Engine49guy,
Can't help you on the models you are inquiring about. I can say from experience as an original owner of about 97% of my collection that there is apparently no particular cut-off point to determine a positive transition point with many other models. It would seem if either model you're requesting info on would have had
any documented guns delivered with cut-outs they too would have to be deemed "correct" along with the "combats."
A very glaring example in my collection were the delivery of two model 66-1's in about 1982 (+or-). About a year before they arrived the changeover to speed-loader cut-out from "footballs" had occurred and for about 13 months everything was being delivered with the new cut-outs. Low and behold and out of the blue, both a 4" and a 6" were delivered within a week of each other and
both had footballs -- and again, that was after over a year of receiving only guns with cut-outs! Both are still in my possession. Both are serial numbered well into a time frame that should have provided cut-outs. The 4" with its original "footballs" is pictured below.
Both firearms were shipped directly to an S&W authorized police supply distributor called Northwest Law Enforcement and from there directly to my S.O. There was no intermediary along the way who could have switched the grips after they left S&W.
I learned from that incident, and several other grip issues involving N frames of that era, that grips are in no way a
conclusive determinate of a factory shipped or factory "correct" gun.
Perhaps the changeover issues are more definite and dependable today with the models you request but I believe I'd probably doubt it.
I hope this helps somewhat. Best wishes on your quest!
