Did S&W make thier wooden Magna & Target grips in house , or buy them from one or more outside suppliers?

Home made!

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"I also cook."

They used to make them at the factory. Back in the late 80s I got to tour the factory a couple times while attending the armorer's school. The grip makers would sit at a machine which cut out the shape and the checkering while another guy would be picking out the wood...slabs of walnut about 3 feet long and six inches wide. The two finished pieces were usually kept together which resulted in the "bookmatching" of the grain which is so sought after these days. I cringed when the guy picking out the wood would throw the rejected pieces out the window into a dumpster below.

OK , thanks!

But do they still make them , as the new 'Classic' grips are noticably different than the older ones.




New,


vs 'Old'

I believe the "new" in your photos are made by Almont. The "old" are S&W.

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"I also cook."

I think S&W closed the grip shop in the early/mid 1990's

I read someplace that S&W got rid of all the woodworking equipment.

So no more in house made stocks

I spoke to S&W customer service a few weeks ago about this.
They do NOT make them in house anymore.

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Thanks , that's what I wanted to know.

Don't 'TupperWare' and 'Rooms To Go' make the new ones ??

What will add much confusion in the future is that clone manufacturers are installing S&W logo on their grips and simply stating they are J, K, L, or N frame "S&W" grips. The implication they are "original" S&W factory made grips should create a "buyer beware" consideration. This is especially true with earlier "football" and speed-loader cut target grips where escalating prices of the old grips are feeding a clone market.

For those concerned about "correctness" with their guns, this practice is going to be a problem for many people in the future when they discover they had paid much more for their clone grips than they should have.

JMHO

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Terry

This is a very interesting thread. Does anyone know who makes the service grips that S&W currently sells? For instance, the K-Frame SBmagnas (or the modern equivalent) are substantially different than the old ones. I don't mean the issue grips, but the separate panels. Just kind of curious. I notice that Ahrends even includes an explanation of why they do not include the S&W medallions on their grips, which seems to include the ones sold on S&Ws website.