Date Stamps on Grips 1980 on

[fouraceswes]

Hey Guys, new to the board, and a bit obsessed with "Model Number" Smith and Wesson handguns. I have a model 659, a 27-2 from 1980 and a couple of others that belong in the 1961-1979 category. I am a bit of a geek about the parts, boxes and grips I will admit that, but also enjoy a good shooter firearm with history unknown.

I referenced he 1980 27-2 357 Magnum, just now. It is a beauty with target grips, hammer and trigger. Four inch barrel and red ramp front/white fence rear sights. Very unique, I find in my search for others. I think the grips are Goncalo Alves, they are stamped 1982 with an ink stamp and do not reference the firearm's various numbers including serial number in any way. My earlier pistols have "matching" grips. This pistol had had the grips taken off of it when I got it from a collection in Florida, I found that set and put them on to complete the gun.

What year did Smith and Wesson begin ink stamping the inside of grips instead of deep stamping them?

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Two kind of separate questions here.

Target stocks, with very few exceptions in the mid-1950s, were not fitted and numbered to a gun. So the date stamp on yours is likely when the stocks were made, not the gun. A 1980 model 27-2 would have had undated Target stocks.

Service or Magna stocks were fitted and numbered to the gun until about 1981, when they became universal fit (or close enough to drop the fitting process).

 

[fouraceswes]

Thanks for the information, Alan. Too bad the originals got away from me. That pistol did not have a box or papers either so I am not too bummed but it would be nice to know what it came with and hve the correct numbers.

 

[murphydog]

It almost certainly came with checkered Goncalo Alves Target stocks, extractor or "football" cutout on the left, with silver stock discs/washers. If you find a set of those they will be correct (and no one will know they aren't original, just between you and me).

 

[Retired W4]

I too have been wondering about the date stamp in ink on the later target stocks. Most that I have seen are from around 1980, This is from my 4" 27-2, SN: N709825. The stamp on the wood should be pretty close to the date of the gun, in this case.