Can someone help me understand why these grips are so valuable?

[-db-]

Well, all I can go on is what I see with my own eyes.

 

[410bore]

Photo angles can do a lot to skew dimensions. If you look at the right panel on the ebay set it is the proper N frame width. I think the left panel was photo'd at a different angle making it appear narrower. Plus, it could be the left panel lip is a tad narrower; these were finished by hand and fitted to a gun. I have seen small variances here on guns. There are guns I own that are very finicky about what stocks will fit; mostly due to small variances in the size of the top of the frame.

 

[n64atlas]

Looking at the pic of the back strap side of the grips, it looks like two different size grips. They don't match up at the bottom yet look like they do at the top. Is on side K and the other N?

 

[-db-]

Photo angles can do a lot to skew dimensions. If you look at the right panel on the ebay set it is the proper N frame width. I think the left panel was photo'd at a different angle making it appear narrower. Plus, it could be the left panel lip is a tad narrower; these were finished by hand and fitted to a gun. I have seen small variances here on guns. There are guns I own that are very finicky about what stocks will fit; mostly due to small variances in the size of the top of the frame.

You guys may be right but I'm looking at old photos I have of stocks from the same period and I'm just not seeing a smaller nearly-K-frame-sized step/lip on any N-frame stocks I've ever seen.

Again, the step on the stocks in question is quite obviously smaller. Or maybe I'm just goofy and am seeing, or not seeing, something that is, or isn't, there.

 

[srsmyth]

Oh dang it ! I'm supposed to work on my taxes today and now I have to go downstairs and get some grips and put them on my desk and look them over.

To the OP. Prices and product can be awkward to judge on the net, at least you're getting your moneys worth of information here on your question, the one about the grips.

 

[-db-]

Looking at the pic of the back strap side of the grips, it looks like two different size grips. They don't match up at the bottom yet look like they do at the top. Is on side K and the other N?

You know, you may be onto something here. Upon studying them closer, it does appear that the medallions, from both the front and back, appear to be different and the shape of the filler also differs on each panel. The filler on the left-side stock is a nice tall smooth arch while the other side is shorter and looks like a series of milled flats and features a notch.

The insides of the stocks should generally mirror each other, as seen with the other photos I posted above.

 

[Ga Johnny]

Well, whatever they are, I don't know if I see $630 worth there.
I imagine the seller is pleased I hope the buyer is pleased once he sees them

 

[flundertaker]

You know, you may be onto something here. Upon studying them closer, it does appear that the medallions, from both the front and back, appear to be different and the shape of the filler also differs on each panel. The filler on the left-side stock is a nice tall smooth arch while the other side is shorter and looks like a series of milled flats and features a notch.

The insides of the stocks should generally mirror each other, as seen with the other photos I posted above.

Rut row!
I agree it does appear they are different. I would not be suprised if they reappear here, GB or fleabay.

 

[Rick Bowles]

1950s]1950s s w Smith Wesson N Frame Walnut Diamond Grips Model 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 | eBay s w Smith Wesson N Frame Walnut Diamond Grips Model 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 | eBay

What possibly makes them worth this kind of money?

Everything is relative. While $600.00-$900.00 seems silly for a set of stocks, I put up for auction a 1911 Type 1 magazine.
It sold for $1,725.00... for a MAGAZINE!

 

[n64atlas]

This is the pic I was referring to:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/n64atlas/_57_zpsbhnkdlqg.jpg

 

[aphelion]

Back in the good old days, the best feature I could see S&W target stocks had was that they had plenty of meat to allow reshaping to something that actually allows a consistent grip by a human hand. A feature I took advantage of many times. In retrospect, not a financially sound decision considering how many of those modified ones I still have around here.

 

[handejector]

You guys sure over-think stuff sometimes.
The grips are N frame.
They are walnut, and they are not cokes.

They have been refinished, and THAT is why they are a bit thinner on the shoulder behind the blue circle.

Y'all forgot the fact that the shoulder on N frame grips in FRONT of the blue circle is also much longer on N's than it is on K's. The dimension I speak of is shown in yellow in the pic below.

 

[-db-]

You guys sure over-think stuff sometimes.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else but that's how I learn.

Thanks for the clarification, Lee.

 

[one eye joe]

BudMan5 has given you the nits and lice of the grips. The reason they command the price they do is "Econ 101"-----Supply (limited) and Demand (substantial).

Are they worth that price? That all depends on who you ask. If you want them, don't have them, and have been looking for years, what's the answer?

At a point in time, I wanted a mint pair of pre-war N frame Magna's. As time passed, that want grew into a need. As more time passed, that need grew into desperation----I HAD TO HAVE THOSE GRIPS!!!

Then I got them. They cost A LOT!! I didn't care.

Trust me when I tell you whoever paid $600 and change for these grips is a happy camper----and couldn't care less what they cost! Tomorrow he'll get some more money----and the day after that---and the day after that. That's a certainty. Is he going to get the next pair of grips he wants-----or the next gun he wants? Maybe---maybe not.

So it is written!

Ralph Tremaine

AND SO IT SHALL BE, RALPH. THE FORCES OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND DETERMINE THE VALUE OF ANY ONE ITEM IN A FREE ECONOMY. IT'S WORTH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE HIGHEST BIDDER WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT---DESPITE THE OPINIONS OF THE "EXPERTS" OR "PUNDITS" ON OUR FORUM….

 

[Richard Simmons]

Funny thing is, the way things are going someone is going to read this thread in a couple years and think, "Man, I wish I could find a set at that price".

 

[srsmyth]

Y'all forgot

I live in the north, grew up in the south. I love this forum.

 

[one eye joe]

Funny thing is, the way things are going someone is going to read this thread in a couple years and think, "Man, I wish I could find a set at that price".

VERY TRUE, RICHARD ! ! ! LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS S&W OR COLT……..

 

[Camster]

Well, whatever they are, I don't know if I see $630 worth there.
I imagine the seller is pleased I hope the buyer is pleased once he sees them

I surely don't see that value there,and it matters not to me if that's the world of today.(Neither do I see that nickel plating adds 10k in value to a Model 17,but that's just me too.I reckon that 10k alone might buy a true masterpiece like Doc44 so kindly shares with us.I get that,all day long)They are still a mass produced item,possessing standard wood,and a standard level of mass production.
Show me some Browns or Kuracs,and I can readily see the value/price equation.
The seller should be doing a cartwheel-a few fiends found his ad..The buyer obviously was willing to step up to the plate to fulfill his craving,got what he wanted,so that's good too.

The question that I ask myself about auctions like this: I've sold some pretty nice stuff-stuff that's hard to knock in any way..I think that I realize between fair value and fair value minus ten per cent.Never a premium price on anything.
Why can't I find these deep pocketed,must have at any cost,sort of buyers?

 

[handejector]

Points to Ponder

See the pics below from that auction.
I don't have time to host the pics, so open them to large size, save them to your computer, and blow them up.

 

[Elkins45]

VERY interesting discussion. I'm glad I asked the question.