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10-13-2017, 07:53 AM
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Came across a Model 17-3...
In my travels the other day, I stopped at a gun shop and found an "as-new-in-box" Model 17-3 (1971 vintage) wearing either real or fake plain white ivory grips. It was a consignment gun from someone's collection... possibly unfired based on other guns there from the same collection. Even the box was pristine perfect. Price tag was not cheap but not crazy high either and more-or-less competitive with what really nice Model 17's go for around my area. I have to admit that I was taken with the attractive contrast between the perfect condition blued gun and the seemingly flawless white grips. I found a photo (below) on the Interwebs of a similar Model 17, albeit long barrelled.
Question for the Guru's: Back in 1971 when this gun left the factory, were fake or real ivory grips offered as a factory option? I don't see any references to such grips in the Bible but it's curious that the gun is being sold not wearing it's original factory wood grips like the others from the same person's collection. If they are factory ivory grips, real or fake, I may be interested in purchasing the gun.
For the record, I already own one Model 17-2 so this isn't a critical purchase or a "grail" gun issue any longer. If those grips aren't factory, I may be better off just buying a modern, high-end, third party set of fake ivory grips for the "look" until I get eventually tire of it and go back to wood.
Last edited by TTSH; 10-13-2017 at 07:56 AM.
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10-13-2017, 08:42 AM
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My Model 17-3 is also a 1971 gun, and is all factory original 3T configuration including the deep relief target stocks. I don't recall seeing any S&W factory published literature showing grip options, but that doesn't mean there was not any, or that a special order was not placed.
I also have a Model 637-2 (circa 2000) snubbie that was factory supplied with Rosewood finger groove combats. The grips were not dealer installed, it came as you see it, and the grips may have been made for S & W by Altamont as I saw these apparently same grips years later in a Altamont catalog for $75.00 plus S & H.
Neither my 17 or the 637 are Lettered and probably never will be so I cannot state with absolute backup proof, but "factory" could be possible on those ivories....imitation or not.
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Charlie B
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10-13-2017, 08:53 AM
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TTSH check out Executioners/Grasshorn's....... no bark stag grips. About $150 these days and he can add S&W ..... logo "grip medallions" +$20?????
Got a set on my RM that came w/o it's original grips.........
Cmansguns....... the full cut out/speedloader grips weren't introduced until the "mid-70s"
Last edited by BAM-BAM; 10-13-2017 at 08:57 AM.
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10-13-2017, 09:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmansguns
Neither my 17 or the 637 are Lettered and probably never will be so I cannot state with absolute backup proof, but "factory" could be possible on those ivories....imitation or not.
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The Bible talks about ivory and fake ivory grips but only in a general way. In other words, they were clearly offered by the mothership from time to time but nothing specific. Were special orders still a big thing in 1971? I'm guessing that if they are genuine S&W grips, they were probably something sold separately as one of many available factory replacement grips.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BAM-BAM
TTSH check out Executioners/Grasshorn's....... no bark stag grips. About $150 these days and he can add S&W ..... logo "grip medallions" +$20?????
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I did... a very cool look Bam. The artistry of the grip maker can be extraordinary. But that pristine 17-3 with those fake or real ivory grips was just perfect. I'm already dropping hints that maybe my good wife might consider getting me the gun for Christmas!
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10-13-2017, 11:30 AM
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Hello Bam
When I bought the Model 17 it came as shown and with those deep relief grips. There was such a negligible turn line then that I almost thought "as-new" but again...I just bought the gun and since it was a private sale from a known good guy, there was no "story" involved so as I said earlier, I never Lettered and probably won't.
My serial number is 3 K 4468, and SCSW 4th shows 1971 serial number range from 3 K 1 to 3 K 31279 so I'm thinking maybe it was made in 1971, but didn't ship until years later (with those stocks) or the stocks were changed by someone before me (it had two prior owners I heard).
Either way I love the gun for balance (a little better for me than my Model 34 with my hands...not the best for wife and daughters) and accuracy, even plinking and I never looked for a speed loader for 22LR, so don't have the need for the deep relief.
Is there some documentation about the introduction date for the deep relief stocks that narrows down the year(s) when they were factory installs vs accessory sales? Do you know what the factory code for the stocks would be if an original K frame came with these and still had the original box?
Thanks for the updates and as always.........I learn something new about our collecting hobby, shooting sports, and S&W in particular, every single time I get on this wonderful site.
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Charlie B
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10-13-2017, 12:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmansguns
Hello Bam
When I bought the Model 17 it came as shown and with those deep relief grips. There was such a negligible turn line then that I almost thought "as-new" but again...I just bought the gun and since it was a private sale from a known good guy, there was no "story" involved so as I said earlier, I never Lettered and probably won't.
My serial number is 3 K 4468, and SCSW 4th shows 1971 serial number range from 3 K 1 to 3 K 31279 so I'm thinking maybe it was made in 1971, but didn't ship until years later (with those stocks) or the stocks were changed by someone before me (it had two prior owners I heard).
Either way I love the gun for balance (a little better for me than my Model 34 with my hands...not the best for wife and daughters) and accuracy, even plinking and I never looked for a speed loader for 22LR, so don't have the need for the deep relief.
Is there some documentation about the introduction date for the deep relief stocks that narrows down the year(s) when they were factory installs vs accessory sales? Do you know what the factory code for the stocks would be if an original K frame came with these and still had the original box?
Thanks for the updates and as always.........I learn something new about our collecting hobby, shooting sports, and S&W in particular, every single time I get on this wonderful site.
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I was quoting the SCS&W 4th; "mid-70s"..... we all know S&W is; never say never, and never ever throws anything away.............all 17s I've seen were shipped with Magna grips/only reference in SCS&W is to Magna Style grips ....... but many many switch to Target grips.
Sold a pre-17 (1948) last year that had no-relief targets from the mid-50s
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