Finally...Original 65 Lady Smith Grips!

[HarrishMasher]

As many of you now I picked up a 65 Lady Smith about 7 months ago. I rescued it from my local indoor shooting range where it was being used as a rental. I could not allow such a blasphemous thing to go on and took her off the rental rack for $330.

This is what she looked like when I saved her. Excellent mechanical condition, just a little worse for the wear. Was only on the rental wall for a few months and only 38s were allowed:

As many of you also know I sent her off to S&W to be refinished and restored to factory specs. In addtion to the refinish, the only part that was replaced was the hand. Otherwise she was good to go. Here is what she looks like now:

Since the day I got her, I have been looking for a set of original grips. Cleary not easy to find. A member on this forum alerted me to a pair on Ebay. I placed an insane bid to ensure I got them. They were not even advertised as 65 Lady Smith grips, not even mentioned in the auction ad. Regardless, they wound up costing a small fortune, but at least I now have them. Might have been my only chance to buy them.

They are absolutely in perfect as new condition. Not a mark on them. I'm excited to slap them on. Just have to decide if I will keep the Tyler T on the gun. I suspect I will. The little panels just don't provide enough grip for decent shooting.

 

[KLYDE]

Whatever the cost was, it is a moot point. You now have the final piece to make your 65 complete. No matter what set of after market grips you put on the Lady it would have always been gnawing at you. Good move. We'll be waiting for the pics.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Congrats!

Unless they cost you about $200 you still came out ahead vs if you bought your LS for what one in the condition you've turned it into.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

If you paid under $100 you did good. Too many "educated" buyers are wise to eBay. I miss the good old days. At least until the day comes I decide to sell something....

 

[b_san]

I much prefer the Uncle Mikes it came to you with but looks good. Congrats

 

[ColbyBruce]

"I placed an insane bid to ensure I got them"

That may not be your best long-term strategy, but I am happy this worked out.

 

[HarrishMasher]

OK HERE IS IS. SHE IS COMPLETE AND RESTORED TO HER ORIGINAL CONDITION. MINUS THE TYLER T'S OF COURSE

The grips cost me $76 with shipping. Not terrible, but more than the $50 I would have preferred to have paid.

 

[ColbyBruce]

That is not so insane, LOL!!

 

[theoneff]

One Hot Lady there Mash. Good choice, I love that look.

 

[old bear]

Let's think about this for a minute, you paid $330.00 for the revolver and $76.00 for the grips so for $406.00 + whatever Smith and Wesson charged for the work, you have a revolver that would normally sell for $800.00 + $$. Where is the envy emotion when I really need it.

Enjoy that Lady...

 

[markeb]

That project turned out very well. Your LS is one fine looking Lady. Is the inside of your grips stamped with Smith and Wesson Handgun Grip Co? These are the grips that came on my LS.

 

[Slufstuff]

Nice revolver. FWIW, I do not think that was a bad price on the LS grips. They were more reasonable than many original S&W grip sets I see sold on ebay.

 

[HarrishMasher]

That project turned out very well. Your LS is one fine looking Lady. Is the inside of your grips stamped with Smith and Wesson Handgun Grip Co? These are the grips that came on my LS.

The grips I bought are stamped with ACE Handgun Grip Co. S&W bought ACE during the production life of the 65 Lady Smith. So the grips I bought are from an early 65 LS.

 

[markeb]

That sounds right. I noticed your LS has the rounded cylinder release, which I prefer, and mine has the newer angular style. Thanks for the info.

 

[dcopper]

Beautiful Lady! Enjoy, and Have a Blessed and Happy New Year with your new Lady!

 

[HarrishMasher]

Beautiful Lady! Enjoy, and Have a Blessed and Happy New Year with your new Lady!

I hope my wife doesn't see this!

 

[johnny3]

m65

If you have a large hand like I do look for some of these Round butt targets that S&W used to offer (hard to find lately), these are shortened just a little at the butt.

 

[Big Cholla]

Great Start! Now all that is left to complete 'her' is to bob the hammer, convert to DAO, magnaport the barrel and dye the grips pink! ...... NOT! ............. My tongue was firmly pushed against my cheek........... Beautiful save for a beautiful lady. You get an 'Attaboy' for your efforts.

I'm not one to give personal names to inanimate objects, but IMO that handgun is just calling out to have a great first name. How about "Molly" as in 'Gun Moll". ................ Big Cholla