Need Help ID'ing "High Horn" grips

bullmack · #1 10-20-2012, 12:48 PM

It is my understanding that the term "high horn" when applied to K frame Magna grips refers to the amount of radius at the top of the grip' Less radius, or sharper edge, is a high horn. Is this correct? Does anyone have a picture of each style side by side. Also, are there any other distinguishing characteristics in a high horn like the washers?

Thanks in advance,

s&wchad · #2 10-20-2012, 01:26 PM

You're thinking of "sharp shoulder" magna stocks. "High horn" grips were used on the early Centennial J frames an are shown in this post by Whitecoyote (the link will take you right to the post): High horn?

JayCeeNC · #3 10-20-2012, 03:47 PM

Sharp shoulder N-frame grip on the left, K-frame grips are similar in appearance:

Pre-Model 27 N-frame:

bullmack · #4 10-20-2012, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s&wchad

You're thinking of "sharp shoulder" magna stocks. "High horn" grips were used on the early Centennial J frames an are shown in this post by Whitecoyote (the link will take you right to the post): High horn?

My question was phrased based upon a K-22 (pre model 17) I posted pictures of a couple of months ago. One of the regular collectors commented that the gun did not appear to be wearing the correct "high horn" stocks. Certainly "sharp shouldered" as a description makes more sense!

bullmack · #5 10-20-2012, 04:17 PM

John - thanks for the pictures. The sharp shouldered grips you have pictured look like what I suspected people occasionally refer to.

Texas Star · #6 10-20-2012, 04:23 PM

Hmpf. Learned something new. Apart from the Centennial, I thought this was going to be about the old style "service" stocks vs. the Magna style.

VM · #7 10-20-2012, 05:16 PM

Good info from Chad and JC as always.
I might add that the "high shoulder" ended somewheres 1952-3ish for K and N frame diamond magnas

SDH · #8 10-20-2012, 07:02 PM

Centennial and Bodyguard style "high horn". Each higher on the frame than normal J frame grips.

Hondo44 · #9 10-21-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDH

Centennial and Bodyguard style "high horn". Each higher on the frame than normal J frame grips.

Excellent photos and worth 1000 words as they say.

While on the subject and les someone goes away from this discussion w/o realizing the Bodyguard stocks are not as high as the Centennial stocks, the difference is sometimes referred to as Bodyguard High Horns. Also the Bodyguard's have standard diameter medallion washers, while the Cent. High Horns are smaller and unique to that model.

Hondo44 · #10 10-21-2012, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullmack

My question was phrased based upon a K-22 (pre model 17) I posted pictures of a couple of months ago. One of the regular collectors commented that the gun did not appear to be wearing the correct "high horn" stocks. Certainly "sharp shouldered" as a description makes more sense!

Hi dennis,
It's true that it's not uncommon for the term High Horn for sharp shouldered stocks to be passed along. One of the best functions the forum performs is mitigating these.
Others are stocks instead of grips, ejector rod instead of extractor rod, crane instead of yoke, checkering instead of checked stocks yadi yadi yah and it gets more anal than that.

People are free of course to use whatever term they want and there are no rules to conform to traditional S&W factory terminology or collector terms, but it does help discussion confusion to be minimized such as the High Horns. So please don't feel flamed and you might be the next informed one helping a newbie. And as anytime in life, vocabulary helps create 1st impressions especially in writing. Ok off the soapbox.

GF · #11 10-21-2012, 07:50 PM

Outstanding post Hondo44, I'm one that didn't know that the Bodyguard & the Centennial DIDN'T share the same high horn stocks.

GF

VM · #12 10-21-2012, 09:04 PM

Hondo - aren't the (pre) Model 40/42's "High-horns" all smooth?
Aren't the early BodyGuard "High-horns" all checkered ?

The shapes are pretty easy to distinguish too.

bullmack · #13 10-21-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Hi dennis,
.So please don't feel flamed and you might be the next informed one helping a newbie. And as anytime in life, vocabulary helps create 1st impressions especially in writing. Ok off the soapbox.

Jim - I do not feel flamed at all. I have only been at this for two years (though over 60) and am grateful for whatever 'pearls' of wisdom I can gather. This forum has a wealth of it - meant in all respect.

Hondo44 · #14 10-21-2012, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VM

Hondo - aren't the (pre) Model 40/42's "High-horns" all smooth?
Aren't the early BodyGuard "High-horns" all checkered ?

The shapes are pretty easy to distinguish too.

VM,

Right you are, once there is awareness that they are different. The med. washer size, surface treatment and pointy vs. rounded upper corners are all good ques to distinguish.

crsides · #15 10-22-2012, 12:42 AM

Dennis

I came on this board in 2009 and someone commented on the high horn grips on a early 50's K frame I had shown. It took some time and looking at a lot of pics to distinguish these earlier grips from the later mid 50's shape. It took even longer to figure out they were high shoulder grips, not high horn. I think it was hondo Jim that finally straightened me out.

I have seen this repeated several times since, some otherwise knowledgeable S&W collector refer to the early high shoulder grips as high horn. Once it is "out there" on the internet, it is hard to correct.

Charlie