Just won Pre-Model 10 and have questions

[daveboy]

I just won this revolver on auction. I haven't received it yet, but have a couple of questions: 1) The Serial Number is C223682. Can anyone give me an approximate date on when produced? 2) Although the stocks are certainly well worn, they don't fit together quite right which makes me believe they might not be original to the gun. I don't really care if they actually came on this gun, just so long as they COULD have. Would these stocks have been offered on this gun?
Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[JP@AK]

You bought a .38 Military & Police model from 1953. It would have shipped with walnut Magna stocks, not target stocks. The target stocks in your picture were not offered for the M&P and are at least 2-3 years younger than the gun.

 

[daveboy]

You bought a .38 Military & Police model from 1953. It would have shipped with walnut Magna stocks, not target stocks. The target stocks in your picture were not offered for the M&P and are at least 2-3 years younger than the gun.

Thank you very much. I'm pretty new at the vintage S&W game. There are so many different stocks that I get confused. I'd like to eventually get the right stocks.

 

[rct269]

What he said!!

I was going to say the same thing, but wasn't all that sure about it. If/when HE says it, you can take it to the bank!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[daveboy]

What he said!!

I was going to say the same thing, but wasn't all that sure about it. If/when HE says it, you can take it to the bank!!

Ralph Tremaine

Am I pressing my luck if I ask for a photo of the correct stocks?

 

[rct269]

Am I pressing my luck if I ask for a photo of the correct stocks?

You're pressing your luck if you asked me, but there are A BUNCH of others for whom photos are no big deal----and some for whom photos are works of art!

That said, "Magnas" are the smaller grips which also overlap the frame (above the grip frame)----and are the standard grips on A BUNCH of K frame models since forever-----or a long time---whichever comes first.

AND---they do not fill in the area between the grip frame and the trigger guard-----------which is why grip adapters are made----and sold----to A BUNCH of folks!

Ralph Tremaine

And to finish what I was thinking, Targets are the too big, clunky things in the pictures, and Combats are a later addition that are just right! And anybody who disagrees with my "too big, clunky" description has BIG paws, and could very likely whop a knot on your head!

 

[JohnRippert]

Your grips would likely have looked like this.

 

[daveboy]

Your grips would likely have looked like this.

Thank you!

 

[JP@AK]

Your grips would likely have looked like this.

Close, but not quite.
Two things stand out in that photo. The first is the shoulder. These Magna stocks have what we call the "sharp shoulder," where the top of the stocks dive off sharply to the frame. Those ended in late 1952 and were replaced with Magnas with a more tapered shoulder beginning in 1953. Take a look at this photo:

The second issue is at the bottom. In 1953, S&W introduced the "modified Magna" stocks, also known as PC Magna (for "plain clothes") and became standard on fixed sight revolvers. These were rounded on the bottom instead of being squared off, like those shown in JohnRippert's picture. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo handy of PC Magnas from the early 1950s, but these from the post-1967 period will illustrate the difference (these are too late to have the diamond, but the butt shape is the same).

 

[JohnRippert]

Which was why I said 'likely' as I could not remember when the sharp shoulders changed. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[daveboy]

Thanks JP and John. You showed me what to look for.

 

[Inkgardener]

I was going through this same thing last night. I’m a new collector as well. Thanks!


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