Hello S&W hive,

I have seen 2 different types of grips on the vintage big smiths and want to know what were original stocks or were they offered at the same time.

Specifically what I am talking about is on my 27-2, '77 (P&R) the left grip on the gun has a section of wood (half moon piece) at the top of the grip removed (this would be where your thumb rests). And i have seen other stocks where the left grip is complete (almost touches the cyl release) but has a dimple for your thumb to sit in.

Curious about when the grips types were introduced, are they both considered original, etc..

sorry no pics but hopefully you get the idea

If yours is a 77 gun it would be the second type you described called the "football" cutout type. The first one with that area completely removed, known as the "speedloader" cutout didn't come around 'til early 80s, about 1981-82. Neither was used as a thumb rest they were for better extraction clearance and the speedloader one for speedloader clearance.

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Dick

thanks for reply, but my gun SN is N420XXX, meaning a '77 gun and has the speedloader cutout - i suppose the grips could have been changed on it

Yes, they were. The other possibility, especially if you have a 3.5" model 27, is that it had the smaller Magna or service stocks. If you check the inside of the stocks currently on your gun you may find an ink-stamped date of production, which will likely be sometime in the 1980 decade.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220