Are these factory grips?

[rec0546]

These grips are from a model 27-2 made in 1977. Instead of being flat on the bottom, they are somewhat rounded. The gun is unfired (except for factory) and the grips do not appear to have been refinished. However, I cannot find any mention of such grips anywhere. Has anyone seen grips like this before? Gun was purchased at Cabelas where they have at least 3 others (from the same collection, according to Cabelas) with the same rounded bottom grips. Would S&W make 'custom' grips on special order?

 

[fat tom]

Look like factory to me. They have obviously been modified and re-finished though.
f.t.

 

[GF]

VM will be along and give us the answer but in the meantime I'm with F.T. on these.

Started off as factory and then modified.

GF

 

[bamabiker]

Wonder if someone did it to remove a chip or crack?

 

[rec0546]

Bamabiker....I don't think so. Here are 3 more with the same grips:

Cabela's -- Gun Details

Cabela's -- Gun Details

Cabela's -- Gun Details

 

[fat tom]

Those three examples only confirm my earlier opinion. But,I've been wrong so many times I've lost count.
f.t.

 

[bamabiker]

I don't remember seeing any like that but I have not been doing this near as long as others. I must say those guns all look very nice, including yours rec0546.

 

[VM]

IMO, they are Factory grips that have all been modified by same person. It makes sense since the guns are from same collection.

 

[rec0546]

Thanks everyone. I'm not sure why a 'collector' would modify grips on a gun they kept unfired. I kinda like them this way, but would have preferred they be original. Whoever did it, sure did a nice job with the finishing.

 

[Wickahoney]

I would have to agree with the rest. I've only been at this game for 40+ years but I have been at it as long as this style, relieved, non Diamond, Targets have been made. I've owned a a bunch of guns and probably 100 sets of grips and seen thousands and have never seen any factory shipped grips in this profile.

My bet, especially seeing they all came out of the same collection, would be factory issued Targets that were altered and refinished after the fact by the owner or his smth. A very nice job but.....................

Way back in my uniformed LEO days we used to routinely round a 45 degree chamfer of the bottom edge of Targets grips. It kept the bottom edge from getting banged and chipped constantly. Okay, we also thought it looked cool. ;-)

I sold some over the years and made sure to tell the buyer that they were modified factory grips. Years later I ran across two guns I KNEW I had owned and sold with the seller telling the story that they were some kind of RARE factory modified target grips only available to LEOs on special order!!! What a crock. When you asked for proof one guy said he bought them from the LEO who told him the story. The real liar said they lettered that way. Yeah right.

Interesting and well done but not factory.