Damaged Diamond Magnas, Repair/Restore...?

[PeteC]

Post War Diamond Magna stocks, purchased with the idea to use for parts.They were mis-identified as K-frame stocks, but are actually N-frame stocks stamped 69540, 1947-ish period.

Wrong size and not suitable for what I had in mind. They were sold as is with obvious damage, right price to use for parts - IF they had been K's and a bit later date.

Except for the broken horns and the dirt, they are in good shape. The right panel is the one missing a piece. Asking for opinions/advice, on whether a repair/restore is worth it? I know there are people here with more experience restoring old "furniture" than I have.

Aside from the missing piece, the remaining dirt is pretty stubborn.

 

[pasound]

I'd repair them. Get some small clamps at a hobby store to hold the chip when gluing.

 

[mikepriwer]

I haven't been following the price of N-frame post-WW2 magna stocks, and I don't know what you paid for these, and I don't know the availability of these stocks. I would think that if the price you paid, plus the cost to make the minor repairs, and clean them up, is less than what a good pair would cost, then I'd get them repaired. Curtis Harlow is very good at this kind of work, so you might think about sending him some good pictures of the stocks. He might be able to make an estimate of the cost to repair them.

Mike Priwer

 

[lestert357]

Those are postwar Transition era Magna stocks that are the same size as pre-war stocks, and are hard to find. If you can't use them I'm sure someone on this forum is looking for a set - even if they require some repair.

 

[nedlate]

I do not know what the cost is now to repair stocks but I had a pair of "N" frame prewar magnas repaired/restored and it cost $180.
They were worth that to me.

Post war stocks are a whole different price range as far as value. It depends on price of repair vs. buying a good pair.

Ed

 

[Doc44]

I would definitely have then repaired. Stocks made in the period, 1946-1949 are hard to find.

Bill

 

[PeteC]

I haven't been following the price of N-frame post-WW2 magna stocks, and I don't know what you paid for these, and I don't know the availability of these stocks. I would think that if the price you paid, plus the cost to make the minor repairs, and clean them up, is less than what a good pair would cost, then I'd get them repaired. Curtis Harlow is very good at this kind of work, so you might think about sending him some good pictures of the stocks. He might be able to make an estimate of the cost to repair them.

Mike Priwer

I may do that. He does not seem to post much here, and I was not sure if he does this kind of repair. I have seen other stocks he restored posted.

I paid $60 with tax and shipping. Later, meaning 1950's~1960's N-Frame Diamond Magnas sell for $125-$200 on ebay. Not sure about these, because I was not looking, and ebay seems to absort tie like a black hole. These seem to fall into a no-man's land between the prewar grips, and the later diamond grips with the rounded/tapered shoulders. They are also the 3rd(!!) N-frame grips that I bought because they were incorrectly identified as K-Frame. At least these were not expensive.

I can repair the left side where the broken piece is still hanging on with some clear epoxy, but the piece on the right side is missing. That did not bother me when I was going to use them for repair, but that piece would have to be replaced... probably from yet another set of grips...
They are corresponding brakes, left and right horn of the grip is broken. Left piece is still there, right piece is gone. As I said, sold as-is with a lot of black gunshot residue, and dark pics. I went by the description.

 

[paplinker]

If your selling them I might consider leaving as is unless you can do the work. Your buyer pool will be larger I think.

Someone with a worn trans gun might want them like that or would like the cheaper price as they will repair them themselves.

If you repair them the price for repaired grips might scare some off.

I have a trans set myself that I am mulling over what to do.

If your do repair them Curt is doing some really nice work. good luck!

 

[PeteC]

I do not know what the cost is now to repair stocks but I had a pair of "N" frame prewar magnas repaired/restored and it cost $180.
They were worth that to me.

Post war stocks are a whole different price range as far as value. It depends on price of repair vs. buying a good pair.

Ed

$180~200 would be the price of a Good~VG set on ebay, with original finish and no need for aggressive cleaning.

 

[SS336]

Send them to Curt Harlow. You won't be sorry, excellent work!

Here is a pair that had a large splinter on the border. After repair you can not see it.

 

[handejector]

They are worth repairing. The replacement chip does not require a donor grip. The repairman will make it from a raw piece of walnut.

 

[PeteC]

Thanks to the help from several people, I think I have now been able to identify the grips as Transitional N-Frame Diamond Magnas (repeat three times quickly in front of your bathroom mirror, and Carl Hellstrom may appear). They may have shipped with a Post-War Transition 38/44 Outdoorsman, from what I have been able to find.

The grips are a bit longer than a standard post-war N-frame. About 1 mm, or 0.04" longer at the front. The difference in length gets smaller toward the back. Shown below on a late 50's Model 28. The grip screw may also be a bit different, slightly shorter, 1.175" compared to ~1.25 on other N Magnas, which may well mean they came with the wrong screw. Pics below for those who asked about the length of the grips, and the bevel.

Thanks again for the assistance.