1st. Model DA grips

[Exmilcop]

I have a lovely 1st mod. DA in .44 Russian and I'm wondering if anyone makes a more modern or "hand-filling" set of grips for these old pistols. I've started making a walnut set for mine but it would be nice to know if an alternate is out there.

 

[bigwagon]

The grip is very similar to a K Frame round butt. Any RB grip would be a good starting point, with modifications as needed.

 

[glowe]

The New Model 3 Double Action was actually the first K frame stock design for butt-frame. A set of K frame round-butt stocks will fit this gun, except that the front lower corner on the 44 DA butt-frame has a sharper turn than the Models 1899, 1902, 1905 guns. Any after-market K frame target stocks should fit your revolver. Remember that all pre-WWII guns had their stocks hand-fitted to each gun, taking off both metal and the stock material until a perfect fit was accomplished. This means that every gun may have slightly different dimensions.

 

[Boulder350]

There are 2 different pin locations for these grips/guns. I have not figured out which one came first. The pin location may follow a basic set of rules, but knowing that Smith and Wesson never threw anything away, anything goes when they decided to use up the old parts.

I replaced the grips on my 38-40 DA gun and I bought several before finding the right ones. You may need to modify the pin location on the new grips.

A very early set of mottled grips from a 44 Russian DA actually fit my very late 38-40 gun.

 

[cgt4570]

To locate the pin hole properly on the back side of the stocks, I remove the locating pin, then use drill bit size just a hair smaller than the pin. I use a pin vise to hold the bit, and turn it by hand. I put the grip on the frame with the best fit, then carefully drill each side through the pin hole in the frame.