I recently took a chance on these walnut K frame target Stocks, buying them from blurry photos and a description with very little info. I am hoping they were made by a notable maker.
At first, I thought they were probably Herretts, But the checkering is much different and the overall shape is not the same as other Herretts that ive seen.
I then thought that maybe they were by Fitz but Fitz stocks are always marked with the Fitz signature on the base.
When I bought these stocks, there was no picture of the backside. They are stamped with numbers, very similar to what you would find on Lew Sanderson stocks, but much smaller.
Does anyone have any ideas?

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While the stamped numbers are smaller than usually seen on Sanderson's they sure look like his work to me.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Thats what concerns me. I have never seen any of his with numbers that small.

In my limited experience the wood looks to new and with no relief for the upper screw I don't think Lew. I can't say what his son's stocks look like. I'm hoping more members in the know see this thread.

I think these are early Herretts.

The thumb rest real is not Sanderson like and most Sandersons have a very distinct looking screw.

Like mentioned above most all Sandersons have numbers that are very unchanged in size and font.

Similar to Herretts, their thumb rest extends much further. I have searched early Herrett catalogs and cant find any that are exactly the same

I went through all my Herritts sets but none go back as far as hand checking as the shown set seems to have. The only thing I noticed was that every set had the same hardware as the one shown.

I sold most of my Sandersons but I do not recall ever seeing the checking pattern where the webbing of your hand lies. That pointed area. Also any Sandersons I have owned I recall the thumbrest always continued all the way to the cylinder release.

Of course both did custom work and anything is possible.

Herrett's.

Can you please provide an example by Herretts which had the same short length thumb rest, number stamp on the back (Herretts always put a sticker on the back side) or checkering pattern all the way around? I have been looking for days and have even scoured their old catalogs and have found nothing that matches.
I dont think Herretts offered custom work, did they?

What threw me off is the short thumb rest and the small numbers on the back. Every Herrett thumb rest I have seen, extends to the end of the grip and I have never seen Herretts with any kind of number stamped on the back.

Yes, Herrett's offers custom work - or at least they did for years and years. For as long as I can remember they have had a set up where you could trace your hand on a sheet of paper and they'll make the grips to fit you. Wood (and grade) choices, custom checkering were options - at least in the past anyways. Everything about these grips says Herrett's to me. Certainly not Sanderson's work. Only other option I could think of is something overseas such as Sile, but I'm 99% certain they are Herrett's.

I'd say early Herretts.

Well just for fun I started searching some of the grip threads I saved and found something interesting.

Looking at this thread I found very similar sized numbered grips (post 26}

Also found similar v shaped checking on the back of one set.(post 5)

Very similar rounding under the grip butt below the grip frame (post 5)

fitz grips . . . the wood “semi-target” type

I am not saying I think the OPs set are a fitz grip but the numbered set proves there is some odd ball stuff out there not often seen.

I also thought Fitz but they are usually marked with the Fitz signature on the bottom, but these dont and there is no sign that they were sanded off. The Fitz signature is quite deep.

I don't think your grips are Fitz.
I still am pretty confident they are likely old Herrett
The small number is the only thing non Herrett about them.

But, With most any grip maker you are going to find exceptions to the rule with identifiers. Its good to at least follow leads and see where it takes you.

Unfortunately, there hasnt been a lead yet which has been compelling enough to point a finger at

Absolutely sure they are early Herretts, even if they have these numbers and a shape similar to SILEs. The checkering is Herrett 100%. Fitz are another animal, nothing to do with these.

I said

Herrett's.