Hello all ~ Please forgive the long post but I wanted to share this with all of you as it is my pride and joy!

I was lucky enough some time ago to pick up this S&W, ""S" prefixed, model 29-2 with a 6 1/2" barrel. Although it isn't lettered from Roy Jinks as of yet (it will be) a fellow S&W collector friend of mine feels it was shipped in +/- 1964. The gun itself is in tip top condition and cosmetically has an extremely faint cylinder turn line with a very light rub to the bluing at the highest point of the front site (more than likely from laying in the presentation box for years). I have not and will not fire it but I have tested both SA and DA with the cylinder open - its fantastic, locks up as new. Sadly and from what I have been able to find out, the owner sold the original box as well as the original cokes and replaced the grips with a late 1970s pair. I looked into a set of reproductions but decided I will just wait and try to find an original set of cokes for it.

One may ask "what's historical about the grips then?" Well, I love to study the American Civil War and I also love Gettysburg. I drive down there many times during the year and I would live there if my wife would go with me - she hates history and won't go! Anyway, there are several trees on the Gettysburg field that we refer to as "witness trees". These few trees have been photographically proven to have stood and witnessed the battle which took place on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863. At times, these trees become victims of their age, weather or both and occasionally, all or a part of them end up on the ground. The National Park Service does not allow the public to take any of this wood but will auction it off at times.

That brings me to a good friend of mine that lives in Gettysburg who is able to purchase small amounts of the wood at auction. Bob then takes this wood and makes various items from it including ink pens and exact duplicate replicas of artillery shells used during the war. The shell in the photo as well as the grips on the gun are from a maple tree that stood on the Codori Farm in Gettysburg which is pretty much in the middle of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge. This tree fell victim a few years ago to the weather and Bob was able to buy a little of it. While it stood however, it witnessed a great deal of action during the battle and found itself right in the middle of what history now calls Pickett's Charge (I call it "Longstreet's Assault" first and "Lee's Big Blunder" second).

I bought the maple shell from Bob and he also gave me a small piece which I then sent off to Kim Ahrend. Kim was then able to make me a pair of grips for a square butt "K" frame and the square butt "N" frame pictured below.

So, at least to me, both the gun, the wood on the gun and the shell have an immense historical significance. These grips will stay with this gun until such time as I croak! If I ever find an original set of cokes I will buy those for my wife when she sells it as she hates guns also!!

I hope y'all enjoy this story and pictures!

PA Reb

What a hawg leg!

Incredibly cool!!!

Very nice story and grips,

My GGG GF plus his 3 brothers & cousin were all in the CSA Florida 7th Infantry Co B, One of the things I plan to do when I retire is tour the battle grounds their unit fought at.

PA Reb - nice pictures and story - thanks for sharing.
FYI - our Historian is Roy Jinks

Whoops! I fixed it - thanks!

PA Reb, the grips are great and the story is even better.

My Great grandfather was in CSA 7th Florida infantry, Co C. They may have known each other.

Pretty neat stuff. I believe that unit did most of its fighting in the western theater with the Army of Tennessee. Good luck with your quest!

Yep, Chattanooga and Chickamauga.

Yes they probably did as the Florida 7th became part of the army of Tennessee and fought together.

Here is a Link to the 7th Co B roster
My relatives were all Whidden or Whiddon (spelled either way back then).

The South Florida Rifles

Had to look up Trenton and its just north of where they lived near Pasco Co area,
They were the first white settlers there and fought alot of Indians.

Bravo! Great story.

Very nice

Thanks for the story & pics. Wife & I went to Gettysburg last year, really enjoyed it.

Love those stocks!

Anything that has a story like that has always interested. I always like touching objects that have an historical link.

Very very cool sir.

I liked everything in this thread! The story of the witness trees is to cool. Finding other people, rather the familys, who's ancestors fought in the war...That is priceless. Thanks for sharing?

__________________
2 Timothy 1:7

Co. B was recruited in Hernando county, Company C was from Alachua.
My son is a senior in high school. One of his classmates is also from one of the old Florida families, and his ggg granfather is this guy, who commanded a Florida regiment in Pickett's charge. Made for some interesting discussions during history class.