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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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Old 03-25-2017, 09:58 AM
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Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative?  
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Default Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative?

I purchased a side plate recently that was suppose to be S&W NOS and thought it would be a side plate for the E.K. N frame Commemorative that S&W made a few years back..but this is for a K or L frame,and just different enough in the profile engraving to peak my curiosity as it is not an exact copy of the engraving on the side plate of the N frame Commemorative. Did S&W make a K/L frame Elmer Keith Commemorative? I actually like it better than the N frame profile S&W did use. I have a snubby model 10 that may end up with this on it..
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Old 03-25-2017, 11:02 AM
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Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative?  
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Gotta love Elmer!
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Old 03-25-2017, 05:36 PM
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Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative? Elmer Keith K/L frame commemorative?  
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Here are more shots of the plate. It sure looks like this might have been assembled to a frame once, it has an assembly number on it..so either someone took it off a finished revolver..or possibly the E.K. Comm. etching was tried on a K frame...and then S&W decided to go with the N frame for more room? Then, just disassembled the K gun experiment and fitted a plain plate to the frame?Etched plate sold off as parts? I dunno.. Just guessing..I doubt someone would have this done "custom" and then not have used it.
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File Type: jpg CIMG5727.jpg (42.4 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg CIMG5728.jpg (44.5 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg CIMG5729.jpg (35.5 KB, 28 views)
File Type: jpg CIMG5730.jpg (35.5 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg CIMG5725.jpg (53.2 KB, 40 views)
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Old 03-25-2017, 07:30 PM
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The man sure knew what he was talking about.Many nowadays politicians should take him as a model!
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Old 03-26-2017, 10:57 AM
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The man sure knew what he was talking about.Many nowadays politicians should take him as a model!
Qc
As with most public figures......there were those who loved Elmer and those who despised the man.....he was certainly opinionated there's no doubt!!
I have spent some time over the past several years in Salmon, Idaho and believe it or not, some of the locals who were around when Elmer was alive did not speak highly of him.
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Old 03-26-2017, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Breakaway500 View Post
Here are more shots of the plate. It sure looks like this might have been assembled to a frame once, it has an assembly number on it..so either someone took it off a finished revolver..or possibly the E.K. Comm. etching was tried on a K frame...and then S&W decided to go with the N frame for more room? Then, just disassembled the K gun experiment and fitted a plain plate to the frame?Etched plate sold off as parts? I dunno.. Just guessing..I doubt someone would have this done "custom" and then not have used it.
Someone may have decided they did not like the side plate and had it replaced with one without the etching. Either way, it's not a common item to find.
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Old 03-26-2017, 11:33 AM
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"Someone may have decided they did not like the side plate and had it replaced with one without the etching. Either way, it's not a common item to find."

The problem there is S&W never made a revolver with this side plate...at least never in a production sense. This is a K/L frame side plate,and the only Elmer Keith Commemorative S&W ever made was a model 29, N frame. Soo..where did this Elmer Keith engraved K/L side plate come from? It sure looks like a factory S&W item..but from what model revolver? Could you order a K/L frame revolver and ask for this style engraving be put on the side plate? Was that allowed? Maybe I'll ask Roy Jinks..not sure if it's an allowed question..and I don't need any more demerits..
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Old 03-26-2017, 12:06 PM
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I don't think it has ever been on a gun. There seems to be no marking on the blue that would indicate that it was fitted to a frame.
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Old 03-26-2017, 12:53 PM
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^ There is an assembly number on it. I believe the side plates are fitted first,and then the revolver is blued...but not 100% sure. If fitted after blueing,wouldn't the bare metal rust?
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Old 03-26-2017, 01:14 PM
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If that is not a N frame sideplate, wonder if it is a factory mistake where a K plate got in the mix when those were being made. Thinking you may have a 1 of 1 piece of memorabilia.
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Old 03-26-2017, 01:46 PM
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It's def not an N frame side plate. I bought it from a guy who sells NOS and used S&W parts..who sold it to me as an N frame Commemorative side plate..but it's not. I emailed him but haven't heard a peep. It aint goin back..
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Old 03-26-2017, 02:00 PM
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Having an assembly number on the inside makes me highly suspect of it being a mistake. In today's world of 3D printers and laser engravers, I would not think it impossible for someone to take a K frame side plate from a gun and have an N frame engraving copied to it.

Perhaps we will never know. It seems strange that the seller is not responding. That would make my alarm bells start to go off. I am also very suspect of sellers that always seem to have a huge quantity of NOS parts.

Why are you concerned about asking Roy a question? There are no demerits for asking questions. Actually, since the S&WCA section is not governed by the forum administrator, there are NO demerits on the S&WCA side.
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Old 03-26-2017, 02:17 PM
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^ Thanks for letting me know about no demerits on the SWCA side..I'll ask all my dumb question there!...
Perhaps we will never know..how true. I figured since Roy is SO connected to S&W he may be able to shed some light. It would be cool to have fallen onto an actual S&W piece that was possibly discarded into the scrap bin as an accident made, or a test piece.As far as the seller, the picture he used in his add was of a true N frame E.K. side plate..and maybe he shipped this without really looking at it,and realizing it was an error. Mystery parts.
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