K Frame Football Targets They’re Not

[4T5GUY]

Just received the K Frame Targets I bought and I’m bummed.

I’m pretty sure that they are actually N Frame although advertised and bought by me as K Frame. I’m getting my older K Frames back to factory correct and jumped on these due to the high condition and low price. I do not have N Frames anymore to fit/try them on.

Thoughts? (Other than buying a needy N Frame to try them on. )

You’d think sellers would know what they have. (Sigh.)

Jim

[YeshuaIsa53]

Offer a trade with someone for the K checkered football targets you are looking for? What does the other grip look like?

[steelslaver]

What strikes me is N frame stocks stick out up by the horn when on K frames. Plus the gap in front of grip frame. Plus it looks like the main spring will hit the screw. Actually like the hole for the roll pin is all wrong or something.

[s&wchad]

Originally Posted by 4T5GUY

Just received the K Frame Targets I bought and I’m bummed.

I’m pretty sure that they are actually N Frame although advertised and bought by me as K Frame...

Thoughts?

Most online sellers have no idea, unless they're seriously into S&W. IMO, N frame targets of that era are worth more than K frame targets.

Your photos isn't enough to identify the stocks. They appear to be for an N frame, but I can't guarantee it. I need to see how they fit installed on a K frame at the outside top rear of the backstrap. N frame target stocks will stick out about .100" on a K frame.

You could probably sell N frame targets, buy comparable K frame targets and have money left over.

[YeshuaIsa53]

I'd try them on someone's N frame before selling them, though. They might like them.

[4T5GUY]

Originally Posted by s&wchad

Your photos isn't enough to identify the stocks. They appear to be for an N frame, but I can't guarantee it. I need to see how they fit installed on a K frame at the outside top rear of the backstrap. N frame target stocks will stick out about .100" on a K frame.

I put them back on. Fit is just too big for the 66. (Sorry about the fingerprints.) Function is fine but….

Jim

[gmborkovic]

They sure look like Ns on a K.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Honest mistake, no doubt. Slight nuisance if you follow post #4, but basically a win for you.

If you like the grips, I will be the first to tell you to follow your own advice and buy a postwar N frame. If you absolutely have to have a pre-war N frame, I have some service grips for you.

[Pine_Worker]

Definitely N frame grips!

[Hair Trigger]

If the new stocks fit your K frame like this (1st picture) they are N frame stocks. If you have another set of K frame stocks you can take off another gun, match one of the new halves against one of the ones you know are K frame. N frame stocks are slightly larger all around, but the only place they don't really fit is the top of the back strap, as shown in the 1st picture.

[s&wchad]

Originally Posted by 4T5GUY

I put them back on. Fit is just too big for the 66. (Sorry about the fingerprints.) Function is fine but….


Jim

Originally Posted by Pine_Worker

Definitely N frame grips!

Yes, Pine_Worker is correct. NO QUESTION those are N frame stocks.

[4T5GUY]

Well a thank you to all that replied. They are confirmed N Frame Football Targets. Unfortunately for me.

Guess I’ll try here on the Forum for a WTT with like K Frames. I don’t want or need them and I’m not going to be getting back into N Frames.

Jim

[Retired W4]

Modified N targets done right.

[stansdds]

Those are N-frame football target stocks and in the condition pictured, easily worth somewhere in the $150 to $200 range.

[Narragansett]

Is the football in the correct place?

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by Narragansett

Is the football in the correct place?

Just inches away from a first down......Ben

[gmborkovic]

Since we are on footballs, were the early footballs a bit smaller and got larger over the years?

[DETROIT]

Sounds like you need to buy an N frame

[hkcavalier]

Yep, 1970s N frame for you. Your cheapest option is probably a 28-2 with some honest wear.

[A10]

Originally Posted by stansdds

Those are N-frame football target stocks and in the condition pictured, easily worth somewhere in the $150 to $200 range.

Whoa. These things have apparently really increased in price over the past few years....gotta look in my grip box, I might be Rich!

[stansdds]

Originally Posted by A10

Whoa. These things have apparently really increased in price over the past few years....gotta look in my grip box, I might be Rich!

Wooden stocks that were often relegated to the spare parts box or the $5 box at the gunshop are now in high demand. Turns out that classic revolvers are worth quite a bit more with the correct wood instead of comfortable rubber stocks.

[Hondo44]

Originally Posted by gmborkovic

Since we are on footballs, were the early footballs a bit smaller and got larger over the years?

I don't have time to search right now but if I recall you can click on pictures and albums above and find photos of the different target stocks to compare the size of the football cut outs.

The basic styles:


1955 Non-Relieved first issue S&W stocks that sold for $7.00 per pair, offered in Walnut




The Second variation diamond Target stock's with the famous Coke Profile Palm swell & a wider checking pattern Circa 1956-1964 made from select Goncalo-Alves wood, and also offered in select Walnut, and American Rosewood.





The Third Issue Flat style Panel Circa 1966 non Palm swell stocks with a much less broad checking Pattern than the former ones and the Oval football relief was still being used shown in Select grade figured Goncalo-Alves.





Post 1968 Non-Diamond center stock's still showing the Football shaped relief now with less Line's per inch checking and panels remained flat with no palm swell in them. These are of Goncalo-Alves wood as well.





The final Variation of S&W factory wood checked Target stocks offered post-1976 now having the Half Moon Crescent shape relief to readily accept the use of Modern Speed Loaders shown in Goncalo-Alves wood. The checkering on this style is very rough in nature as well as the finish sanding or quality of the wood they used in this. They had switched to a new Urethane clear finish in this series of stock's, where pervious ones had a Lacquer clear finish applied to them.

[steelslaver]

If you put those in the misc for sale or trade someone would trade you a K frame set for them.

[4T5GUY]

Originally Posted by steelslaver

If you put those in the misc for sale or trade someone would trade you a K frame set for them.

I suppose that advice was for me.

I did and it didn’t go well. The first response was “I’ll take that trade” and it was then locked. That was my fault by not remembering how things worked. I never even got to see the potential trade until days later. (They did not have the Football Relief cut.)

I got allot of offers with just three people sharing pictures and only one had a Football Relief cut. I decided to put a price on them and change my post to WTT/WTS. I accepted an OBO price, then was told I had to pay for a new grip screw because my N Frames didn’t come with one. Umm, no. If it was winter they would have been thrown in the wood stove.

Jim

[zonker5]

Easy way to tell, measure across the bottom of cut out. These are for a K frame, an N frame will be right at 2".

That's one of the reasons I have a 6" scale in my pocket when I am out shopping.

[bananaman]

When not on a gun it is hard to tell. My Dad gave me an old M&P revolver with target grips on it. They were also N frame. As yours they were too large. Good thing I have a few N guns. On my 28 no dash. Bob