A Mother of Pearl Thread

[glowe]

I only have one example, a 38 Single Action Model of 1891. Of course, the non-medallion pearls were post-factory, as the letter verifies. I found a 38 target barrel and proper style hard rubber stocks and built the case I fit them in from an old silverware box.

I picked this up from one of our knowledgeable experts on the Forum and it is quite valuable information on factory vs non-factory pearl stocks.

Medallions on Pearl and Ivory stocks were not added to S&W stocks until after the Columbian Expo of 1893, but after that date all factory pearl stocks had medallions. Robinson was one of the suppliers of the pearl blanks to S&W and had been making pearl stocks as well as ivory going back into the 1860s. Around the late 1920s to early 1930s, S&W quit supplying pearl stocks as they stated they could no longer rely on obtaining quality pearl for stocks.

 

[Tom K]

The ones on the .500 Magnum and the Regulation Police are imitation, the others are genuine pearl (although not factory).

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/226247-amazing-colossal-ladysmith.html

 

[jaymoore]

Someone else wanted the "plain" revolver rather worse than I did, but the engraved one is still about. Condition isn't pristine, but it still shoots OK.

 

[Rick Bowles]

Baby Chief with MOP and deep dish medallions

Colt factory engraved (Cuno Helfricht) 1903 Type 1. Letters with engraving and pearl.

.32 HE 1903 5th. change with factory pearl and deep dish medallions

Colt 1908 .380 Model M (1925) factory nickel

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I have an old pair of thin K frame pearls, but only pictures of these two.

Cut down (maybe by a police armorer) police dept. marked Colt Police Positive .38 S&W, but pictured with Colt New Police .38 ammo. It's just a flat point .38 S&W cartridge that kept Colt from having to put "S&W" on their guns back then.


Renickeled 1890 Colt .44-40 with barrel cut to 5". Ten years ago I bought the grips for $80 after they sat in the gun shop for over a year at around $125. The markings on this gun are all crisp except the barrel where they are barely visible.