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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 08-08-2018, 09:57 AM
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Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from?  
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Default Where did the term magna come from?

In the book I earlier posted about. Never heard so ...
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Old 08-08-2018, 10:04 AM
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Maybe from Magni the Norse god?
Magna is the feminine name also meaning Mighty or Strong
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Old 08-08-2018, 10:21 AM
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Magna would mean large in my way of thinking and these new stocks were much larger and more hand filling that the service stocks that they replaced.
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Old 08-08-2018, 11:43 AM
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Magnus comes from late Roman/early medieval Latin and was used in names as “Great”. For example, the Frankish emperor Charlemagne (around 800 A.D.) was Carolus Magnus in the written sources. The Scandinavian names derive from that, and obviously, ultimately both S&W’s Magnum and Magna. As for the details, I’m hoping for other folks’ insights
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Old 08-08-2018, 11:51 AM
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Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from?  
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Magnum has been in use for a long time to describe a double size bottle of wine. Perhaps "Magna" is a derivation from this. And of course it could also have derived from the 357 Magnum .
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Old 08-08-2018, 11:59 AM
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Guys. Read the page ...it says it above the drawing
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Old 08-08-2018, 12:20 PM
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Interesting the comment about the "filler" being needed...

I have asked many times what S&W had in mind all those many years ago for how you should hold & shoot a revolver bearing Magna grips. Nobody has ever answered me.

Maybe nobody knows what the mothership had in mind. They sure do look purdy (IMHO), but I admit that I'm still not sure how the gun was intended to be held without a space filler.
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Old 08-08-2018, 12:20 PM
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Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from? Where did the term magna come from?  
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What I cannot understand is how anyone ever liked the feel of these in your hand when shooting. Yes, we are all different... targets or combats or presentation stocks all "fill my hand" but the Magna stocks just don't give me enough to grab on to.

Maybe if my hands were smaller, I don't know. I think these look decent and historic but for shooting -- I find them awful, just awful, as if they couldn't have done much worse.

These stocks made a whole aftermarket industry... first for the T-grip or similar by a few companies, and then for aftermarket stock and later rubber grip makers.

The original classic Magna stocks are perfect for a gun that never gets shot.
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Old 08-08-2018, 12:54 PM
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Smith & Wesson wasn't the only one. Colt, and later on, Ruger both had standard grips more or less along the Magna lines. Mostly because I suspect, they were cheap.

We used to joke, about half seriously, that when Ruger went into business, they bought one tree to make grips from....and they were still using it.
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Old 08-08-2018, 01:18 PM
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Magna from Latin and ancient Greek, means great, or large. We all (hopefully ) studied Great Britain's Magna Carta in school, which literally means great, or large, paper.
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Old 08-08-2018, 01:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CajunBass View Post
We used to joke, about half seriously, that when Ruger went into business, they bought one tree to make grips from....and they were still using it.
Haha! I have heard that one but it's been a while, too long actually. Always got a chuckle from it!

It may be sharing the idea that while you never knew what kind of a wood grain, pattern or color you might get in a S&W stock (which was half the fun!) you always got the same bland looking thing from Ruger.

It's a funny little Gunism from days gone by and thanks for reminding us of it!
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Old 08-08-2018, 02:03 PM
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Interesting for sure.

All my Magna stocks get Tyler or Pachmayr Ts. I like Magnas but I like them a lot more with Ts attached.







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Old 08-08-2018, 02:07 PM
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Old 08-08-2018, 02:17 PM
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Obviously, both Magna and Magnum are derived from the Latin Magnus, one the feminine and the other the neuter form. Using Magnum for a 2-quart bottle goes back to the 18th century, according to various etymology references.

The naming story in the OP’s book is cute, but since S&W trademarked the Magnum term for the caliber and gun in the 1930s and the first Magna stocks also appeared thereabout, it seems likely the same creative mind in the marketing department thought up both.
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