I'm sure this has been discussed a million times but I thought I'd ask one more time.

What years were they made? And what years if any did they come on or available on M27s?

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Introduced in 1956 with the 44 Magnum and phased out beginning in early 1966 in favor of diamond target stocks made of Goncalo alves. I suppose you could order them beginning in 1956. The .357 Magnum, later the Model 27, was never cataloged with target stocks (at least until it was upgraded in September 1975) and if ordered with target stocks, they were usually made of American walnut and not of the coke bottle design. However, if you knew the part number or the description, I am sure a .357 Magnum could be ordered with coke bottle stocks as early as 1956.

Bill

Thanks Bill.

I prefer factory stocks on my guns over aftermarket stocks.

If they're not the originals on the gun then I at least like era correct stocks.

I'll eventually get my 1960 M27 lettered but right now I'm thinking I'd like to find a nice set of Coke stocks for it.

The Collectors Association cashed my check so I'm thinking they should sent me a letter or something letting me know I'm now a member.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

rubiranch, that's a beautiful 27. What's wrong with the Targets on it? Or is it just you prefer the feel of the Cokes?

Hello Kenny, our new member, you will get a card and a secret de-coder ring. Send $1 and a Quakers Oats label to Roy! Welcome. Wink.

__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

This is a "No Dash" Model 27 that was shipped in February of 1959. It came to me with "Cokes." I don't know if they are original or not. But, for $575 I did not argue.

__________________
Bill

Thank you, its probably my favorite S&W.



My 1964 6.5" M29-2 has Coke stocks on it. They do feel better to me than the Targets do.

My M27 left the factory with diamond Magnas on it so those Targets aren't original to the gun.

Getting some Cokes is kind of like an "upgrade" in my opinion.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Its stamped and I'm dropping it off to the post office tomorrow.

I am STOKED!!!

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I love it!!!!

Such a beautiful S&W!!

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

rubiranch,

I see. And I agree, Cokes do feel just a bit better than targets. I also think older targets are better than the later 70s/80s targets.

You've inspired me. My pre 29 came with a set of badly refinished Cokes. I put some grips I reworked on the pre 29 and was saving the Cokes for something special. As I am now waiting for my permit ammendment for the nickel 27-2 8 3/8ths, I started refinishing my Cokes to put on that. I'm going to do a nice hand rubbed tung oil. The gun has a set of period correct 70s Targets, so I'll squirrel those away.

Its funny you mention diamond magnas. My other 27 (6" blue) came with correct non diamond magnas. I put a BK adapter on it thinking it was just temporary till I decided what targets to spring for (Herrets, Ahrends, etc) but dang the feel of the magnas and grip adapter just sort of grew on me! I am sort of looking for a set of diamond magnas just because I like the look, although I realize they technically would be incorrect.

rubiranch,

I see. And I agree, Cokes do feel just a bit better than targets. I also think older targets are better than the later 70s/80s targets.

You've inspired me. My pre 29 came with a set of badly refinished Cokes. I put some grips I reworked on the pre 29 and was saving the Cokes for something special. As I am now waiting for my permit ammendment for the nickel 27-2 8 3/8ths, I started refinishing my Cokes to put on that. I'm going to do a nice hand rubbed tung oil. The gun has a set of period correct 70s Targets, so I'll squirrel those away.

Its funny you mention diamond magnas. My other 27 (6" blue) came with correct non diamond magnas. I put a BK adapter on it thinking it was just temporary till I decided what targets to spring for (Herrets, Ahrends, etc) but dang the feel of the magnas and grip adapter just sort of grew on me! I am sort of looking for a set of diamond magnas just because I like the look, although I realize they technically would be incorrect.

You said that already. LOL

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I have Diamond Targets on my 1960 6" M27. It had Target stocks on when I got it and
"upgraded" to the Diamond Targets.
If Cokes were less expensive I'd put a set on this one too.

I'm pretty sure that it originally came with Magnas. My 1959 8 3/8" M27 came with
Diamond Magnas so I would assume this one dd too.

I know I've read it here in the forum several times but can't remember when the
diamonds started and ended.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I have no idea why my last post appeared twice!?

I believe the "official" date for the end of diamonds was 1967-68. That said, S&W was famous for using up leftover parts etc.

The last diamond targets were used around January 1969 at serial number S300000. Magna stocks with diamonds (all frame sizes) were discontinued earlier as the directives to delete the diamond were issued in October 1965 and January 1966.

Bill

My M29-2 is the only gun I currently have with cokes and I'm pretty sure it was shipped with them on it.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Does anyone know if anybody's currently producing grips that feel the same in the hand as the original cokes? They're about the best feeling grips to me but my only pair are in quite nice condition. Also let me add a pair of cokes that are meant for an n frame round butt would be great as well.

Keith Brown manufactures stocks that are reproductions of the original design (plain or checked). Google Keith Brown grips to find he website and contact information. Ebay is also a good source for his stocks. The engraved 44 Magnum shown below is fitted with a pair of KB coke bottle stocks made of Goncalo alves. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

Some day spring for a pair of Keith's masterpieces! Ditto Culinas. Absolute works of art, but I have guns that cost me less. Maybe a retirement gift to myself??

The Eagle Coke reproductions (Heritage I think??) are pretty good. I have a set that I bought about 10 years ago, when they first came out, although at the time I think $98 was what they cost. They run about $169 now, which still pinches the wallet a bit, but is doable.

Kim Ahrends' Retro Target, while not a Coke copy, may well be the best bang for the buck on the market today.

I've posted these before. I bought a model 629-4 Mountain Gun a few years back. It came with impossible smooth custom grips that tried to let the gun fly free on every shot. I bought a set of Altamont conversion Coke grips and the difference is amazing. I have no idea how these compare to original cokes, but I can actually shoot this gun and hit where I am pointing now.

That said, my son was loving firing the gun as well. He was shooting at a gong and thought he'd been hit by some ricochet material. Nope. It was actually the back half of the rear sight.

Not the best range day ever. Already ordered a new rear sight.

629old .jpg
629new (2).jpg

I appreciate the advise but I'll stick with S&W Cokes.

Kind of a purist I guess.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

If you can afford them I'd say that's definitely the way to go. You may get lucky, some gun shops used to have the proverbial "box of junk" (sadly not so much in my area anymore) full of holsters, grips, single reloading dies, etc. Usually marked "everything $10." Once someone bought a S&W, the "horrible" factory grips were replaced with Hogue or Pachmayr rubber, and the originals got tossed in the junk box. I got a set of diamnd K frame magnas that way about 8-10 years ago.

Don't laugh, I probably was guilty of that too back in my youth. Fortunately most of us get smarter.

Good luck

I have some really nice Combat stocks for N frames and a few other nice ones that I'm going to sell so I can get the Cokes.

I look at it as "trading up".

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I'm envious. The only pair I have are these I found for three bucks cut down and rounded off. As homely as they looked they felt excellent in my hand. These grips, which I didn't know were Cokes until posting them here, are perfect on this 3 1/2" 27-2. They used to look like the K frames laying there but without all the chips.

Regular Targets seem to look a little big to me on 3.5" M27s IMO. Those look GREAT!!!!



If I had the money I'd find a pair of Cokes for my 1957 4" pre-27 too.

I believe that the ramp front site was modified to a red ramp and that the target hammer and trigger were also added which to me is just fine.
I like it like that.

The Diamond Magnas are not numbered to the gun so I'm thinking a nice set of Coke stocks would fit perfect with the other "upgrades".

Time will tell. Right now I want a set for my 6.5" M27.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

You are not alone having double posts. You see it often on many different forums. I also had that problem, but I think it is a windows 10 thing. Now when I make a post I just reopen the window instead of just using the back button. It seems it cured my double posts.

The only Cokes I've owned were on a pre29 which I traded to my buddy and forum member Nimrod 44. I do have a set of older diamond targets on my pre27 which feel much better to me (read, smaller in girth both dimensions) than later N targets. I've never measured them against a newer set, such as on my 29 dash 2, but they are noticeably slimmer.

These are the factory diamond targets on my 2000 M27-7, one of 100 special ordered by Bangers Inc.

They were thinner in girth and and fit my hand better than regular targets do.

I like the feel of the Cokes on my 29-2 but have yet to shoot it.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

The only stocks that feel better in my large hand than factory Cokes are John Culina's, he will add more palm swell and adjust for your hand size. He will also have them checkered for you to your hearts content,Beautiful....

Interesting Thread and lot of beautiful guns here! Below my pre Model 24 in 44 Spl., S118xxx. Note the smooth (I suppose) psuedo Cokes or...? I haven't seen very many such at all. Perhaps not popular!
Any info concerning... Appreciated!
Happy New Year folks!
John

Attached Images

	64 - 1U.jpg (139.6 KB, 66 views)
	64 - 4.jpg (193.2 KB, 56 views)

I gave two sets of early John Culina's grips to another forum member.

I'm kind of anal and want to stick with S&W stocks.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I hope someone comes along and helps you because I sure can't.

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

John, Check out this excellent thread/tutorial on S&W stocks: Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide. Your stocks are 1952-1958 period non-relieved Target Stocks. My 1950 Model .44 Target shipped 1954 has a set. Update: I just realized that yours are smooth unrelieved presentation stocks! Very nice!

Gila's .44T_b.jpg

__________________
Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

iskra, I am not a grip authority, but I believe those are factory smooth targets. I further believe they are sometimes referred to as presentation targets. I have a set I got with my 24-3, which I think the gun came with ( I bought it used, and it was wearing Hogue rubber.)

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will pipe in soon

In the 1983 Skeeter Skelton article I still have announcing the reintro of the Model 24 (-3), his 6 1/2” test gun had smooth target grips and a frame marked “Model 29-something“ . So they built his early one on a 29 frame. I think he said those grips were going to be standard which wasn’t the case, of course.

Thanks Tom for the referral information Looks sufficiently interesting, I've actually copied that entire article to file. Review on my 'to do' list! Checking those smooth grips for SN yet also surely on 'to do' list... of about forty years now!

Seriously, again Thanks & Happy New Year!
Best!
John

Well I did end up getting a really nice set of Cokes for my M-27.
I think Coke Bottle grips are the ultimate accessory.






So I took the Diamond Targets from my M-27 and put them on my 1968 Nickel M-27-2.

Neither one of these have Target triggers or hammers so I'm pretty sure they both left the factory with Magna grips. Diamond Magnas??

__________________
Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Jim Rogers is the best source for Keith Brown grips. He keeps standing orders

Jim Rogers is the best source for Keith Brown grips. He keeps standing orders