4-screw pre-Model 29 44 Magnum 6-inch

[Coup]

Greetings to all. Today I picked up a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum 6-inch 4-screw pre-Model 29 with "Coke" grips.
The gun is about 95% with slight holster wear on the very end of the barrel.
The grips have a couple of chips in the wood, and the original owner scratched his initials into the bottom of both grip panels.

I would like to have these grips restored if at all possible.

Please let me know if you know or could recommend someone who restores Coke grips.

Please excuse the crappy pic. It's night time and my phone camera sucks.

Regards, Coup

 

[Valmet]

Nice example- 6" or 6.5"?

 

[RKmesa]

Probably 6.5"... Congrats.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome back to the Forum! You found yourself a very nice 4-screw .44 Magnum with Cokes, and I believe a 6-1/2" bbl (measure from front of the cylinder to the muzzle). I have the same model (s/n S177963) that shipped in 1958, and it's probably my favorite revolver in my modest collection. Mine had an identical chip in the RH stock behind the trigger guard (very common, due to recoil), and I had it expertly repaired by DWFAN (now retired). I'm not sure if Curt (44magget) or one of our other talented Forum craftsmen is currently repairing stocks, but hopefully one of them will come along and help you out. Enjoy!

 

[Coup]

Here are some grip pics. Again, crappy pics that will give you a headache if you haven't had your coffee first.

 

[Coup]

 

[Retired W4]

Last I heard Curt is no longer taking on the work that he is so good at. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Truckman]

Last I heard Curt is no longer taking on the work that he is so good at. I hope I'm wrong.

I messaged with Curt just the other day, and he has no plans to resume repairs......Ben

 

[Oldbird13]

Curious as to members estimate of value of those stocks considering the wear and damage to them?

 

[Hawg Rider]

It's really a shame that those Cokes were so abused...however, it looks to me like all of those issues could be repaired by a qualified craftsman. Now we just have to identify one! Any takers?

 

[Jeep 1]

Here's a little different take on this set of cokes, My dad was a farmer, my mom was one of the better known country furniture antique dealers in the country and she taught me to look at things such as this set of cokes as history if we knew how those scars got put on that set of Cokes, the history is to me what is awesome about them, They're about beyond repair and you would destroy that history. I would be proud to own them actually and probably put them on one of my older 29's that I shoot and enjoy them, because somebody back in history that used to own them would be smiling.
Tom

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice Gun!
And I'm Hoping for Divine intervention on those Grips.
Haven't seen Hasselblad Pics for a while.
Never had one, did have 2 Bronicas.
Tilt! Great Lens, terrible bodies.

 

[Coup]

As a last resort I could pay some ridiculous price for a pair of decent Cokes from eBay
My original Cokes do not have any serial numbers stamped or pencilled into them.

 

[Retired W4]

As a last resort I could pay some ridiculous price for a pair of decent Cokes from eBay
My original Cokes do not have any serial numbers stamped or pencilled into them.

Cokes would not be marked with a SN. Fitting them to a particular gun was unnecessary.

 

[spin132]

Try James Mackie. He has repaired several sets (including cokes) for me and I have been very satisfied. You can find him on Facebook by searching "Custom Grips, Leather, Scrim and Engraving"

Mike

 

[jcelect]

Try James Mackie. He has repaired several sets (including cokes) for me and I have been very satisfied. You can find him on Facebook by searching "Custom Grips, Leather, Scrim and Engraving"

Mike

What's Facebook? Please post his contact information, I'm sure he would appreciate the advertisement!

 

[Gun Relics]

I definitely think they can be restored. Cokes go for around $500, but they are just hard to find for sale. The difficult part of this job is replacing the chunks missing in such a way that they can be blended to make the repair invisible. It take a little artistry and a little smoke and mirrors, but it can be done. Here's a repair I did on a set, but this was one ding - yours will take a complete job.

I filled the hole with ground black walnut dust and superglue, then carefully shaped it with a file and sand paper without removing much from the other surface. Then I dyed the patch to match the grain, and gave it a small amount of semi-gloss just on the repaired area, then used steel wool to blend.

I am just a hobbyist, these pros are like magicians!

 

[spin132]

What's Facebook? Please post his contact information, I'm sure he would appreciate the advertisement!

Sorry Joe, I don't have another way to contact him. When you posted this I tried reaching out to him and have not recieved a response to date. If or when I do, I'll post it here -

Mike

 

[richrd]

I just happen to know an "artist" who made his living doing just that kind of repair. I think I will send these pics and see what he says.

 

[spin132]

Greetings to all. Today I picked up a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum 6-inch 4-screw pre-Model 29 with "Coke" grips.
The gun is about 95% with slight holster wear on the very end of the barrel.
The grips have a couple of chips in the wood, and the original owner scratched his initials into the bottom of both grip panels.

I would like to have these grips restored if at all possible.

Please let me know if you know or could recommend someone who restores Coke grips.

Regards, Coup

Coup, i finally heard back from James Mackey who I mentioned above. He can be reached at [email protected]. Here is a pic of the cokes he repaired and refinished for me. Great job!

Mike