Cokes?

[afkirby]

Are these coke-bottle grips? It looks like the enlarged checkering field and other features are there, but I wouldn't mind getting another set of eyes on them before I do anything drastic.

Thanks in advance,

Kirby

 

[spin132]

I would say no. They are handsome, but I believe they are altered to resemble cokes. Here are some pics showing differences between cokes and standard targets (some of these I lifted from other posts but not sure who to give credit to). If they started as cokes, they've been altered.

Cokes

Targets

Cokes

 

[afkirby]

I was thinking that might be the case, thanks for the confirmation.

Kirby

 

[LEO918]

I agree. They look like Presentation Targets that have been checkered. The diamond around the screw is way too long and there is an odd looking notch near the trigger guard on the left panel.

 

[Nightowl]

Its hard to see in the second photo, but it looks like they are round to square conversion stocks. Much, much later iteration than "Cokes"!

 

[s&wchad]

Its hard to see in the second photo, but it looks like they are round to square conversion stocks. Much, much later iteration than "Cokes"!

THIS: /\/\/\

Also have a good look at the medallions. It's a poor photo, but they sure don't look like S&W medallions to me!

 

[paplinker]

To me these look like a set of Ace grips.


Edit= Also maybe Eagle? The front cutout under the triggrer guard has me wondering now which one.

 

[sceva]

Its hard to see in the second photo, but it looks like they are round to square conversion stocks. Much, much later iteration than "Cokes"!

I was thinking that. The rear view just doesn't look right. I lightened and cropped the photo.

 

[s&wchad]

These are Eagle Heritage grips for a round butt N frame. The OP's are slightly different (elongated diamonds) and appear to have been poorly refinished. A photo of the inside would certainly help.

 

[goatsnguns]

Also the screw escutcheons are not period correct.

 

[gmborkovic]

Of all the criteria for determining Cokes, is there just one point that is absolutely conclusive?

 

[goatsnguns]

I would say the larger checkered area.

 

[s&wchad]

Of all the criteria for determining Cokes, is there just one point that is absolutely conclusive?

Kinda, sorta, maybe, but no.
The larger checkering area is a feature of Cokes, but you better know what you're looking at before dropping $500 or more on a set of grips.

Real Cokes (S&W called them Special Oversized Target Stocks) were only made for square butt N frames, be made of Goncalo Alves (or possible rosewood), have a larger checkering area compared to regular target stocks, have diamonds around the escutcheons, have genuine S&W medallions and blued steel circle inserts on the inside.

Original Cokes compared to diamond walnut target stocks:

Custom/aftermarket grip makers do produce reproduction/homage grips that look like Cokes at first glance. Genuine S&W's are typically the only ones with circle inserts, but a skilled craftsman like magget44 could checker a set of real Presentation Target stocks and fool a lot of people. They would probably cost as much as a genuine set and might actually be nicer, since S&W stocks were machine checkered!

Repaired/refinished real Cokes:

Cullina Cokes:

Eagle Heritage Cokes:

 

[Truckman]

This is a very educational thread for me...I'm picking up fine points in recognition of which I was previously unaware...Thanks to all who participated......Ben

 

[gmborkovic]

The subtle palm swell still counts, right?

 

[s&wchad]

The subtle palm swell still counts, right?

Cokes do have that, but the checkering pattern is the key (assuming they're factory grips).

 

[huthike]

This thread is making me thirsty. But I'm learning a lot here, too. Thanks to all.

 

[Truckman]

My one unattached pair of cokes (unattached until I find a suitable home) came to me inexplicably adorning a Model of 1950 .44 Target I recently acquired...I was willing to pay more than the gun itself would normally be worth to me even though the cokes were obviously of later vintage than the gun...But since I had a pair of unrelieved targets of the correct era for the gun, which had been expertly repaired for me by our resident wood Da Vinci, Curt Harlow, I paid the price...Now my 1950 looks sharp in its new shoes, while I search for a proper candidate for the spare cokes...

There seems to be no end to this addiction, nor do I want one......Ben

EDIT: My apologies for my usual lack of photography skills...

 

[Vtgw938]

Of all the criteria for determining Cokes, is there just one point that is absolutely conclusive?

I'd say no, but the large checkering panel is key. Be aware that the stocks could have they're profile reduced, especially shortening of the butt so that checkered portion appears larger. Also if going by pictures, the angle that the image was taken from can distort the appearance as well.

 

[gmborkovic]

So, the conclusion is there is a list of criteria and dont believe pics, only personal, physical examination.