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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 01-23-2021, 05:56 PM
huskerbob huskerbob is offline
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Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors??? Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors??? Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors??? Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors??? Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors???  
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Default Grips - S&W 1903 .32 Hand Ejectors???

I have a .32 Hand Ejector that I've been told is a 1903 - 4th Change built in 1910. The gun has M.O.P. grips. I understand those were not the standard grips.

My question is, did S&W offer those as an option on that gun or would they have been an 'after-market" add-on?

Thanks, I've tried to research it on the web but have come up empty.
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Old 01-23-2021, 07:13 PM
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If they have a gold S&W medallion, they're factory, if not , they're dealer installed. It was pretty common for dealers back then to "jazz up" nickel guns with MOP grips. These are factory grips (K frame 32-20)



3rd model M frame:

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Old 01-23-2021, 07:29 PM
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Mine do not have a Medallion so 'dealer installed' I guess.

Thanks!!
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Old 01-23-2021, 07:38 PM
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Or owner installed. Ed
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Old 01-23-2021, 07:54 PM
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If you get a letter it will usually tell you if the gun shipped with MOP.

That's really the only way to know for sure if they are real factory MOP grips (i.e. have the medallion, which I suppose isn't even 100% because someone could install a medallion in an after market pair).
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Old 01-23-2021, 10:01 PM
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I sent my request for a letter earlier today!!

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Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet View Post
If you get a letter it will usually tell you if the gun shipped with MOP.

That's really the only way to know for sure if they are real factory MOP grips (i.e. have the medallion, which I suppose isn't even 100% because someone could install a medallion in an after market pair).
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Old 01-23-2021, 11:33 PM
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Question: M.O.P. = Mother Of Pearl? Thanks.
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Old 01-24-2021, 12:03 AM
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Yup.............Mother of Pearl

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Question: M.O.P. = Mother Of Pearl? Thanks.
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Old 01-24-2021, 03:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SixgunStrumpet View Post
If you get a letter it will usually tell you if the gun shipped with MOP.
True.

Quote:
That's really the only way to know for sure if they are real factory MOP grips (i.e. have the medallion, which I suppose isn't even 100% because someone could install a medallion in an after market pair).
In MOP? For an I frame? Really? Aftemarket MOP's are usually too thin to mount anything.
I guess anything is possible...
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Old 01-24-2021, 03:13 PM
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Here's the gun........................
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Old 01-24-2021, 03:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delcrossv View Post
In MOP? For an I frame? Really? Aftemarket MOP's are usually too thin to mount anything.
I guess anything is possible...
Not as unusual as you might think. I looked at a very nice little 4" 32 HE at the gunshow yesterday and it had a very nice set of MOPS on it. For $395 I was pretty tempted.
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Old 01-24-2021, 05:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38 View Post
Not as unusual as you might think. I looked at a very nice little 4" 32 HE at the gunshow yesterday and it had a very nice set of MOPS on it. For $395 I was pretty tempted.
Oh aftermarket (and factory) MOP's for I frames are out there. Have a few myself.
Sixgun was talking about installing medallions on aftermarket MOP grips to make "faux" factory grips.

I can't get the economics of that. Too much hassle for not enough gain.
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Old 01-24-2021, 05:50 PM
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Factory pearl stocks before 1898 did not have medallions, but were the same thickness as wood or hard rubber stocks of the time. Measuring a set of hard rubber stocks below the screw where they are the thickest and compare to your set will tell you if they are likely originally from the factory or not. It is possible that someone could get hold of a set of original 38 DA pearls and put them on an I frame from a later period. Anything after 1898 should always have medallions. Chronology is below.

Originally, Smith & Wesson pearl grips were made without any medallions, and no pearl grips at the Columbian Exposition in 1893 had them. The company (S&W) discovered that rather than purchasing guns with pearl grips from Smith & Wesson, distributors bought guns with standard factory grips and installed cheaper third-party pearl grips. To protect its reputation, and profit, the company started placing gold-plated Smith & Wesson trademark medallions on all factory pearl grips in 1898. At the same time, the factory also replaced the pearl grips on its 1893 display guns with new medallion grips.

Robinson was one of the suppliers of the pearl blanks to S&W and had been making pearl stocks as well as ivory going back to about 1868. The factory stopped purchasing MOP blanks around 1910 and worked off inventory until they were gone. Around the late 1930s, S&W ran out of inventory pearl stocks, stating they could no longer rely on obtaining quality pearl for stocks.
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Old 01-24-2021, 09:29 PM
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The poster's gun was shipped with black hard rubber stocks, so the pearls are an after market addition by either the dealer or a susbsequent owner.
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Old 01-24-2021, 10:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delcrossv View Post
Oh aftermarket (and factory) MOP's for I frames are out there. Have a few myself.
Sixgun was talking about installing medallions on aftermarket MOP grips to make "faux" factory grips.

I can't get the economics of that. Too much hassle for not enough gain.
Gotcha. I misunderstood what you were saying.
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Old 01-24-2021, 10:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glowe View Post
Factory pearl stocks before 1898 did not have medallions, but were the same thickness as wood or hard rubber stocks of the time. Measuring a set of hard rubber stocks below the screw where they are the thickest and compare to your set will tell you if they are likely originally from the factory or not. It is possible that someone could get hold of a set of original 38 DA pearls and put them on an I frame from a later period. Anything after 1898 should always have medallions. Chronology is below.

Originally, Smith & Wesson pearl grips were made without any medallions, and no pearl grips at the Columbian Exposition in 1893 had them. The company (S&W) discovered that rather than purchasing guns with pearl grips from Smith & Wesson, distributors bought guns with standard factory grips and installed cheaper third-party pearl grips. To protect its reputation, and profit, the company started placing gold-plated Smith & Wesson trademark medallions on all factory pearl grips in 1898. At the same time, the factory also replaced the pearl grips on its 1893 display guns with new medallion grips.

Robinson was one of the suppliers of the pearl blanks to S&W and had been making pearl stocks as well as ivory going back to about 1868. The factory stopped purchasing MOP blanks around 1910 and worked off inventory until they were gone. Around the late 1930s, S&W ran out of inventory pearl stocks, stating they could no longer rely on obtaining quality pearl for stocks.
Yes sir, while this is not one of the nicest Smiths in my small collection, the grips are some of my favorites. Especially since Roy confirmed it shipped from the factory in February 1890 with these Pearl Grips (and no medallions) as you noted. Your history of these is much appreciated!
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Old 01-25-2021, 12:58 AM
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I am sure this has been pointed out, but handling factory vs aftermarket pearl grips will quickly reveal the difference. Factory ones are thicker. I have read this is the reason S&W stopped offering them as they could no longer get thick enough pearl material to make them from.
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Old 05-20-2021, 03:38 PM
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I received my factory letter on my late Dad's 1903 Hand Ejector from Smith and Wesson today!

The gun was shipped from S&W on Dec. 21, 1909 and was delivered to Anderson Co., Anderson, California. It was shipped with a 3.25 inch barrel, a nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips. The gun was 1 of 5 in that shipment.

Somewhere along the line someone who's name is lost to time, treated the revolver to a set of M.O.P. grip panels.

Nothing shocking or very historic was revealed in the letter but at least now, as Paul Harvey liked to say, I know "The Rest of the Story"!!!

Thanks for the info Mr. Jinks!!!
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