Hello Smith and Wesson lovers! I have a question: I have a 1963 model 19-2 Combat Magnum with the box and paperwork with the Goncalo Alves diamond target grips but I noticed that the grips are shorter than regular target grips with it only going the length of the square butt grip frame and the serial number showing on the bottom. I've never seen this before. Was it a regular factory grip or a Special run? I took the grips off and put on another vintage pair of target stocks with the speedloader cutout since it is a EDC revolver

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My money is neither.
I believe they are a product of bubbas wood shop.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Many revolver owners that are accomplished wood workers modified their grips in an assorted number of ways.

These are just one example

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"Acta non verba"

Hey watch who you're calling "Bubba"....

I made a couple sets of those back in the early 80s...... for both round and square butt K-frame guns......... before anyone was offering "Boot Grips"... since discovering C Spegel haven't had the need for shortened factory grips.


Taking 3/8 off the bottom really lessens the bulk for concealed carry...... old wood factory target stocks were about $5 a set in many LGSs.

Bubba did a good job, for a change.

I bought a 4" 28 that had the
Same treatment. What a shame!

These look to be a fairly early set of K frame square butt Target stocks due to the wider checkering pattern. Even though they have been shortened I’m sure they are quite functional.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Left out in the rain, no doubt.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Those look nicer than the sanded K frame grips that came on an N frame gun I bought on a local website a few years ago!

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

I bought a Combat Magnum several years ago that appears to be unfired since the factory. Interesting thing is that the Diamond Target grips were severely modified (butchered). While nothing to look at, they are the most comfortable set of grips I have. That with the caveat that I have small hands and short fingers.

Its amazing the trouble someone went to to modify the grips when it appears the owner never fired it.

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Bill

A couple years ago I bought a bunch of gun shop junk box grips for $3 each. There was a Fuzzy Farrants in there and some shortened N frames sanded right over the checkering. They looked horrible but felt great so I gave two sets of grips to the late S&W Forum member “Gatorbaiter” who then recheckered and refinished them. I found out later they were originally cokes. They feel excellent on this 27-2. There were also shortened K frames that you can see here. They feel great on a gun, too, just like yours do. They are probably too dinged up to fix, though.

If they are not factory, but work/feel great, they are not butchered. They were apparently carefully modified.

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NHI, 10-8.

Collectors today get all hot and bothered by what is, and what is not original to the weapon.

As a cop from this era, the first thing you did when buying a new revolver was remove the original grips and place a more effective pair on the weapon.

We were NOT buying heirlooms.... we were buying WEAPONS.

Whatever made it easier to use, or more effective was done without hesitation.

If it meant buying a new pair of grips or the modification of originals, or the filing down of the front sight on a fixed sighted revolver... so be it.

Back when you could buy used Target Stocks on ebay or gun shows for under $20 I bought a pair of Smooth Target Stocks that had some wear to the varnish and scratches on the bottom of the butt. I used a fine tooth cabinet saw and cut half of the length off the bottoms, the bottom of the grip frame is still covered by wood. I also reduced the circumference at the bottom a little and beveled the edges and then TruOiled them. They are much more comfortable than the standard size and seem better suited for a K Frame with a short barrel. Here they are on a Model 15.

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The smooth targets kind of had something going on with their finish. I have noted a lot of them that are yellowed, or just look plain awful. I bought a pair of them a few years ago that I picked out of a dealers junk box for 10 bucks. They were solid and undamaged, but were just bad looking.

I stripped them and tru oiled them, and not they actually have nice grain and are pleasant to look at. They currently live on my 686 no dash silhouette. I don't think I could have brought myself to chop and channel them though.

Who is this "We" you speak of?
"I" first pinned on a badge in 1977. I was a gun guy for oh, probably 2 or 3 years before that.
Where I was in Colorado, firearms were not "weapons" to be modified or swapped around at will. In fact, nearly all of our rangemasters (there were 6 or 7 in the Firearms Unit) were competitive shooters. They taught "love" for these finely crafted pieces of machinery. I was more than happy to learn it all. It was a sad day when any of them retired. I haven't lost the appreciation, though.
Anyway, with that background, it's a surprise that I don't see a problem with modifying a set of stocks. They were, indeed, very cheap back then. If I recall correctly, even the most expensive were only $30 or so. I saw all manner of carved and bejeweled grips among the cops I worked with. Inlaid initials, brass headknocker plates on the bottom (had one of those myself, badge number and initials engraved in Olde English script,) lacquer and other high polishes, too. It was a great time to be alive.
The point of all this is that yes, grips, at least, were indeed changed, modified, etc., but artistic quality was just as important as functionality. It was an honor to be told,"Man, those are some beautiful grips you got there!" from a fellow officer.
And that's my thought for the day.

I certainly can't speak for Colorado.... But, in New Jersey grip changes were like changing socks

I went through more pairs of S&W, Pachmyers, Tyler "T" grips and others before I was able to get a pair and find happiness with Fuzzy Ferants.

Maybe we were not micro managed like you guys were.

The concern for my guys was.... can you put lead on target.

Here is a set that are still in use today. Did these in 1976, cut down from a pair of smooth square targets. Wanted a pair smaller than targets and larger than magnas. Kept experimenting with these until they felt good in my hand, altered for function and not for looks. However, I ended altering some for other officers who wanted "a pair just like that".

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I LIKE those stocks!
I must say, that's some superior work. I have 2 or 3 sets of those old K frame round-butt targets. Every time I see them, it brings all sorts of woodworking projects to mind. The resale value these days, though, makes me put them right back in the box.
I do have a set of butchered square targets, rosewood I think, with gouging in the bottom, dings and scratches everywhere, and even a number in White Out on there, too. Fair game.

I would be of the "We" referred to.

First thing I did back in the Jurrasic was to swap wood for Pachmayr rubber. LOTS less inclined to be beaten up getting in/out of patrol car. I did use wood from time to time, mainly in plainclothes as they looked less "cop" that way.

Eventually I settled on Magnas with T Grips on almost all carry guns, and still prefer those today.

But back then Goncalo Alves Targets were literally $5 in a LGS "junk box " . A "Coke " was in a green glass bottle and cost a quarter in a drink machine.

Yes they are the original grips from 1963 and even though they are boot grips they are extremely comfortable. I just took them off to preserve them and put on a vintage pair of speedloader grips because it's a carry gun.

Excellent! Hey I think thry look great, and if you like the way thry feel go for it!

Here's another set of stock grips modified to tick off the purists. I did try other grips, including Pachmayrs, but didn't like them.

I bought this 25-5 .45 Colt new in 1989. I filed and sanded the grips until I got them where I wanted and haven't regretted it one bit. Very comfortable and a pleasure to shoot.

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Did the same Boot Grip cut to a used set of rosewood grips back in the 80's myself. They fit my hand very well. If you think that's ugly try hockey taped synthetic grips on S&W automatics.

As mentioned “back in the day” the thing to do was swap wood for rubber, and being a gun guy back during the revolver era, it was rare to see a cop carrying a revolver with wood grips. Also mentioned, back then most dealers had boxes full of take off wood grips, mostly magnas. Dirt cheap. How fashions change. Now everyone wants wood, and at times you can still find old take offs in junk boxes at shops and shows cheap

Well, day by day I'm happier to participate to this forum. I'm buying these stocks , of course modified, and I hesitate to close the deal. Now I can say I'll go on .

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Was at a tiny gun show today. Guy had a 15-3 two inch for sale. The combat grips were cutoff to show the serial number on the butt. I had never seen that before. He wanted $800 an I offered $600. No sale. The bluing was OK but not that great.