Flea Market Stocks

[Dennis2149]

While at a large outdoor flea market last month I found a table with a box of various handgun grips $10 a pair. All were in extremely rough shape. So much so that I passed up this set of S&W Stocks. I returned two weeks later, and the pair were still in the box. Filthy, no remaining finish, checkering heavily worn, and a chunk of missing wood on the right panel near the horn visible from the outside of the stock panel. There was a mounting screw. What caught my eye was the machined/plated washers without the patent's. So, I decided to bite and make these a restoration project. Wish that I had taken a before pic for you. While scrubbing grime from both the front and back sides I did see a stamped serial number on the right panel being 47887. Admittedly, the 4th number is difficult to be sure of. Could end with 67 or 37? I would describe these as Early K-Frame Pre-War Magna's with the large S&W Medallions and mentioned non-patent machined washers. Maybe 1936? Any guesses as to what Pre-Model K Frame Revolver these may have shipped on?
Questions/comments always welcome.

 

[weatherby]

They'd have come home with me day one.

 

[paplinker]

Being its a five digit number I believe it would be a N frame number.
Possible it had been shaved down some to fit a k frame.

Most all serialized k frame pre war magnas I have seen are six digit numbers beginning with a six.

 

[quinn]

I suspect that the medallions alone were worth a bit more than you paid for the grips!

 

[Dennis2149]

Being its a five digit number I believe it would be a N frame number.
Possible it had been shaved down some to fit a k frame.

Most all serialized k frame pre war magnas I have seen are six digit numbers beginning with a six.

When I first saw them, I was hoping they were N Frame and when I later saw the stamped serial number, I had a thought that maybe they even belonged to a Reg Magnum. They actually fit nicely on my 1965 K-22. You could very well be right about the shaved down?

 

[Bald1]

Wow great work!!!!! You should've bought them all and sold them after refinishing. Nice winter hobby that pays.

 

[Dennis2149]

Thank you Bald1. My skill set is limited but I'm happy with the way they turned out. Still hoping that a knowledgeable forum member might be able to narrow down a pre-model k-frame revolver guess for these early stocks.

 

[paplinker]

Thank you Bald1. My skill set is limited but I'm happy with the way they turned out. Still hoping that a knowledgeable forum member might be able to narrow down a pre-model k-frame revolver guess for these early stocks.

Well we cannot go by the stamped number as its only 5 numbers.

If it started life as N frame 1936 would be a very good guess.

Prewar K frames start a bit later I believe, and what I have seen are on mostly target guns.

Most 22/40s from 1940 with magnas mostly have no serial number.
679xxx to 683xxx are the serial number range I see most. Mostly 1938,39 k22s or MP Targets

 

[clang444]

Years ago I had a pre-war M&P in .32-20 with similar grips. If I remember correctly it dated from the late '30s.

 

[Dennis2149]

Thanks to all for your posts. If these pre-war magna stocks started out as N Frame (as the stamped 5-digit serial number may indicate) someone's Mid-30's N Frame Revolver is naked its original stocks. A real shame if it's a 357 magnum.