Originally posted by Timb1:
The three thing I see that say factory are the escutcheons, the medallion edges are flush with the ivory, if they were taken out of another set of grips it is very hard to find a set that matches the dishing, and the last is the edge of the round part at the top and corners are beveled. These are all factory details that are rarely copied.
Tim
Excellent points, my friend.
First, let's establish a fact or two about Gold medallions, and Pearl and Ivory- to wit: the normal time frame of 1909 or 10 to 1919 or 20 does
NOT apply to pearl and ivory stocks. If you open Neal & Jinks (we
DO all have Neal & Jinks by now,
DON'T WE?) to the chapter on engraving, you can look at guns engraved for the Columbian Exposition in 1893 wearing pearls with gold medallions. I have held a New Model #3 that shipped in the 1880's with Ivories that have gold medallions. It letters with them, and they are fitted so well, they HAD to be polished with the frame. Incidentally, they cost, as I recall, $1.50!
Here is a box for a Model 1899 HE 32/20, ser# 4723. This sticker is glued in the bottom. I have seen the same sticker in pre 1900 top-break boxes. Notice the gold medallions on the pearls?
Next, pages from the 1905 catalog: Notice it talks about pearl and ivory, and they all have recessed gold med's.
I have this gun. The ivories on it are factory. I don't have a letter yet, but these grips were polished on this frame, and the blue is original.
Dick said:
Lee's comment was interesting and completely out of character for him. Unless, of course, he's familiar with the ones in question. Most folks say things like "they look like factory" or "they're good enough to be factory".
So, there are two reasons I would make that statement like that: I was pressed for time and don't type well, and I have handled a good many pairs of factory ivories, and they ALL look like those. As Tim pointed out, they all have the same bevels and angles, the medallions often show buffing with the grip contour which would not be there with drop-ins, and I have NEVER seen a pair of VINTAGE aftermarket ivories with S&W escutcheons. All the factories I have examined have the studs finished the same way, and the precise pin holes normal for S&W.
So, if it has feathers, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
Those are factory grips.
)
