Help Dating M&P Stocks

[red9]

I recently purchased .38 M&P target #456159, shipped 8/23. The non-matching stocks have small (.035"), deeply recessed brass medallions. The right stock is stamped 655511, which I would expect to be mid 1930's. Those would be large silver. What am I missing?

Bob

 

[gmborkovic]

What the devil happened on the inside of that grip? replacement of the medallion?

 

[glowe]

Most likely they are 1920s walnut service stocks where the medallions were added to the original convex stocks. Looks like they were cleaned to show the brass that originally was silver plate. The medallions would be from 1930s walnut service stocks. It looks like some silicone or glue was used and definitely not factory.

 

[Absalom]

Most likely they are 1920s walnut service stocks where the medallions were added to the original convex stocks....

That is the only explanation I can see. The medallion is off-center and the stock top bulges much more than on standard medallion tops.

 

[Gordyf808]

Added medallion with hot glue would be my guess.
Aloha

 

[DWalt]

The 655511 stamping suggests ca. 1934-35, in which case the grips would have originally been fitted with the small silver medallions. Perhaps they were replaced. Or maybe they were originally 1920s grips (no medallions) with early "deep dish" medallions added and stamped with a SN outside the factory, as the 1920s grips were numbered in pencil, not stamped. The latter seems more likely to me.

 

[Hondo44]

I agree with DWalt. They're circa 34-35 stocks.

• 2/11/1929 the 1910 to 1920 Gold plate over brass recessed style medallions ordered reinstated in wood stocks but with continued ‘convex’ stock circles begun in 1920;

3/18/29 changed to flush mounted, flat gold plated;

April 1929 finally changed to flush mounted, flat chrome plated over brass thru WW II. (K frames originally with 1/2" soon changed to 3/8" due to stock breakage).

So it looks like recessed gold medallions from 1910 to 1920 were used to replace the correct original flat chrome med.