I picked up a set of J-round magnas at a gun show last year. They have blued washers, are numbered 41138, and fit my 1983 M36 perfectly.
jmagnasoi.JPG

The screw is smaller than the "normal" J-frame grip screw (top and left in the picture). The shaft mics at .095", vs. the shaft of the "normal" screw at .120".
jmagnascrews.JPG

So, the question is, "was there a period when S&W used these smaller screws for J-frame grips?"

Or is this just one of those unexplained oddities of S&W grippage?

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Lorin

Lorin - the smaller screw is normal. From all the early j frame grips I've had and seen, they were used on the earliest and used til early 70's. From your serial number, the non diamond front and the dark washers - I'd date them to 1969-1970

(I just noticed that I posted this in the wrong forum.)

Thanks for the information, Mike. I guess this is the first set of "early" J-frame magnas I've seen.

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Lorin

I have some early J frame targets with the black washers. They also have the small escutcheons and screw.
It's kinda like old cars and parts...................based on the characteristics and features of an item, a ballpark date can be determined.

Non-diamond with blued steel circle inserts should date somewhere between 1967 and 1974. With that number, I'm guessing it was from an "M" or "H" prefix gun.

Grippage'??

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