Are these “cokes” worth repairing?

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Today I bought a pre-27 (1955) from a friend. The grips are not original to the pistol; the are "coke" grips that do not belong on it. I do not need these grips. My question is, should I pay to repair them or should I sell them "as-is"?

Your suggestions are always appreciated.

Mark
 

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What's to repair? Just a few tiny chips along the checkering on one side and a little chunk along the top edge of the other side. For their age they are in good shape, just need cleaning and a good buffing after waxing them. They'd look awesome on any N frame of the same era or later.

Sell them as-is if you don't want them. Cokes is cokes and they ain't made no mo. I'd love to put them on my M57, but I don't want to spend what they're worth.
 
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Don't spend money on them, clean and Ren wax as Marshal tom suggests. Someone likely has a 44 Magnum or 57 in not quite perfect condition on which they would be perfect. Probably bring $500 on eBay if you sell them which will cover the cost of correct grips and leave you a couple Benjamins to the good. But, where are the pictures of the pre-27?

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
I agree with all the above responses...First letter your gun to see how it was shipped...If you like the feel of them, leave them on...If you want to save them for that "right" gun you just know will come along, do so...

I have three pair tagged and tucked away that I got in the same way as yours...They don't deteriorate in a plastic baggie, don't eat anything but a little space and only increase in trade value...:rolleyes:...Ben
 
May be incorrect, but being a 1955 and the .44 Magnum just coming out at the same time, I doubt Cokes were an option. Only optional .357 target grips I have ever seen were the standard walnut Target stocks with no cutout.

I've picked up two sets of Cokes that were attached to .357s, one a 1953 and the other a 27-2 made in the 70s.

In looking at the bottom of the grips I was wondering if these had been repaired... One of the sets I bought had a chip broken out just below the backstrap that a very talented woodworker friend was able to repair and refinish...

Bob
 
I never thought that the grips MIGHT have been original to the gun. A letter it is!

Thank you all for your comments. What I'd have sold them and then found out that they were original equipment?

Mark
 
What's a good process for cleaning them? I have several that could use a good cleaning.

A toothbrush and a quality furniture wood cleaner or oil. Scrub everything, getting into the checkering and wipe with an old diaper or lint-free cloth. Then a good coat of paste furniture wax or Renaissance Wax. Apply the wax with another tooth brush (use your wife's, not your own :rolleyes::rolleyes::D) so it doesn't build up in the checkering, then buff it out.
 
Unless you are putting them up for auction, I wouldn't do a single thing to these grips. Let the buyer put them in the condition they want, or leave them as is. Doubt it would take long to move them on the forum.
 
Unless you are putting them up for auction, I wouldn't do a single thing to these grips. Let the buyer put them in the condition they want, or leave them as is. Doubt it would take long to move them on the forum.

I disagree...whether or not you are selling those Cokes, clean them up and wax them. If you're selling them, they should bring more $ if they look really nice. If you're keeping them, they'll still look nice!
 
Definitely not worth restoring so being the benevolent person I am, let me give you $50 for them, then you can buy a nice set of rubber grips.
 
I disagree...whether or not you are selling those Cokes, clean them up and wax them. If you're selling them, they should bring more $ if they look really nice. If you're keeping them, they'll still look nice!

The amount more that they would bring on the forum "cleaned up" is negligible, and if you don't know what you are doing then you are as likely to make them look worse than better. Not to mention that as-is they may match someone's shooter in this condition.
 
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Many years ago when I was new to the forum and fairly new to S&W knowledge wise, I posted a 6.5" 1950 Target for sale with a set of cokes that were on the gun when I acquired it. One of the members said to take the Cokes off of the gun and sell it without them. I didn't know what he was talking about and sold it as it was without thinking that I would not have had Cokes and that I was selling the gun way to cheap with them on it. A member here got a screaming deal on that sale since the Cokes were worth half of what I sold the 1950 Target for.
 
Marshal Tom, you hit the nail on (my) the head. I don't believe in Letters unless they're really needed; in my case (and your 1950) I believe one is. I'm waiting by my mailbox ever since I sent for the Letter, despite the North Idaho chilly weather.

Mark
 

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