Factory work on old revolvers.

[oldrookey617]

The original factory stocks will have the serial # stamped on one side.. if those fill good at the range, use them, if they fill too large, or you have small hands, you may want the magnas, I have a 1966 model 10-5, it's made & shoots better than my newer revolvers, have fun with your new wheel gun..

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

Thanks again for all the replies. I'll post more pics tomorrow.
Yes I guess antique is technically 100 years and older?
Factory clean and inspect is my term for being nervous about popping the side plate myself. There are great YouTube videos by GunBlue490 https://youtu.be/SrgE5qW5NfA
My luck the hammer block would fly down a drain in the process so I'd rather have a professional do it. I'll try to get a range report out this week if anyone is interested.

 

[Nightowl]

The stocks are nice, but I do not believe they are factory. The profile looks just a little off. I see no evidence of the diamond around the screw, so if factory, would be much later than the gun. If those stocks don't work for you, find something that feels good to you and shoot it. I have several .357 Magnums from the early 1950s and they are my favorite shooting guns. Some are really solid, and then there are few that need some TLC. But that is normal. Just about anything that is wrong with one of them can be fixed without much trouble if you know what you are doing, or find someone who does. Old police armorers are perfectly capable, and most of us are probable old as it has been about 35 years since police transitioned to autos.

I'm of the opinion, right or not, that the factory no longer knows how to properly repair older revolvers!!

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

The original factory stocks will have the serial # stamped on one side.. if those fill good at the range, use them, if they fill too large, or you have small hands, you may want the magnas, I have a 1966 model 10-5, it's made & shoots better than my newer revolvers, have fun with your new wheel gun..

Thanks oldrookey,
The stocks feel very good. Research pointed me to magnas as being most common for the time period? so I thought those would look more "stock"

 

[oldrookey617]

you can pickup some stocks later, don't think I'm the only one, I can't get enough guns & stocks, I switch the stocks on my revolvers every once in a while..

 

[smoothshooter]

I have to ask what you paid for it?
Darned nice gun. Probably better made than anything Smith has been spewing out for the last 20 years.

 

[epj]

Thanks guys, just came back from the shop with it.
Keep the stocks or try to find a vintage set of Magnas?

Looks almost perfect just as it is.

 

[DETROIT]

Thanks again for all the replies. I'll post more pics tomorrow.
Yes I guess antique is technically 100 years and older?
Factory clean and inspect is my term for being nervous about popping the side plate myself. There are great YouTube videos by GunBlue490 https://youtu.be/SrgE5qW5NfA
My luck the hammer block would fly down a drain in the process so I'd rather have a professional do it. I'll try to get a range report out this week if anyone is interested.

Midways Larry coperfield has some of the best smith wesson revolver vids on YouTube. https://smith-wessonforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=https://youtu.be/95xjizDOrcc?si=goi4bSifp5lk0Adm

 

[Muley Gil]

That's a nice looking revolver.

Those are NOT factory stocks. They don't have medallions. They do look comfortable though.

 

[stansdds]

Really sweet looking pre-Model 27. I like it the way it looks now and I'd sure try shooting it before replacing those stocks. I would not bother trying to send it to S&W for anything due to its age and S&W likely no longer stocks parts for these old revolvers. I'm guessing, based on the picture, that it belonged to someone who appreciated firearms and treated them well. I bet the internals are just fine, likely have the required small amounts of oil on the contact points.

 

[Gun Relics]

Do the target stocks look period to you? When you say numbered do you mean serial number? The barrel, frame and cylinder all match. I'm guessing the stocks don't or are not numbered.

Target stocks do run in that period and do look period to me, the correct ones with the diamond. Magna stocks from that period are numbered on the right hand grip (see photo below) but they don't have the "S". These shown below are from 1955 and would work on your pistol.

Target stocks were available as an option. During the time your revolver was made, it could be ordered with target stocks, most likely the non-relieved type, although relieved stocks were introduced around that time as well depending on when your gun was shipped.

Below is a pic of numbered magnas from 1955 which would be correct for your revolver, and a pre-27 from 1955 (5") with relieved target stocks. I suggested relieved target stocks because appearance wise I think they work better on your revolver.

By the way, if you show a picture of the inside of the grips, someone here may recognize them.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Hello guys,
Ive been looking at a pre 27 1954 revolver in my local shop. It's beautiful and has very little visible wear. Locks up fine, no shake, timing is also excellent. It doesn't look to ever have been carried.

Of course id like to take it to the range at least one time to verify it shoots works as expected. My question is if I got it should i send it to S&W and have them do a factory clean and inspect or stick to if it ain't broke dont fix it?

Secondly would any of you actually even bring it to a range and just keep it as a safe queen? My thoughts are it's just a pretty paper weight if it doesn't get some use.

Thoughts?

If the action is smooth, does not stick or hang up and passes a push-off test, it needs nothing but range time. I'd also check it for end shake (see if the BC gap stays consistent). Unless it feels gummy when working the action I wouldn't even bother taking the side plate off and that's something you can do, just watch a few youtube videos first. Don't go prying on it to remove it.
Stocks are nice but not original, or factory. Keep them for Sunday go-to-meeting use and find a nice set of diamond magna stocks if you want period correct, or Pachmayrs if you want comfort. It isn't antique, but it does qualify for "curio and relic" designation because it is over 50 years old.

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

Target stocks do run in that period and do look period to me, the correct ones with the diamond. Magna stocks from that period are numbered on the right hand grip (see photo below) but they don't have the "S". These shown below are from 1955 and would work on your pistol.

Target stocks were available as an option. During the time your revolver was made, it could be ordered with target stocks, most likely the non-relieved type, although relieved stocks were introduced around that time as well depending on when your gun was shipped.

Below is a pic of numbered magnas from 1955 which would be correct for your revolver, and a pre-27 from 1955 (5") with relieved target stocks. I suggested relieved target stocks because appearance wise I think they work better on your revolver.

By the way, if you show a picture of the inside of the grips, someone here may recognize them.

Thanks for the info. I think non relieved target stocks were period correction for 54. They seem very scarce would love to find some.
The Magnas you posted would be perfect for this revolver.
I'll try to get some more pics up.

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

If the action is smooth, does not stick or hang up and passes a push-off test, it needs nothing but range time. I'd also check it for end shake (see if the BC gap stays consistent). Unless it feels gummy when working the action I wouldn't even bother taking the side plate off and that's something you can do, just watch a few youtube videos first. Don't go prying on it to remove it.
Stocks are nice but not original, or factory. Keep them for Sunday go-to-meeting use and find a nice set of diamond magna stocks if you want period correct, or Pachmayrs if you want comfort. It isn't antique, but it does qualify for "curio and relic" designation because it is over 50 years old.

The targets on it now are very comfortable and do look good I agree. I would like to find factory targets for it though, from early to mid fifties. The action is very smooth and feels good. The only thing that feels a little "gummy" is the crane when fully open. Sticks a little. There is no shake and the gap is consistent and very close. At or better than spec if I had to guess. I'll remove the cylinder and clean out the crane today.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Thanks for the info. I think non relieved target stocks were period correction for 54. They seem very scarce would love to find some.
The Magnas you posted would be perfect for this revolver.
I'll try to get some more pics up.

If you find a set of non-relieved target stocks they will be $expensive$

 

[glowe]

. . . Yes I guess antique is technically 100 years and older? . . .

The BATF cut off for antique status is 1898, meaning a firearm made in 1899 is classified as modern.

1954 was the transition year for the start of relieved targets with large checkered corner rounds, post 1961. Earlier relieved targets had very small relief target checkering corners

Some history of target stocks:
• Early non relieved late-1948 to 1955
• Small relief cut 1954 to 1961
• Small relief rounded checkering turn 1961 to 1965
• Larger football relief in walnut or GA 1965 to 1967
• Diamonds were eliminated around 1969.

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

The BATF cut off for antique status is 1898, meaning a firearm made in 1899 is classified as modern.

1954 was the transition year for the start of relieved targets with large checkered corner rounds, post 1961. Earlier relieved targets had very small relief target checkering corners

Some history of target stocks:
• Early non relieved late-1948 to 1955
• Small relief cut 1954 to 1961
• Small relief rounded checkering turn 1961 to 1965
• Larger football relief in walnut or GA 1965 to 1967
• Diamonds were eliminated around 1969.

Great info! Thanks. I'm finding it difficult to find non relieved targets. So small relief cut started in '54? Any delineating marks to know them by?

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

2 more pics

Both sides…

 

[Alk8944]

In 1974 I took several revolvers to S&W to re-finish. Two of the guns were antiques at the time. They literally destroyed both antiques by making changes to both of them.

 

[Peter Lemonjello]

In 1974 I took several revolvers to S&W to re-finish. Two of the guns were antiques at the time. They literally destroyed both antiques by making changes to both of them.

Not necessarily destroy but devalue or diminish is what I'm getting for feedback. I really like S&W. A great historical American company. I'm glad they still make revolvers even if they use mim parts. They do what they need to to stay afloat in today's world. Massachusetts chased them out of the state because they are crazy up there. They still make wheelguns in MA but like I said the cradle of liberty has lost its mind.