How common were Magna grips on the pre-war 38/44s? Assuming the grips number to the gun, what is an approximate value of one in about 90% condition with a 5-inch barrel?

Magna grips were hot items in the S&W market when they first appeared in the mid 1930s, being offered for the N Frame Registered Magnums as well as the 38/44s, as an alternative to the Grip Adapters, offering the shooter a much better hold on the N frame guns. Once they were available, I believe they were ordered much more than the older style service grips, however it's a matter of judgement as to whether that made them "common." You will have to post a full set of good photos to get any value opinion. Ed.

Unfortunately I don't have any "good" photos yet, but from what I can see the grips look good. Finish condition is hard to judge.

There is something about the grips which does not look exactly right to me. Can you post a picture of the back sides? The metal disc (washer) on the back will be distinctive in identifying a correct pair of pre-war Magnas. If you are considering a purchase you should definitely establish the grips are correct and have a SN which matches the gun's SN.

I thought the profile of the grips looked like maybe they had been sanded, the medalion seems to be in a little hump of wood. Also, the metal looks a little weird, make sure you confirm original finish. If original grips and original finish are legit, the gun should be worth maybe a grand, but if either are refinished, not so much. If it's a refinish, it could still be a great shooer, but make sure the barrel and cylinder bores are clean. I have heard some are bored out to .357, if that's your taste in a shooter, that could be cool, but a hit on resale value.

I'm going with reworked grips and reblue. Nonetheless, could be nice shooter. Any markings on the grip frame under the left stocks? I have a refinished pre-war HD that I wouldn't trade for anything. Don't pay all an original price without much thought.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I'm glad I'm not the first to opine that it appears that both the gun and the stocks have been freshened up a bit. The profile at the top of the grips is what I'm seeing that makes me think they've been worked on. Can't see enough of the metal finish with all the glare from the flash to say for sure, but it looks suspect too.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Off the top of my head, manga grips became standard on the Heavy Duty in the 47000 serial number range. The HD in the pic is below 50000 serial number range.

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38-44heavyduty.com

I have seen a fair number of HDs which have been rechambered to accept .357, and in fact own one of them myself. It was something simply done, and many owners did it, or had it done by the local gunsmith. From a shooter perspective, there is nothing particularly bad about it, but it does negatively affect value if done on a high-condition HD. So be wary before you buy it. As previously stated, there are definitely several reasons to be suspicious about its originality.

Thanks for the opinions. I will give it a good inspection.

Good news and bad news. I bought the gun. All numbers match including the grips and the finish is original and excellent. Has a turn line and some wear marks on the side plate but the rest is solidly 95-98 percent. Now the bad news. Somebody ground or filed the bottom of the lefthand grip panel, maybe to remove some damage or initials, but there is about a 1/16 inch gap to the edge of the frame. And the right side horn is cracked, but not detached.

I probably paid fair market for it, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for pre-war N frames.

VALUE: SCSW shows them at $600 (Exc) and $750 (New). Your's are of the early variety, which some feel are more desirable. I shall not comment on the SCSW value estimate (other than the fact they're three years old (+/-)), but I've seen/heard of sets changing hands at $1,000(+).

Ralph Tremaine

And having now read the words that go along with the pictures, send the grips off to DWFAN. They will return with no cracks, gouges or anything else besides wood---and a dab of finishing oil.

Everything certainly looks a lot better than in the pics provided by the seller....

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

For the grips or the whole gun?

He is referring to the grips

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38-44heavyduty.com

He is referring to the grips

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38-44heavyduty.com

I found a pre-war Heavy Duty box at a local gun show yesterday. It's filthy dirty, with some kind of gummy film all over the surface, a little musty, but in great structural shape. Is this the correct box for this gun?

bigwagon- if the grips bother you, contact member DWFAN.
He can restore your stocks to include fixing the length on the shortened panel...….. He is a wood Magician.

Yup. Already contacted him. I would have already sent them out but he's booked up until Oct.

Those grips have lost their sharp shoulder, IMO. Someone did a melting job on them as well as shortening the panel. They might be pre-war but they won't bring top dollar. Maybe Paul can fix that as well. I'd like to see them afterward. Here are the period correct magnas I put on my RM for comparison.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I've got a local offer on this pistol for $1350. Does that seem like a good price?