Hammerdown...the relieved area on the left stock panel (I believe that is what you are wondering about) has varied in size over the years on S&W's stocks. I am sure it has to do with which employee was setting up the stock making machine. I haven't noticed a difference in the pattern from early 1956 to later in the year and beyond. Some stocks that I believe date to 1959 have a relatively small relieved area, but again, I think it is simply an artifact of the manufacturing process.

James...The "palm swell" and "flare" at the bottom seen on the earliest coke bottle stocks became less pronounced as time progressed. The best was to tell a coke bottle stock is by its larger checked pattern (as VM stated). Personally, I think the palm swell was not planned by S&W, but just it turned out that way when the stocks were made. Collectors were the ones who made it part of S&W's culture.

Bill