Coke Grip info needed

[sth44]

"coke" grips

Interesting thread you have going here.

Just wondering if there were ever any "coke" grips made of walnut and if it is possible you could have gotten them, (by special order), lets say, like December of 1955?

Thanks, Steve

 

[VM]

Interesting thread you have going here.

Just wondering if there were ever any "coke" grips made of walnut and if it is possible you could have gotten them, (by special order), lets say, like December of 1955?

Thanks, Steve

Come on Steve............don't leave us hanging.
Show us the Picture

 

[Doc44]

Steve....The first production 44 Magnum was completed on December 15, 1955 and sent to Walter Sanborn of S&W's sales department for development of the literature on the new revolver. Since checked target, or coke bottle stocks were made for this revolver, it certainly is possible pairs in walnut and Goncalo alves were used on other models late in 1955. Remember, S&W was not making guns and stocks for collectors, but trying to introduce a new model to the shooting public.

I remember examining and discussing your stocks in Tulsa. Since they are numbered to the 44 Target that was shipped in late 1955 and made of walnut, it supports the idea they are original to the gun. However, I can't remember if they letter to the gun or not.

Bill

 

[Dave_n]

Would it be possible to have this made a "sticky"? Dave_n

 

[Doc44]

Expanding a little more on what 29-1 said, I measured (top of the stock through the escutcheon to the bottom edge) some target stocks of known age and here's what I came with:

plain, December 1952: 4 3/16 inches
plain, December 1956: 4 3/16 inches
checked, March 1955: 4 3/8 inches
checked, November 1955: 4 3/8 inches
checked (coke bottle type), February 1956: 4 3/16 inches
checked (coke bottle type), March 1956: 4 5/16 inches
checked (coke bottle type), May 1956: 4 5/16 inches
checked (coke bottle type), July 1956: 4 5/16 inches
checked (coke bottle type), December 1956: 4 5/16 inches
checked (coke bottle type), fitted to gun shipped in March 1958, but it is unknown if they are original to this gun or not: 4 3/16 inches

If you look at the revolver featured on the 1956 advertisement developed by S&W in December 1955 or January 1956 (see below), you will notice the stocks are most likely the same type I measured from February 1956. Why S&W increased the length of their checked stocks made for the new 44 Magnum by 2/16 inch is unknown, but it is these stocks most people know as coke bottle stocks (see additional photos below).

Bill

coke bottle stocks from July 1956 that measure 4 5/16 inches

coke bottle stocks on S147213, a very early 44 Magnum with stocks that measure 4 3/16 inches and appear to be very similar to the stocks shown on the revolver featured on the early 44 Magnum advertisement

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Bill,
The last set you just posted look almost like laminated wood the grain is so distinct! Those are very nice.



Tim

 

[diamonback68]

Bill,
The last set you just posted look almost like laminated wood the grain is so distinct! Those are very nice.



Tim

I agree, those are the prettiest "cokes" I have ever seen.

 

[sth44]

Walnut "COKES"

Steve....The first production 44 Magnum was completed on December 15, 1955 and sent to Walter Sanborn of S&W's sales department for development of the literature on the new revolver. Since checked target, or coke bottle stocks were made for this revolver, it certainly is possible pairs in walnut and Goncalo alves were used on other models late in 1955. Remember, S&W was not making guns and stocks for collectors, but trying to introduce a new model to the shooting public.

I remember examining and discussing your stocks in Tulsa. Since they are numbered to the 44 Target that was shipped in late 1955 and made of walnut, it supports the idea they are original to the gun. However, I can't remember if they letter to the gun.





Bill

Bill, thanks , the letter states the model of 1950, .44 special, shipped December, 23, 1955, with checkered walnut target grips.

Mike, (VM), pictures as requested.



Thanks, Steve

 

[Keith Brown]

Today I broke down and made a light box that I've needed for quite a while. And with 29-1s permission I took photos of some of his stocks in my possession, thanks Chuck! Left to right in the first three photos are a set smooth Rosewood, smooth Goncalo Alves, early GA cokes and last a set of later GA cokes in the configuration normally seen. Look close and you can see the border on the early coke is cut with a V tool and the later coke has a routed border.

This next photo shows the early and later cokes at the base, you can see the difference in the depth of the area from the frame bottom to the grip bottom.

I'll let others who know far more than me comment on other differences and hope to learn more.

Keith

 

[29-1]

Keith, thanks for posting these detailed photos of the stocks and their differences. Pictures do speak a thousand words.
Chuck

 

[Doc44]

The earliest target stocks have a more pronounced reverse curve where the panels meet the trigger guard when compared to later stocks. Earlier stocks also have a distinct flare at the bottom. The stocks on the left date to December 1952 and the ones on the right to 57/58.

Bill

 

[Heatseeker]

I just picked up this gorgeous Model 57 from Ca. purgatory. If I'm seeing this right, these are coke grips, correct? Or am I only seeing what I wish to see?

I realize this gun is post-1961 and should be posted in the appropriate forum, but I want to be sure on the grips.

 

[VM]

I just picked up this gorgeous Model 57 from Ca. purgatory. If I'm seeing this right, these are coke grips, correct? Or am I only seeing what I wish to see?

Pretty 57 Heetseeker - grips are Cokes

 

[Heatseeker]

Thanks VM!

The fact that the grips are the desirable cokes is just an added bonus to a really sweet gun. I did remove the grips last night and did not find any numbers on them. Shouldn't they be numbered to the gun?

 

[VM]

Thanks VM!

The fact that the grips are the desirable cokes is just an added bonus to a really sweet gun. I did remove the grips last night and did not find any numbers on them. Shouldn't they be numbered to the gun?

No, they shouldn't be numbered.
Again........ beautiful gun.
You did well!

 

[sandspur6]

I've got a pair of K Coke bottles that have been modified exactly like yours, but without the shiny finish. They are some of my favorite grips and I've used them on a number of different revolvers.

 

[bettis1]

Excellent discussion and pictures here. Glad to see it still getting play.

As I reread it, I have a comment relating to the early discussion as to whether or not Roper and/or Gagne may have influenced the presence of the "coke bottle" contour. I think that, even if true, they weren't the first to utilize that curve.

Back in the early 1900's European bolt action rifles (mostly Mausers and Mannlicher-Schoenauers) made it to our country. Many of these rifles exhibited beautiful wood, fine checkering and gorgeous blue. Many of them were custom rifles which were tailored to the needs and fit of their owners. Some of the gunsmiths of that era were men like Fred Adolph, Adolph O. Niedner and Ludwig Wundhammer. I don't know that Wundhammer invented the gently rounded, palm filling swell on the pistol grip of many of these rifles, but it has always been described as the "Wundhammer Swell".

Bob

 

[drhenzler]

They just got cheap on the amount of checkering they were willing to do.

I've got some nice grips on Gunbroker.com if any of you are interested. Prices are very competitive, and screws come with them all. Search on: S&W grips (NR) to find my listings.

I'd like to have some of the coke bottle grips if someone wants to trade one for many... let's make a deal.

 

[beemaze]

My Coke grips

A pair of Coke grips I pulled from a 2nd Model HE factory parts gun (rebarreled, re-cylindered, lanyard ring removed and original grips long gone...) that I recently acquired.

Excellent shape overall except for some flattening of the checks on the right grip panel and a couple of superficial dings here and there. Also, a smidgen of hardened black goo (for lack of a better word), above the medallion on the right grip panel. Any suggestions for removing that "goo" without damaging the wood finish?

 

[BobM]

Picked up a pair of K diamond targets in a box of old grips the other day. I've been reading all of the posts here to determine what I have. Grips are dark, original finish with the large area of checkering similar to the photos. Slight swell also. They are kinda short, a little over 1/4 in from end of backstrap. I would say that the football cutout is small, compared to the pics. Checkering a little smooth and a couple of small chips, nothing major. I have no picture capability. Can anyone tell me from this description if I have K frame cokes? Did they make them in K frame thanks, Bob