Posting this question here to avoid hijacking the thread about combat stocks for the 629-1.

The mentioned thread made me think about a stock set I found unexpectedly a year ago in the back room of a tack shop out west. The price was very atractive, so I grabbed them thinking I'd put them on a RB M66 snubby that followed me home.

Finally got around to putting them on the gun the other day, and was surprised at the poor fit at the frame hump. Surprise, surprise, they appear to be N-frame grips, I think. (See photos below).

I had no previous appreciation for how close in size the K- and N-frame grips are until this happened. And I don't have or intend to obtain a RB N-frame.

First, before I try to trade or sell these I wanted to understand if they are in fact N Combats.

Second, looking at EB abd GB suggests surprising values, even taking into account that halucinogenic mushrooms appear to be popular comestibles on those sites. There don't appear to be many completed auctions for these, to assess what the market is willing to fork over. Are N combats less common than Ks? Are the $200+ prices asked anywhere near real market? Would I be better off selling, or trading?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

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If I were you, I would sell for $300 or so in the classified thread.

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I think the $200 +- pricing is about right. You see people wanting $3-400, I don't know if they actually sell them? Not to me of course!

I would try to trade them for the K frame grips, if you sell them for $200 and then can't find the K frame grips for less than $300 then what!

Ed

Wow. Maybe my grandchildren won't have to go to community college afterall.

If they are in mint like new condition with nice grain and color they are worth every bit of $325 to $350...

Yes they are round butt N frame combat grips, I used to buy them from Gil Hebard in Knoxville Il. for a dealer price of 29.50. After thinking about my answer I don't recall Hebard having N frame round butt combats my catalogs quit about 1995. Jeff

I bought a new Corvette for $5400.00 when I was 19.
The times, they are a changin'.

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+1 on this... factory K-Frame round butt combat grips are as scarce as N-Frames. Lots of repro's on the auction sites that are close.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

definitely factory N frame RB Combat stocks, that look to be in excellent condition. Nice score!

They would probably bring around $300 at auction, maybe a tad more. If you sell them on ebay, you'll pay 10% final value fee (same fee on the shipping charges) and you'll give Paypal another 3-1/2%. You'd walk away with $260+. Some Combat's with really nice grain top $400.

__________________
"I also cook."

Those are N frame grips on a K frame gun
Both of these are based on a K frame grip
This is why they look odd on the gun

I would suggest NOT Selling these if you need a set of grips for this gun


I am sure someone will gladly trade you for these as the n frame ones are more valuable and harder to find

Beautiful gun and beautiful grips
Stay safe out there
God Bless,John
I ran into this problem myself a few years back


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very nice find. Good luck on your trade venture, if you go that route.

I have a question for those that know....

the sharpie "69" on the inside panels.... what does it represent/mean?

matching set?

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I guess I left some of you with the impression that I am in need of RB K combats, but that's not the case.

I'm a little embarassed to admit the whole story behind aquiring these RB N combats. I was working a contract as a health care traveller in Wyoming last year, which enabled me to spend a lot of time with my brother, who lives there. For a reason I can't specifically recall -- we were probably just cruising some gun and pawn shops -- we went into a tack shop that my brother knew also did a bit of minor gunsithing in back. So I checked out the gunshop, and asked if they happened to have a box of old handgun grips or leather stuff that had been traded in. They did.

The shop had this set of finger groove combats, and a set of K-frame banana combats as well. I already had one set of K-frame combats at home, but always on the outlook for good gun deals I asked how much for both sets. When the owner told me I paid it instantly and got change back for a Ulysses S Grant.

Got out the door and back to my brother's place without hearing police sirens.

These are the bananas that came with the deal.

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I wonder as well. At first I thought it meant Model 69, but that's an L-frame, isn't it?

Likely an inspector number marking...

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

so if the sharpie numbers are not a match.....

it is a "broken" set?

will all original SW woods have these sharpie marks?

sorry for questions that create slight thread drift.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

For those of you that have a pair of these, can you tell me if they fit flush with the back strap on your gun. I have a set of these on a Model 625-2 and they do not fit flush, I can see a sliver of the back strap and because it is a stainless pistol it really shows. Maybe I got hold of a knock off set? Also no markings on the inside of the panels.

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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Try them on a K frame

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I have a few sets of S&W stocks with similar markings. I don’t know for certain what it represents, but I suspect it was done to keep matched panels together - similar to an assembly number.

I have a few that include “2nd” written with a sharpie. On at least one pair, the numbers don’t match. The panels don’t align perfectly and the grain doesn’t match. A dealer at a show decades ago (possibly OGCA) had a table full of 2nd’s and I purchased a number of them at very good prices.

There was also a time when S&W rubber stamped a date on the back of one of the panels (eg. AUG 1 1986). I’m not certain why they did that either, but it does help narrow down when changes like the elimination of the circle inserts (washers) was done.

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"I also cook."

625 3 Combats.jpg

625 Combats.jpg

Here is a pic on the gun, they are definitely "N" frame grips. Unfortunately I don't have another N frame to try them on, my only other N frame is a sq butt.

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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

My new (1969) air-conditioned Corvette convertible was $6000.00. Yes, the times really are a changin'.

I'd try them on a K frame just to see.

When I ordered a pair of Grashorns he sent me a set of N frame grips instead of K's. He wanted to replace them, but I liked them better than anything else he showed me, I hate a lot of bark. He fitted them for a K.

Not a lot of difference.

I concur with Wood714; try them on a K frame. Check the photos in my first post to see how closely the Ns protrude. You may have the inverse situationI had.