.455 HE MKII 2nd Model With a twist!! Have a few questions??

Nice one, congrats. Checkering the 'palm side' grip panel was supposed to give you better control.....

I am tending to agree that the checkering on only the right stock panel could have been intentional. These stocks seem to be a matched set, and your assumption seems to have some merit to me.
Tom
 
I am tending to agree that the checkering on only the right stock panel could have been intentional. These stocks seem to be a matched set, and your assumption seems to have some merit to me.
Tom

Tom,

Are the grips the same thickness? The rim of the screw escutcheon in the checkered grip looks thicker than the other. This indicates to me that the grips surface has been dressed down slightly from the checkering. If it's not as thick as the plain side, that may indicate this is a matched pair which I'm also believing is true.

You won't have to load down 45 AR to be safe in your revolver like is true for ACP. AR was factory loaded for revolvers in the 455 pressure range of 15000. The ACP was loaded in the 19000 pressure range to reliably function the 1911 auto loader. The 1917 45 revolver cyls were heat treated because of it. The 455s were not, hence the warning to load down ACPs for 455s converted to ACP.
 
Speaking with a local gun shop owner, who has been on the scene in my area for quite some time......he tells me that he has seen a few guns come through his shop with stocks checkered on only one side over the years.
Most have been wood, but a few have been ivory.
He tells me this was a common practice at one point.
That said, I would strongly doubt that these stocks were shipped from S&W that way, but I suppose a special request for this could have been possible.
 
The .455 2nd models have been done in a variety of different configurations. I found this one in the Denver area last year, and it is all original and number matching "except" it is sleeved for 38 Special. When I saw it in the case at Cabelas I was amazed at the condition, then I noticed the front sight. Shortened to regulate the POI. There are no import markings, and no British markings on it other than the original marks. I'm guessing it was brought back and modified here in the US.

in the 1956/1957 era I had a Webley Mk VI .455 that had been "Sleeved" to .38spl.
 
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