Today I discovered another LGS I had been told about but never had made it to. He doesn't do handguns, just long guns, archery, reloading & fishing. Still, a nice shop.

Anyhow, I was buying a pound of powder when I noticed a junk table. Lo and behold, there were two sets of S&W revolver grips. I spied a set of K square magnas right away. Here they are:







I'm no expert. I knew they were diamond magnas, which meant they were pre '68 or so, but that's about it. I got home and consulted SCSW and based on what I read, the diamonds, as well as the stamped blue steel circle inserts inside date these from about the early '50s to late '60s. Am I correct on this? The numbers stamped on the inside I assume are perhaps a portion of a guns sn, or maybe an assy number? They appear to be "9 0", above "8 6 4" below. Or might that mean August 1964? There is no date stamped in ink anywhere. I tried them on my Model 17, and they fit great. The tip of the horn goes all the way to the top of the frame, which I believe they refer to as "high horn" or something like that.

They were marked $30, and the dealer wouldn't budge. I'm no collector, but it seems people are paying crazy $$ for these older stocks. I bought them.

My concerns are:

They are in very good shape. No scratches or dings at all, which might be an a red flag. Do you think they have been refinished? The pic doesn't really show it, but there is a flat on the shadow line along the top of the LH panel, but the finish is intact.

Or worse, did I buy a set of very nice reproductions?

Finally, assuming they are real, did I do OK on the price or did I get hosed? Actually I don't think hosed would be the right word, since at worst I got a really nice set of stocks for $30. But did I overpay?

Would some of you guys who really know this stuff please chime in?

Correct and original from the photos. The stamped numbers indicate they were from a K frame shipped in 1950. $30 is an excellent price.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I'm no expert but nobody's faking stocks like those- they're the real deal. And, yes, I believe those are indeed high horns. The stamped numbers are how they used to serialize them. You did good for $30.

I think you did OK. That seems like a good price for those grips and they appear to be original.

For thirty dollars I think you stole them. You may as well have run away with your arms held high screaming...

Now you need an old K-38 to put those on.

Thanks for the replies.

And you're right -db-, I actually have no gun in need of these! I did buy a K22 earlier this summer, but I got a set of Ahrends retro targets for that. Maybe I'll put these on the K22 with the BK adapter I ordered and look for something to put the Ahrends on.

Very good find. You can flip them and make $20+ on the deal.

Patrick - nice score!
As other have said........they are early 50's and 100% original, and not refinished. Those "high shoulder" Magnas are hard to come by in that condition. IMO, they are worth $100 more than you paid.
Congrats

I'd really like to find a "junk table" like that. Excellent find at a great price.

Those are indeed beauties and at a great price!

Thanks VM for clearing up the 'high horn' vs. 'high shoulder'. These two terms are not synonomous as inadvertantly supposed on occasion. Just for informational purposes, not to be argumentative, 'high horns' refer to the early stocks that came on the J frame Bodyguard & Bodeyguard Airweight, later Model 49 and 38 and Centennial Airweight and Centennial Models, later model 42 and 40 respectively. They were actually about 1/4" (BG) and about 3/8" (Cen.) taller at the top than the standard Magna stocks to match the frames, hence the nickname, 'high horn'.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I did not notice a screw in your pictures. A proper screw has a proprietary thread. Look at guns shows and or in our Sales adds to pick one up. Yo will need to pay attention to the correct length, as depending on the grip and frame they all take different length screws.

They look new. It wasn't unusual that back in the 50's and 60's someone buying a new gun and didn't like the fit of the grip would take them off and put on Pachmayers, or some other brand grip and leave them with the gun store. They could have been laying around the store in a drawer for years.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

H Richard,

Thank you, but they did come with the screw!

You did way more than okay on that deal, stocks like that wouldn't have a problem fetching $75 to $100 or more on the market right now.
Anytime I go into a new pawn or gunshop I've never been into before I look around before ever opening my mouth, check out all the displays and as you did, look for the 'bargain' table. Over the years I've picked up many pairs of stocks exactly like that. If after looking and you don't see anything just ask the proprieter, many times they have stuff in the back that they didn't think would sell or just haven't bothered putting out. That's how I scored two original display cases for pre 29's, I simply asked the guy behind the counter if he any old boxes or stocks in the back and out he came with the display boxes. They had a price tag that had to have been on them for 40 years or more.
I've run across very nice old sambar stag stocks, lyman sights, mother of pearl stocks etc by simply asking a question.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

Nice grips. We all would love to give your money back + shipping.

Thank you all for your kind replies.

They are just too pretty to put away in a drawer, so for now I put them on my K22 along with the BK grip adapter I bought off of Wrangler.

Looks like this


As I said earlier, I also have a set of Ahrends retro targets for her, but I ordered them unfinished. I am in the process of doing a tung oil finish on them, which will take awhile. When they're done I will need to make a decision.

Speaking of the grip adapter, forum member Wrangler has done an outstanding job filling a real gap in the market. I have never owned a Tyler, and I'm glad the company seems to have righted itself, but I think we should support our own. The BK is absolutely top notch!