A question on some K frame "magna" diamond stocks . . .

[bedbugbilly]

So far in my "herd" . . . I have 4 S & W hand ejectors - a Model 36 snub, a 1920's M & P "Target", a 1952 "pre 10" M & P and a 1956 4" pre 15 Combat Masterpiece. Oddly enough, the only one that came with the original factory grips was the Model 36 which was pristine (my new CCW). Anyway, the pre-15 came with some smooth after market grips - look like the traditional magna stocks but "not really"? In shooting it for the first time - I hated them so decided to switch them out. Now comes my questions . . .

I was able to pick up a set of K frame silver medallion diamond magna grips - not in the best of condition but will work alright for the time being and will give me "grip". I have always heard that the serial # for original Smith factory grips will be on the underside of the right stock. O.K. - I'll buy that. But, these have (what I am assuming) the serial # stamped into the wood - serial # 3002547 (7 digits). This is stamped into the backside of both the L and R grip. Thats it on the back of the L stock. On the R stock, in smaller size letters/numbers is stamped a "C" - below that "265" ad below that "16".

I'm just curious . . . from that information is there any way to tell the approx. age of these or what they might have come off of? Are they "age appropriate" for a 1950's pre 15 or pre 10?

As I say, they are not in pristine condition but will work fine for now and hopefully, after more shooting and range time with the pre 15, I can tell if that's the style I want on it or want to change to something else. They "have been around the block" and show signs of wear - the left stock seems to be a little more crisp in the checkering that the right which leads me to believe that they may be off of a LE gun with holster wear and greater exposure to the right stock.

Any information would be appreciated - sorry I can't post a photo as I don't have access to a camera at this time.

Also . . are there any links to photos that show the chronological usage of the various grips on Smiths? It seems like something like that would be a really nice "sticky" if it could be put together. Thanks.

 

[Art Doc]

Correct Magnas for a pre-model Combat Masterpiece would look like these...

 

[DWalt]

I have no idea what 3002547 means, as there is one too many digits for a serial number. SNs are usually stamped only on the rear of the right panel, toward the top, and at least the ones I have seen, do not have a letter prefix. If it does mean C26516, that SN would be from sometime in 1949. And it would have been on an M&P I think.

Being Diamond grips, they are more or less period appropriate, but the design is not necessarily age appropriate. A picture of both front and back views might make dating them a little more certain. I'd think they are pre-early 1950s from the picture.

 

[bedbugbilly]

Thank you both. They appear to be the same as in the photo that SaxonPig posted. When I saw the 7 digit number, I also thought (and I'm pretty inexperienced with Smiths ) that there was one too many digits for it to be a serial number.

The C, 265 and the 16 are on the upper inside portion of the right stock, just below the medallion washer. These are not stamped in a straight line but perhaps the stocks were stamped C with the 265 below and for each handgun that was made from 26500 through 26599 the last two digits stamped below?

This is the first set of factory K frame magna diamonds I have ever had a chance to look at so as I say, I'm pretty inexperienced. The factory grips on my 1920s M & P Target are not original to the pistol - I've been told they are earlier - they are round top service grips but the serial number on the back of the grip is written in pencil (serial numbered to an earlier handgun)? Was this originally done in pencil on early models and later changed to stamping in to the wood? I am assuming that the wood grips wee fitted to the frame after the frame was made and thus the serial number so the grip would match the gun it was fitted to?

A different beast, but I have a Colt Army Special made in 1910 with the original hard rubber grips and they are also numbered to that gun but the serial number is written on in pencil.

I'll try and see if I can get a picture of the fronts and back of these and post them. The seven digit numb is stamped on the lower inside of the stocks, pretty much in the area between the grip screw opening and the locating pin hole.

 

[murphydog]

"The factory grips on my 1920s M & P Target are not original to the pistol - I've been told they are earlier - they are round top service grips but the serial number on the back of the grip is written in pencil (serial numbered to an earlier handgun)? Was this originally done in pencil on early models and later changed to stamping in to the wood? I am assuming that the wood grips wee fitted to the frame after the frame was made and thus the serial number so the grip would match the gun it was fitted to?"

The service stocks you describe would be correct for a 1920 decade gun, with rounded (not flattened) tops. Penciled (or for hard rubber, scratched) numbers did come before stamped ones but there is some overlap; my impression is this was sometime in the 1930s but I may be off on that.

Finally, you are correct that service stocks were individually fitted to each grip frame toward the beginning of assembly, then numbered so they could go back onto the correct gun at the end. This practice continued until the mid-late 1970s.