is the situation.

Have you ever seen Model 10, 12, etc. stocks with a either a C or D (Fixed sight models) when that is the prefix letter of the SN? I submit that you have not

Bought it yesterday, about 98%, 700 0ut the door. No box or papers but these don't show up often.
Found it in a local hock shop.

As I understand it S&W penciled (on the right panel stock) the serial number up until about 1929. Then they began to individually stamp the digits of the serial number up until about the mid 60's when they stamped all digits in a line on the bottom of the right panel stock. Around the mid to late 70's their grip production got so good they didn't need to match an individual pair of stocks to a frame and they stopped stamping the stocks. Normally they did not stamp the prefix but the SCS&W says that some Victory guns had the prefix stamped along with the serial number.

This is an example of stamping the individual digits (from a 1947 K-22)



and an example of the straight line stamping (this one has a big K on both grips and I took that to mean the frame id rather than a prefix but it does work both ways)



Here is a set off of a Change 3 Model of 1905

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Mike
S&WCA #3065