"I've got two of them in the original boxes, and both came with the Magna's."

I bought my three 24-3's NIB as soon as they hit my town, the 4 incher ABZ02xx (product code number 0243024041) in October, 1983, and the 6-1/2 incher ABZ40xx (product code number 0243026541) in January, 1984. They both came with the Goncalo Alves checkered Target stocks with the football cutout. The boxes are clearly marked with "TS" for stocks on the factory end labels. Of course, the 3 incher's box label sticker has "RB" marked for stocks, which are the round butt Goncala Alves smooth Combat stocks with finger grooves. 3 inch is AEJ14xx, product code 100787, which I got in September, 1984.

Hmmm. I am not sure that your Model 24-3's left the factory with Magna stocks. It is possible somebody along the line liked the Magnas better than the checkered Targets that they more likely originally wore and swapped them out. I never saw any new ones with Magnas. The gun magazines welcoming the 24-3's arrival showed Target stocks, as best as I remember. Skeeter Skelton trumpeted the Model 24-3 introduction in the March 1983 edition of SHOOTING TIMES. His initial test gun was a 6-1/2 inch gun and it sported smooth Target stocks, but the photos for the center spread photo taken by their staff photographer Kurt Collins showed both barrel length guns had checkered Targets.

Check your boxes' end label stickers to know for sure.

Before the Model 24-3 introduction earlier Model 24's and 1950 Targets often came with Magnas, but not always. My 1954-1955 4 inch bright blue 1950, S1183xx, came with smooth rosewood target stocks, as did many of the other 4 inch target sighted .44 Specials S&W made. I also have a 6-1/2 inch 1950, S861xx, from 1952 that came with smooth rosewood Targets, while my 5 inch bright blue, S861xx, has walnut diamond Magnas, and another 6-1/2 inch 1950, S1465xx) also has walnut diamond Magnas.

Bringing back a modern version of the 1950 Target Model in .44 Special in 1983, as the Model 24-3, was a masterstroke. Following them with the stainless steel equivalent Model 624 was a great thing for us, as well. Anyone who ownes one or more 24-3 is a lucky sixgunner indeed.