I don't have one readily available, but I cannot recall if late 19th Century Smith and Wesson revolvers have the serial number scratched in the grip just like with Colt SAA revolvers? If so, was it one or both grips and 100 percent of the time or irregularly?

Also, would it be at all unusual for an original set of grips to have been filed down extensively internally to fit the frame, to the point where the raised "edges" of the internal surface of the grip have been almost entirely obliterated?

The SN was stamped/scratched into the right grip panel, and AFAIK, 100% because they were fitted to a particular gun. I'm not sure I can answer your last question. Let's just say if I found grips in that condition, I would consider it unusual.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

As Guy says, hard rubber stocks were numbered on the back side of the right grip panel, as the process of fitting them to the frame was too attach them oversize, polish the edges and grip frame, which was in the white, until the stocks were smooth with the frame of each particular gun. The stocks were then removed and the frame sent to bluing or plating, after which the stocks numbered to that gun were reattached. I know of no reason why stocks would need "filing down internally" to fit. Ed.

Y'all are awesome! That's what I thought, more or less, but, unless the grips are in front of you, your mind places tricks on you. Okay, the only explanation for what was noted has to be that the grips are not original to the firearm. I would smell the grips of I had them before me, as gutta percha has a distinctive smell. But, am analyzing from a photograph.

Once "Target" stocks became available in the mid 20th Century, they covered the backstrap, and no fitting was required. These are very seldom numbered to the gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244