N-Frame Diamond Service Stocks w. Recessed Medallions

[PeteC]

According to a reference thread in this forum, as well as the SCSW 4th edition, these were used 1910~1920, but on which guns? Would these have shipped on all non-military N-frames in this period, or just some? Is there any kind of reverse-lookup for these kinds of grips? Thanks.

I believe the correct name is "Checkered Diamond Service Stocks with Recessed Brass Medallions". Example from a completed auction attached.

 

[DARE]

I think they came on everything except the 1917. Here is my .44 HE 1st Model from 1916.

 

[Muley Gil]

Even the .455 revolvers intended for the Brits wore these grips.

 

[mrcvs]

Yes, medallion N frame stocks began to appear mid 1910 and were used until circa 1920. However, there was some overlap, especially in the early years of their usage. For example, I have a .44 Hand Ejector First Model (Triple Lock) revolver that shipped 02 Sept 1913 and it contains the original concave non medallion stocks. Others have reported the same on examples that shipped even later. My guess is assembly occurred pre mid 1910, but that might have occurred later and an example of Smith & Wesson using up existing stock.

Now, I'm not nearly as familiar with the 2nd and 3rd Models (Model of 1926), but I would guess that many of the 2nd models shipped with the medallion stocks. Also, the convex non medallion stocks came out by circa 1920. I would have guessed that no original Model of 1926 would not have shipped with medallion stocks at all. But here's a magazine article demonstrating one with those. Now, there's no way to definitively prove that these earlier stocks weren't added to this much later Revolver subsequent to manufacture.

Early S&W .44 Specials - American Handgunner

Interestingly, the Triple Lock revolver displayed in the first photograph of this article does contain the earlier concave non medallion stocks.

 

[Messer]

My Triple Lock came with them...

 

[Hondo44]

So as posted above, those 3 N frame models came with the medallions which are brass but are gold plated. Although not many 44 2nd models shipped before 1920. A total of around 100,000 of those stocks were issued. Which makes the pre mid 1910 concave service grips far more rare.

 

[glowe]

I have always been told that the medallions were simply gold washed, not electroplated, so I had to look it up.

Gold Electroplate (Gold Plating) – The level of electroplate has to do with the thickness of the gold. Electroplate bonds gold to the surface of the base metal. In the case of S&W logos, it is brass. This electroplating can be pretty thin or actually quite thick.

Gold Wash – Extremely thin layer of gold often put on by dipping and electroplating gold to the surface of the base metal. There are usually no markings for this process. Considered to be low grade and it will come off with the lightest of wear. Technically, gold wash, also referred to as Gold Flash, has less than 7 millionths of an inch of gold. In all likelihood, any vintage items you may find with gold wash will mostly be worn away.

I believe gold wash is the proper term, since the slightest cleaning can wipe the gold off down to brass, if not already done by someone else years ago, turning the medallion to tarnished brass color.

 

[DWalt]

I have always called them deep dish medallion round tops.

 

[Hondo44]

Gary,
Good report. I did a similar investigation years ago like yours and sought professional opinions. In my observations of the S&W gold medallions which are all over 100 years old now, there's far, far too many with the gold intact (and without tarnished brass showing through) for them not to be actual gold plating. And not just on unworn guns, most guns that old from the gold medallion era, pre 1920, exhibit lots of wear including the stocks. I can't even confirm that gold flash or wash was even around that early.

 

[fleabus101]

I may be wrong , but I think I recall some commercial 1917 45's were sold with the Gold Medallion
service stocks post WW1..

 

[fleabus101]

I concur with Hondo44's info on the early N frame
deep dished non medallion Servive Stocks Scarcity.
I have searched fruitlessly so far, near and far.,
for the Early dished wood NFrame Stocks with no joy so far..

 

[mrcvs]

I concur with Hondo44's info on the early N frame
deep dished non medallion Servive Stocks Scarcity.
I have searched fruitlessly so far, near and far.,
for the Early dished wood NFrame Stocks with no joy so far..

Yes, rare, Rare, RARE…to be unpaired with a Triple Lock revolver!!!

I have two sets without medallions that are the early concave stocks, obtained from a Classified ad on this forum, sold by Lee Jarrett (handejector) on this forum. Once again, thank you, Lee!

I'm surprised given the fact these are uncommon not paired with a Triple Lock revolver, and that they are affixed to Triple Lock revolvers much less commonly than ones with medallions, that when a Triple Lock revolver with non medallion concave stocks comes up for sale, that it doesn't bring a noticeable premium. If it is, I'm not seeing it. But if offered two similar Triple Lock revolvers, one with medallions and one without, I'll quickly jump at the latter first—and pay at least a little bit of a premium.

 

[Hondo44]

I may be wrong , but I think I recall some commercial 1917 45's were sold with the Gold Medallion
service stocks post WW1..

I'll have to check my notes but I don't remember any commercial 1917s sold during the war or before 1920. But I do have notes on the earliest commercial model sold.