Grip transition

[clint76]

When did Smith & Wesson switch from the non-medallion, I’ve heard them called “convex” grips, to the medallion grips on the hand ejector/Model 10?

 

[handejector]

Coincidentally, medallions pretty well conform to decades.
About 1910-1920- Gold medallions
About 1920-30 - No medallions.
About 1930- 1940-42 - silver medallions.

 

[Hondo44]

When did Smith & Wesson switch from the non-medallion, I’ve heard them called “convex” grips, to the medallion grips on the hand ejector/Model 10?

Welcome to the forum.

Actually the convex description is a different change that was simultaneous with the deletion of the medallions.

The medallions were set into a slightly concave circle at the top of the grips. Without the medallions the top area was shaped rounded to match the contour of the rest of the grip. So they're referred to as convex tops to differentiate from the concave tops. Grips are still made that way to this day.

Concave top service grips till ~1910 (click on photo to get rid of text):

~1910 to 1920 concave service grips with recessed Gold medallion 44 TL Target and Ladysmith .22:

Convex service grips w/o medallions:

Convex grips with medallions:

Convex with medallions, post war Magna grips:

 

[mrcvs]

And these are the pre mid 1910 concave checkered stocks used in Triple Locks, as manufactured before mid 1910. I say that as the Triple Lock pictured actually did not ship, interestingly, until 02 Sept 1913 and has the much rarer non medallion stocks. Given the rarity of these, it's extremely unlikely an original set of medallion stocks were replaced with these. An example of a last in first out system of revolvers Smith & Wesson placed in their vault. This one must have been w-a-a-a-y back in there, causing it to collect dust for 3+ years.

A spare set of these are rarer than he's teeth! I never owned a spare set until I purchased two pair earlier this week from a member of this forum. Thank you, handejector!

 

[clint76]

Fantastic. Thanks for the info gentlemen!