Has anyone seen a grip frame modified like this.

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That grip scared the wits out of me.

No, and I kinda hope I don't see another one.
Interesting mod, though! How does it feel? I like the filler behind the trigger guard, but I'm not usually fond of backstrap enlargement grips.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Just goes to show that with sufficient money and determination you can do just about anything you want to a gun. I’m sure that grip was quite comfortable in somebody’s hand. Not to my taste, but as we said back in the Sixties, “Everybody to his own kick!”
Froggie

Welcome aboard!

I’ve seen an N frame S&W where the gripframe was rounded like a Colt Bisley, but I’ve never seen anything like that.

Someone put a lot time and effort into that gun. The workmanship looks superb! Those stocks aren’t too shabby either!

Any background on the gun?

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"I also cook."

Thank you. No info on the gun, was hoping someone here could help out.

Welcome to the forum.

I've seen one similar on this forum. It was a .44 Spl Triple Lock with a grip frame redone in the shape of a S&W #3 Breaktop.

Do you own the gun?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hello Sass, any chance of a butt pic and pic with no slide plate?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Interesting gun and mods.. Looks like a commercial one, the grips I find just as interesting. Are there any numbers on the inside of them ?
Could you also post a picture of the inside of them ?

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

No, and as others have said I hope to never see another.

It makes no sense as the same thing could (should) have been done simply with a set of custom stocks! The guy that did this, or had it done, must have been a Gorilla (sorry Lee) to be able to shoot it with such a ridiculously long trigger reach as that "Thing" has. To describe it as somewhat hermaphroditic would be an under-statement. The stocks are quite outstanding however!

Does it still have the serial number on the butt?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I wonder if it wasn't done for someone with a deformed or injured hand say from a machine shop or logging accident or a WWI combat injury. The quality of work seem high and with a target front sight added... I would think it was a serious shooter trying to fit his personal needs or style.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Yea, my question. Thats why I asked for a butt pic.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

That's one hell of a chonky grip -- who shot this, a gorilla? An N-frame with a grip adapter is about ideal for me, but this is ridiculous...

I have never seen anything like this. It is ugly to people that are used to looking at S&W’s.
Like quinn said it was done for a purpose. It sure would be interesting to know what. The workmanship is really good., obviously by someone who knew what they were doing. Not a hack job.
The stocks look like a real pro made them.
I sure would like to know more about this revolver.

In the side photo the butt appears to be unmolested. Having the only serial # on the frame may be the reason.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

The stocks look like a real pro made them.
I sure would like to know more about this revolver.

That's why I asked for an inside picture of them. The insides often have clues.
To me they have a somewhat Sanderson look to them.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Any way, it seems a major concern is the Sn. on the butt!
I hope the OP has not been scared away.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

When I first looked at the image, I thought someone had shortened the grip frame. Looking at the images with the stocks off, I can see they merely(!) made them thicker front to back. No reason to have touched the numbers with this alteration.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Here’s a pic of the butt.

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There are no markings on the grips.

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I think I see some numbers, glare is kind of interring with a clear pic. Anyway, I still like the gun, mainly because there is a heck of a back history and story.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Uh ow, I don't see a serial #.

Might have to use one of these to see the #:


1. This can be done with nitric acid, or "nicodate" sold in coin shops. After application, the # will magically appear. It's actually exposing the compressed metal from the stamping appear in a contrasting darker gray to the surrounding metal.
Is this a legal serial number?


2. Fry's reagent "serial number restoration fluid."
FRY'S REAGENT RESTORATION FLUID - 2 OZ Development of new reagent for restoration of erased serial number on metal plates - ScienceDirect
Where to buy: fry's reagent where to buy - Google Search

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Jim
S&WCA #819

How’s it feel on the hand?

Lets not jump to conclusions about the Sn. on the butt. We have seen one pic. The owner has not said if it does or does not have a Sn.
This is the OPs first post.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

The photo of the gripframe and the butt speaks volumes…

That’s a serious issue with the ATF.

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"I also cook."

"...speaks volumes..." ! are you kidding? You are basing your statement on a few lousy pics from a cell phone? Neither one of us has physically viewed the gun in hand. Im not saying I can see the Sn., but Im not saying I cant. The post is open to a lot more pics. I would like to see the yoke, under the barrel, back of the cyl, and side plate off. You have to admit there is a neat back story.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I’m not kidding at all…
The serial number on the butt is obliterated/gone.

I’m intrigued by the modifications and like the gun, but I wouldn’t buy that at any price. IMO, it’s simply not worth the risk. I have no desire to play BATFE games.

I'm only stating my opinion and you're entitled to yours.

I'm done...

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"I also cook."

That grip would fit one in a millions hand, seen some strange modifications but this one takes the cake.

If you look at the first set of pictures it appears there is an extension that covers the butt also.

I don’t see what you are stating. I do see the bottom of the grip frame appears thinner than on my N frames. The distance from the spring slot or the grip pin to the bottom of the frame is less than on any of my N frames.

Clearer photos would help. Or a comment from the O on whether the serial number is or is not there.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Someone very talented did that work. Would love to see how it feels. I have long fingers so it might work for me. I like the ergo on my Jframe.

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I do not believe the butt flat is covered. I do believe the serial number is missing from its original location. Prior to the GCA of 1968 a serial number could be legally moved from its original location. If that was done the moved serial number would be a legal number.

Is the number somewhere else.

I do believe that is one of the oddest things I have ever seen done to a grip frame.

Well......as we hear so often about Smith & Wesson " never say never" and certainly just when we think we've seen it all we haven't. Interesting that in all of that metal work and my hat is off to whoever, that he would mix the screws up on the side plate, dome and flat. Metal work and refinish of the frame is very nicely done not to mention the quality of the stocks.
All in all very impressive.

Dang, I go on vacation and a super interesting gun pops up.

First off, everyone talking about the defaced serial number; We haven't seen the other side of the frame. I've handled a lot of guns with such modifications to the butt where the serial number was removed. In most cases I have seen the S/N still stamped on the frame somewhere. Presumably by the law savvy modifier who didn't want to run afoul of the G-men. But who knows. With S&W putting the S/N in so many places someone along the past line of owners could have done it.

That said, I have also picked up a number of gunshow guns, removed the stocks, and found the defaced serial number was just not present on the frame at all...

If it isn't on the frame; I do recall someone on the forum here going through the process with the ATF to do it properly and legally and it being remarkably painless. Not sure where that thread is.


As to the gun itself:

As mentioned it does look something like a job that was done to my gun:

Roscoe, the Triple-lock, has arrived

The article in my thread is particularly apropos here I think. There was obviously some line of thought in days past that the rolling action of plowhandle style grips was preferable. At first glance I would say that is what was being attempted here with this 1917.

Personally I think it's glorious. And ridiculous. Which I find very endearing in guns. I'd be one of the masses who would love to own it. Assuming of course that S/N is stamped somewhere on the frame, or that was sorted out with the ATF.

Edit:

Been a long day, just finished a road trip with a 1 year old and a 4 year old. Couple more things:

The front sight is upgraded, would guess maybe something was done to the rear sight too?

The flat screws are interesting on the sideplate. Not sure if the modifier made them, or repurposed them, but at first glance I would have thought that the rear screw at least was a post war flat screw for use with Magna grips, and that the front screw was maybe the same? Except that if my brain is working correctly that screw would be different, and should never have been flat in any model.

In any case, if they are factory screws they may be useful in dating the modification.

Additionally, removing the sideplate may result in further information. I wouldn't be in any way surprised if this gun also has action work done to it. Heck, sometimes people doing modifications like this would engrave their name inside the gun somewhere. Although usually that would be on the frame for ease of access, in at least one case I saw it done on the inside of the sideplate.

The grip frame configuration looks oddly familiar to me. Can't quite put my finger on it. Kind of a Merwin-Hulbert meets Remington pocket pistol but not quite.

I obtained a gunsmithing FFL in 1977. In the first several books of regulations that I received from BATF, it was stated that a gunsmith could remove a firearms serial number provided it was stamped somewhere else on the frame first. Later editions removed that stipulation.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Not trying to highjack the thread, but apparently at sometime there was some serious butchering on N frames going on!72326299_10212761657830874_8017905502916706304_n.jpg

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I'm thinking they took "butchering" one step too far. Larry

Wow! That's like a Taurus View in 45acp...

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

How about this 1917 grip frame. I kept the original serial number attached to the frame the entire time while I modified it. First cut one side loose, did what I wanted heated and formed and welded that side back up then cut the other side loose and made my mods them welded it back up. I can not remember what possessed me to use stainless filler at the time. LOL

I have always heard that. How would anyone actually prove just when the number was re stamped. Obviously a gun made after they decided to drop that regulation would be a problem. If the serial number is located in another spot it would be hard to prosecute the owner of gun such as that 1917.

And No, I do not want to be the test case.