Can anyone tell me what these S&W Grips are about?

[art g]

Ran across a 25-2 serial number N8464XX with pinned barrel. Overall the gun is in excellent condition with the only question being the grips. They appear to be S&W factory except a promo logo (click on thumbnail below to enlarge) is included on each stock. Anyone have any idea what this is all about and is there any possibility these grips are factory original to the gun? Thank you in advance for any information offered. Art G. [email protected]

 

[max]

Second Chance was, or is body armor. It was headquartered in Michigan and they use to host shooting contests with bowling pins. Lots of big name shooters attended and they often had lots of new guns as prizes. I am going to guess and say this gun or grips were possibly a prize. It is also possible Second Chance gave out the medallions.

 

[runwiththeherd]

The founder of Second Chance would often demo his product by shooting himself in the chest with a large bore S&W handgun. Quite a testament and Second Chance was #1 in law enforcement sales. I haven't seen grips like that before, but I can't help but think there is a connection.

 

[flagman1776]

I'm sure many here will tell you that Second Chance pioneered the soft body armour with their kevlar vests. Maybe SC sponsored a shoot or a stage at a shoot... possibly the revolver was a prize?
The question is was this a factory order or installed after it left Springfield.
Russ

 

[Buford57]

Max nailed it. Rich Davis, the founder of 2nd Chance, used to hold a PPC match every summer at his plant in Central Lake, MI and the 25-2 was really popular for pin shoots at the time. In addition to the usual hardware, it was also a rare chance to fire some Class III stuff - at least until BATF figured out Rich didn't have paperwork on some of it.

Davis was a real character. He used to demo his body armor to the village councils and county commissions in northern Michigan by shooting himself in the gut with a .44 mag. When his doctor told him to stop before the blunt trauma scrambled his internal organs he switched to a .357. But by that time the reputation was made. He put his money where his mouth was.

Good times.

 

[stevieboy]

You guys are talking about Rich Davis, Second Chance founder, in the past tense. Does that have anything to do with repeated self-inflicted gunshots to the abdomen with magnum rounds?

 

[max]

There was some problem or controversy a couple of years ago with a new softer material that the Justice Department urged police departments to replace. Second Chance was bought by another company and I believe it is now part of Safariland.

 

[art g]

Great Info!

Thanks for this information guys! Exactly what I was looking for!
Best regards, Art G.