Did K Frames Grip Dimensions Change Over Time?

[bill-in-texas]

I ask because after recently bringing home my first Model 10, (a 10-7) I realized the right stock is ill-fitting. Upon closer inspection I saw that it has a black washer instead of the expected silver washer.

Did the grip frame change slightly?
(I now realize I'll need to find a right-side silver washer magna stock.)

-Bill

 

[s&wchad]

Stocks were fitted to the gun before finishing back then. CNC machines didn't exist at the time. That's why S&W stamped the serial numbers on the right panel of Magna stocks.

Non-diamond Magna stocks had blued washers (circle inserts) on blued/nickel guns from about ''67 until around 1973. Stainless guns had silver washers (stainless) when stainless was introduced in 1965. The model 60 was the only stainless gun from inception (1965) until stainless K frames were introduced in the early 1970's. In 1973, S&W standardized on stainless washers.

Your grip panels are obviously mismatched.

 

[Alk8944]

^^^^ This is all correct. Until about 1974 S&W made stocks in-house in the department known as the "Stock Job". Those stocks were fit to the frame and were serial numbered to assure they would stay with that frame. After this period S&W has contracted their stocks to various companies. These stocks have a greater tolerance for size than the inn-house made stocks to be sure they are at least large enough to cover the frame. s7chad's comments about the stainless stock washers is correct. Since they are not seen when on the guns it made more sense for S&W to make them all the same once the stainless guns became common in the S&W line. All this is why stocks are now often seen to often overhang the frame slightly. One thing that is normal though is both stocks an the same gun will have the same color stock washers, so if they don't match they came from different guns.

 

[Butzbach]

Just a rabbit hole side light: The Model 12 Airweight was thinner in models -1 through -3. It was standardized to the normal K frame thickness with the -4 model.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Yes, thank you both.
It was (and is) obvious to me prior to posting the question that the stocks are mismatched. My guess would be that a former owner had more than one K-frame and removed them for cleaning and failed to correctly pair them on their respective grip frames.

I appreciate the additional knowledge, though. The two of you are what help make this such a great site… really the only site for this type of learning and sharing.

I'm not sure if it's obvious in the one picture, but the right stock has a number that doesn't at all coincide to my 10-7.

I may just need to place a WTB in the appropriate forum to remedy this minor issue.

Cheers!