redhawk444
Member
I have a 624 with these grips on it and I am not sure what exactly is the proper nomenclature for them....anybody?
What are these grips called?
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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They look like standard S&W target grips to me.
Biginge
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Checkered Target is my guess.
Regards,
Bill
Regards,
Bill
"Speedloader" targets. If you mean wood species, I presume they are Goncalo Alves.
OP
redhawk444
Member
OK, so they are not the ones referred to as "cokes"?
phenson
US Veteran
The ones with the speedloader cut out were called presentation target stocks. Although there is some controversy about the date, S&W started making them somewhere around 1980. They are not cokes.
They are not "football" cutouts either. They were made after S&W discontinued the football targets.
They are not "football" cutouts either. They were made after S&W discontinued the football targets.
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No. They're the last generation of wood target grips made in-house before S&W decided to start putting rubber on almost everything. 
Your grips are standard target grips, with what is oft referred to a "football" cut out. These are/were great grips and have always fit my hand very well.
N frame , square butt, checkered Target stocks w/ speedloader cutout - wood is Goncalo Alves.
They are nice looking!
phenson
US Veteran
Mike,
You got me thinking, they're not presentations, they had the cut on the other side as well. My bad.
Here's what the database says about the ones in question:
"Speed Loader" Targets. Silver washer. 1980 until about
1991, and infrequently thereafter. Often on L & K frames.
These are cut out for an enhanced clearance on
the left side for a speedloader, the scallop exposes
the revolver frame. Late in this issue, the medallion
washer was deleted and the medallions are more or less
force fit into a hole bored in the stocks and the 'alignment
circle' is milled into the wood.
These are footballs:
Relieved ("football") Targets. Black washer 1956 until about 1972, Silver washer. 1970 until
about 1982.
These are Cokes made by Keith Brown:
Relieved ("Coke bottle") Targets. Black washer. 1956 until 1967.
These stocks were .44 Magnum and early years of the Model 57
specific. Notice the checkered area is larger on the cokes.
You got me thinking, they're not presentations, they had the cut on the other side as well. My bad.
Here's what the database says about the ones in question:
"Speed Loader" Targets. Silver washer. 1980 until about
1991, and infrequently thereafter. Often on L & K frames.
These are cut out for an enhanced clearance on
the left side for a speedloader, the scallop exposes
the revolver frame. Late in this issue, the medallion
washer was deleted and the medallions are more or less
force fit into a hole bored in the stocks and the 'alignment
circle' is milled into the wood.
These are footballs:
Relieved ("football") Targets. Black washer 1956 until about 1972, Silver washer. 1970 until
about 1982.
These are Cokes made by Keith Brown:
Relieved ("Coke bottle") Targets. Black washer. 1956 until 1967.
These stocks were .44 Magnum and early years of the Model 57
specific. Notice the checkered area is larger on the cokes.
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ohiojerry
Member
Patrick, that second pic is one seriously gorgeous revolver.
powderburns
Member
EXACTLY what I was going to say
OP
redhawk444
Member
The grips on the 624 that I posted are dated June 1985.
I guess I have trouble seeing the difference between the "cokes" and the target grips, other, that is, than the quality of the wood and checkering.
What exactly defines a set of cokes from other grips of similar configuration? Please.
I guess I have trouble seeing the difference between the "cokes" and the target grips, other, that is, than the quality of the wood and checkering.
What exactly defines a set of cokes from other grips of similar configuration? Please.
There may be a sticky somewhere that answers your question, but I don't know where. 
The so called Coke bottle pattern N-frame target stocks were exclusive to the 44 Magnum, and later the .41 Magnums, through about 1967. They were shaped differently than modern targets, and they were considerably smaller. They also had what appeared to be a larger checkered area, and of course they had the uncheckered diamond panel around the screw escutcheons. There is some controversy about whether this pattern of stocks was ever made for K-frames. There doesn't seem to be any evidence they were, but people still like to debate it.
Much is made of the Coke bottle shape (i.e., the palm swell aspect). Keith Brown recently commented that he had measured many sets and saw very little dimensional evidence of a palm swell. I agree with that 100%. That the name has stuck seems ridiculous to me, since in all the examples I have seen, and I have seen a few, likening them to the shape of the old Coca-Cola bottle is a poor exercise at best.
But they are by far the prettiest target stocks S&W ever made, and when you see them side-by-side with modern targets, you will get kind of a queasy feeling in your stomach, like most of us did in 1968 or so, when the first modern ones started showing up on guns in the dealer's display case. The good thing is that now Keith makes that style of grip and does such a fantastic job of it that if you can get a set of his stocks, your troubles are over.
If you look at the two pictures posted by Phenson, you see the essential differences in the plane view. A view from the bottom (butt of the gun) will reveal that the modern targets have a more rectangular shape, whereas the Coke bottle stocks will have a definite oval shape. The so-called Coke bottle shape is thought to be seen when viewing the stocks from the rear (backstrap) of the gun.
The so called Coke bottle pattern N-frame target stocks were exclusive to the 44 Magnum, and later the .41 Magnums, through about 1967. They were shaped differently than modern targets, and they were considerably smaller. They also had what appeared to be a larger checkered area, and of course they had the uncheckered diamond panel around the screw escutcheons. There is some controversy about whether this pattern of stocks was ever made for K-frames. There doesn't seem to be any evidence they were, but people still like to debate it.
Much is made of the Coke bottle shape (i.e., the palm swell aspect). Keith Brown recently commented that he had measured many sets and saw very little dimensional evidence of a palm swell. I agree with that 100%. That the name has stuck seems ridiculous to me, since in all the examples I have seen, and I have seen a few, likening them to the shape of the old Coca-Cola bottle is a poor exercise at best.
But they are by far the prettiest target stocks S&W ever made, and when you see them side-by-side with modern targets, you will get kind of a queasy feeling in your stomach, like most of us did in 1968 or so, when the first modern ones started showing up on guns in the dealer's display case. The good thing is that now Keith makes that style of grip and does such a fantastic job of it that if you can get a set of his stocks, your troubles are over.
If you look at the two pictures posted by Phenson, you see the essential differences in the plane view. A view from the bottom (butt of the gun) will reveal that the modern targets have a more rectangular shape, whereas the Coke bottle stocks will have a definite oval shape. The so-called Coke bottle shape is thought to be seen when viewing the stocks from the rear (backstrap) of the gun.
Last edited:
OP
redhawk444
Member
OK M29, I think I now understand what is meant by cokes. Thanks much.
Maximumbob54
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These are Cokes made by Keith Brown:
QUOTE]
Phenson,
OMG.
OMG,
Phenson.
one eye joe
US Veteran
Those Keith Brown grips are BREATHTAKING ! ! !
Nemo288
Member
Different strokes I suppose... I have always hated those grips.
Even on the mild 624s. Forget the 6" 629. I got the smooth
target grips in the mid 80's for the 629 and they work well and look very nice.
I'll try to edit later with a pic. My main 'puter
is hors de combat right now
The smooth targets are some ofthe last really good looking wood to come from S&W.
I finally broke down and got some Herrett Jordan Troopers for the
4" 624. They obviously fit perfectly as they are custom made to
one's hand pattern.
Got bored with the black sights too
---
Nemo
Tyrod
Member
There may be a sticky somewhere that answers your question, but I don't know where.
The so called Coke bottle pattern N-frame target stocks were exclusive to the 44 Magnum, and later the .41 Magnums, through about 1967. They were shaped differently than modern targets, and they were considerably smaller. They also had what appeared to be a larger checkered area, and of course they had the uncheckered diamond panel around the screw escutcheons. There is some controversy about whether this pattern of stocks was ever made for K-frames. There doesn't seem to be any evidence they were, but people still like to debate it.
Much is made of the Coke bottle shape (i.e., the palm swell aspect). Keith Brown recently commented that he had measured many sets and saw very little dimensional evidence of a palm swell. I agree with that 100%. That the name has stuck seems ridiculous to me, since in all the examples I have seen, and I have seen a few, likening them to the shape of the old Coca-Cola bottle is a poor exercise at best.
But they are by far the prettiest target stocks S&W ever made, and when you see them side-by-side with modern targets, you will get kind of a queasy feeling in your stomach, like most of us did in 1968 or so, when the first modern ones started showing up on guns in the dealer's display case. The good thing is that now Keith makes that style of grip and does such a fantastic job of it that if you can get a set of his stocks, your troubles are over.
If you look at the two pictures posted by Phenson, you see the essential differences in the plane view. A view from the bottom (butt of the gun) will reveal that the modern targets have a more rectangular shape, whereas the Coke bottle stocks will have a definite oval shape. The so-called Coke bottle shape is thought to be seen when viewing the stocks from the rear (backstrap) of the gun.
Hmmm, and here I was thinking "coke" referred to the material cocobolo wood.
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