Wondering if all the K Target stocks (silver disc type) made from goncalo alves rosewood or was walnut also offered?

I own a pair of walnut targets with the silver washer.They are presentation grips and have a bit lighter color than the older black washer walnut.

I have seen four wood species during the silver washer era

Goncalo Alves
Rosewood
Walnut
Cherry

Oh.... and edited to add, yellow/ plain wood from pallets on loading dock when S&W wood shop ran out of the good stuff

You will find Walnut, Goncalo, Rosewood were offered intermittently after 1968. Other species (Maple, Tulipwood) are sometimes found but these were mostly used for special presentation guns.

James I'm thinking this is a Walnut set with the silver washers.

Someplace in my readings I remember a reference to "Fruitwood", or South American Fruitwood.

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Dick Burg

Then there was always the infamous mid-80's "Orange Crate Wood"....

I actually like that bottom right set at least in that photo

I bought these as a lot from a gunsmith in Texas who was leaving the business. They were supposed to be "N"s. They were all "K"s and the left panels seemed to be the better side in each of them. I paid $1000 for all 6 and was sorely disappointed. Still, I kept them even though I should have sent them back... I don't need any more "K"s... I have hundreds of them.

I don't need any more "K"s... I have hundreds of them.

WOW hundreds

Literally. I started buying S&W stocks out of junk boxes and parts drawers in the very early 1970's. The stuff piles up pretty quick after 40 years or so...

I've got stocks here that I bought for $5 that are now worth $500. That's a better rate or return than the guns they were origionally on!

Cool
I'd love to see some

Here's a few that have come to me in the past two months or so....



I haven't cataloged and stashed these yet so they were close at hand.... Some highlites... Please pardon the fast-n-dirty photography...

Pre-War K Magnas. (Circa 1940)



K-Smooth-Football-Cocobolo. (Circa mid 1970's)



K-Checkered-Diamond-Football-Rosewood (Circa late 1950's)



K-Checkered-Diamond-Football-"Coke-ish" (Circa early 1960's)



N-Cokes-Goncalo. (for comparision)



K-Smooth-Football-Cocobolo. (Showing the progression in finishes based upon manufacturing era. Dull, Oiled-circa mid-to-late 1950's, Varnished-circa late 1960's, Clear Enamel-circa early 1970's.)



K-Checkered-Diamond-Football-Goncalo. (Circa 1966; probably from a Combat Magnum)



Enjoy!

Drew

I did enjoy ...Thanks

At the risk of filling my PM box, how about some shots of the New Old Stock left over from when I closed my gunshop in 1992? ...



I must admit that I "overstocked" and these didn't sell very well at their MSRP of about $45... Everyone wanted Pachmayers at the time...











There's a couple more mixed cases of this stuff in the Mancave storage locker... not even really sure what's there anymore...

I'll go check it out for you...LOL

Wow Drew, you could retire by just selling off your grips collection.

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Dick

Dick,

That thought has crossed my mind...

Drew

I'm only seeing the like button I need the hate one

Long before the shop, I used to have an open account with S&W and bought some nice wood from them...



Here's a pair of late N-Checkered-Rosewood-Footballs from the early 1980's...



Later, I had a working relationship with the local PD keeping their 50 or so Model 66's running. Alot of those guns came right out of the boxes and had their stocks stripped off immediately in favor of something black, ugly and rubber. I of course caught them before they hit the trash can...





Every couple of year, as was mandated by that State, guns recovered from crime scenes or seized by the police in the town were destroyed. I was allowed to "help out" by stripping these guns for parts... made the job all that much easier for the State Police Sgt. and his escorting Trooper who had to pick them up and take them off to the press conference at the mid-state smelter. I got even more wood that way....

I had many, many bushel baskets of stuff at one time... now most of what is left is Smith & Wesson and I'm down to several foot lockers...

Drew

Drew,

When I grow up, I want to be just like you.
You're my hero.

I have a few sets of grips; enough for my wife to complain about them. But, I'm a mere grasshopper in your presence, Sensi.

Drew, those "coke-ish" K frame stocks are the unicorn of target grips!

There has been a thread or two over the years with the topic of "K frame Cokes?" and many replies of " Nope... no such thing" followed.

I need to copy that pic for the future!

GF

Gale,

The best part is that I bought them by accident, and was mightily miffed at the time when they didn't fit an N-frame...

Drew

Many a member with that blue & white star by their name said they don't exist.............. bwaaahhahaa

Now someone will say " well..... they ain't REALLY cokes cause they ain't N frames !?! "

Blazing Saddles - We Must Do Something! Harrumph! - YouTube

Harrumph!

GF

Yup Gale ... I expect that the number of Christmas Cards I get in 2012 will be alot fewer....

I'm wondering if the orange colored grips could possibly be osage orange wood?
BTW.......that is one nice collection of stocks........I bet even S&W is in awe.
NOS.......those three letters always get my attention.

The "orange crates" are just another shade of Goncalo Alves, which can range from dark brown (nearly black) to red/orange/yellow to blonde.

Commonly called Tigerwood, you can see the range of colors when it's used as flooring:

Those K frame coke like ones are they like the N-frame ones in the other ways as well?

I found these grips at a local gun show for $10...they appear to be custom made as there are no markings...they fit the gun well as well as my hand...anyone know anything about them??

This thread needs a bump. Drew, that was impressive and I wouldn't mind seeing more of your collection of wood if you already have it photographed and care to share.

Unreal.

You always put on a good show here - thank you.

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Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.

I'm most interested in the coke-ish K's.
I sent him a Christmas card last year

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Which are those? The checkered K Diamonds?

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Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.

Don't really know what kind of wood these smooth K-grips are. Any help?

mkk41,

I would put my money on Goncalo Alves. The color and grain can vary greatly. See posts above for examples.

They are very nice nevertheless.

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Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa.

Yes this set

http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/h...n/IMG_4590.jpg

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Avery, Paul

I've been a little busy with new grandkids and all... sorry I missed the bump. I'll dig those K stocks out and rephotograph them when I get a chance.

But I'll tell you what, a pair of the rarest stocks going were GIFTED to me recently by a kind fellow forumite and his son.

This is a pair of N-Frame, Square, Smooth, Goncalo Modified Magnas. I've never seen another pair. EVER.



My research has come up dry. All I can think of is that they were a one-off special order, but being of late, silver washer production, this sort of thing was not common in that era....

I immediately put them to work on my 58-44.



Thanks Paul! You too Hunter!

Drew

This is a pair of N-Frame, Square, Smooth, Goncalo Modified Magnas. I've never seen another pair. EVER.

That is AWESOME Drew

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

And I will be forever grateful to you and Hunter for them.

Allow me to bump this thread to the top. The 6 inch, early 19-2 in this photo, is wearing K frame cokes. They really do exist. Drew has held this gun in his hands, and I know he will concur.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

I have indeed held that gun in my hands... both of them in fact. Seems to me that I recall shooting them a time or two as well!

I did a post recently called "Grip Collectors" wondering where and how to store them. Never thought about bushel baskets.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

It's what I had available at the time...

One poster replied that he wanted to be just like you when he grows up and that is a fine goal to set but since I'm already OLD I would settle for being in your WILL! You Sir, show uncanny foresight and I admire you for it. Nice wood pile!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198