is there a difference between service and magna grips & if so what is it? lookin for a correct pair of n frame service grips for my 1974 model 27. thanks for any input

S&W "Service stocks" are more common to pre WWII revolvers ,
They are smaller and do not extend up as high pictured below:


"Magna" stocks appear prior to WWII as an option then supplant the older service stocks after WWII (Magnas below).


IMO your 1974 era Model 27 would likely have either shipped with "Magna" stocks or "Target" stocks which are larger than Magnas,
But without a factory letter or the factory box with end label your 27 shipped in its a guess ,
Pictured below are mid 70's Model 27-2's with checkered target stocks (L) and smooth Presentation targets (R):


What is the barrel length of your Model 27-2 ?
If it is a 3.5" there is a more of a chance it shipped with Magnas than if the barrel is 5" or longer IMO but its still a guess.

The answer is a little more complicated than the question. Prior to 1935, there were no Magna stocks (as Engine49guy has suggested). At that time, S&W revolvers mostly shipped with service stocks that came up only as high as the stock circle. Some guns were exceptions (eg., the .22/32 Heavy Frame Target and the Regulation Police revolvers) which could be had with Extension stocks. Those were the "target" stocks of their day.
Shortly after WWII, the old style service stocks were no longer made and the Magna stocks became the service stocks of the period. Once target stocks became available for most models in the 1950s, the choice was between targets and Magnas (the Magna stocks had become the "service" stocks).

On the Model 27 (1958 and beyond) the guns shipped with either Targets or Magnas, as Engine49guy has stated. The Model 27-2 shown below is wearing original Magna stocks. They are numbered to the gun and the original box shows S on the end label, indicating the revolver shipped wearing Magna stocks.


A Model 27 from before 1968 would have had either Magna stocks or target stocks with a smooth diamond around the screw location.

This next picture shows the extension stocks on a prewar .22/32, as mentioned above.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Excellent information above from the usual suspects .

Note in the photo just above that those would be the correct Magna stocks for your model 27, flat bottoms and no uncheckered diamond around the stock screw. Good luck in your search.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

great information guys, the end label on the box shows an S so will be lookin for a set of magnas' for it. thanks

Does anyone know how much a good set of "Service" stocks are going for price wise?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Well, it depends. I frame, K frame, N frame? What era-1899 to 1910, 19 teens, 1920s, late '20s to 1941, WW II Victories?

Give us some info on the revolver-model, serial number, caliber, some pictures- and we can help you pin down what you need.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Last two sets nice of N frame magnas without the diamonds i saw brought 60 and 75 bucks. Higher set were black washer.

I don't have the revolver that the grips go to, unfortunately. Here is the set I have had for several years. Next to some K frame grips.

Take note that the present day Smith and Wesson Store names Magna style grips as Service Grips.

Service Grips - Smith & Wesson

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