19-2 Coke Grips

[ejeli]

I just purchased a 1967 19-2 in nice shape with box and papers. It appears to have "Coke" grips on it. I know they were available during this period but how can I tell if they are factory. There is no pencil marking on the inside visible. Were all factory grips of that era marked with serial numbers on the grips? Thanks in advance for any info.
e.

 

[JohnK]

Never say never, but coke grips only came on N frames.

 

[weatherby]

You probably have diamond targets not cokes on the 19 which is a good thing also IMHO.
Target Stocks were very seldom numbered.
Magnas on the other hand were commonly numbered.

So where are the pictures ?

I like pictures

 

[A10]

Congratulations on your 19! The Diamond Targets surely feel better in you hand, even though they may not be Cokes. Pics help, but unless these are a pair of Kurac or Keith Brown grips they would be Diamond Targets....

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Actual 19s, not actual Cokes.

 

[ejeli]

According to the SCSW third edition page 23, "Coke Bottle Stocks were introduced for both K and N revolvers in the mid 1950's. They defiantly have a slight palm swell on both sides a slight flair at the butt. Will try to get some pictures tonight.

 

[A10]

I'd sure love to see them!

 

[Doc44]

The SCSW is incorrect in that statement.

Bill

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

The SCSW is incorrect in that statement.

Bill

Bill speaks the truth,This issue has been covered a few times on the Forum.It always ends with the fact that true K Frame Cokes do not exist.

 

[Hondo44]

As Weatherby posted in #3 post above, target grips are seldom numbered. And grip numbering in the period was stamped into the wood, no longer penciled, from ~1929 to end of grip numbering in the late 1970s. If there's no inking on the back of either grip, they are most likely the original grips (stocks) which were standard on Model 19s.

There's some controversy about 'coke-like' targets for the K frame discussed in these threads with photos:

What should these stocks be on?
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...non-relieved-target-stocks.html#post137634535
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ottle-stocks-investigation.html#post137913205
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...86-help-i-d-k-frame-stocks.html#post137905973

And in this one listed below in related threads:

Coke grips?

 

[410bore]

Bill speaks the truth,This issue has been covered a few times on the Forum.It always ends with the fact that true K Frame Cokes do not exist.

BINGO.........

 

[ejeli]

My apologies to everyone, after I got my head out of my butt I looked on the box and it is marked "T"
Hopefully these pictures will show enough to confirm what has already been noted.
e.

 

[Nightowl]

While they are very nice grips, and fit your gun very well, they are not cokes. If will look up pictures and threads on cokes, you will be able to immediately tell the difference. The checkering area is larger in cokes and the checkering extends farther toward the butt than in regular target stocks.

 

[A10]

Those are gorgeous grips, congratulations!

 

[Kanewpadle]

This is my 19-2. Grips are original. I'd say yours are too.

 

[weatherby]

Actual 19s, not actual Cokes.

Well......Pilgrim.... that shiny one..... looks like one fine shooting Iron

 

[glenncal1]

N Frame Cokes:

 

[410bore]

Here are a couple different shiny 19-2's with original stocks

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Well......Pilgrim.... that shiny one..... looks like one fine shooting Iron

Thanks. As I have reported before, bought it at the BX in Guam.
Carried it in SEA.

 

[Engine49guy]

While many if not most N and K diamond target grips have a coke bottle shape due to the wider center from the uncheckered diamond pattern around the mounting screw seems that the key feature that sets "Cokes" apart is a larger checkered area found on certain 50's / 60's era N frame diamond targets that extends closer to the heel.

I try to find reason in things and it could have been those were intended for better control of heavier recoiling .44 and .41 Magnums (although I haven't seen that in writing anywhere).

Of course "Rule #1"with S&W is :"Nothing is absolute with S&W" ...
and my guess is a few sets of K diamond Coke pattern target grips do exist with the larger N Coke pattern.

These are not my grips but IIRC they were posted on the forum a while back as K diamond targets...


Perhaps they are actually N Cokes, or perhaps the factory cut a few Coke pattern K diamond targets by mistake ,
No way to tell for sure.

Here are 2 standard K diamond targets for comparison (Notice the distance between the heel and bottom edge of the checkering )