K Frame Cokes

[LEO918]

Picked up this nice set of Cokes at the S&WCA Symposium and thought I'd treat my Model 48-2 to a new set of shoes.

Now I know K Frame Cokes don't exist, so I must presume they have been shaved down from N Fame stocks.

Great craftsmanship and a prefect fit.

 

[Truckman]

Very nice, I'm instantly jealous......Ben

 

[Marshal Tom]

Wow! those are great looking.They should have been produced for K's as well.

 

[PeteC]

SCSW 4th edition, bottom of page 38,

Coke bottle stocks were introduced for K and N frames in the mid 1950's... (Checkered versions are scarce in K frame. Beware of altered N frame stocks...)

You may have the one pair seen,

 

[ameridaddy]

Gorgeous, gun too!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Those are beautiful. Another example of grips S&W SHOULD have made. They remind me of these cut down cokes I had refurbished. Unlike yours these were shortened on the bottom.

 

[22hipower]

They certainly look great. I think I saw those at the Symposium too but don't remember if they were non-relieved or not. Was thinking they were non-relieved K targets with the wider checkering pattern. Should have looked closer at the time I guess.

Anyway, there are two or three (maybe more?) checkering patterns for non-relieved K frames and some of those do look a lot like "cokes." Which may be why the question surfaces from time to time. Here are a couple pictures that show the different patterns.

Either way, cut down N cokes or original Ks, very nice.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2oMijnt https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2oMkiDu https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[LEO918]

Jeff:
I agree - here's a set I'm very fond of. They are quite a lot like Ropers.

 

[KEN L]

Seems to have been a common practice, back in the day.
Retired W4 has a couple of sets of them. Look and feel great!

 

[Retired W4]

Looking at the inside was the dead give away on those modified cokes.

 

[weatherby]

I like them and the gun.
N cokes
K cokes
and the off the reservation
I J cokes....and yes they do work.

 

[pharmer]

IMHO the "Target Grips" were overly large so they could be modified to suit the end user. Over my lifetime I've seen a thousand variations, some exquisite, some excrement. Joe

 

[Hondo44]

K Cokes are discussed in the SCSW for a reason and not just the 4th edition. Yes there are lots of N frame Cokes modified to fit K frames. But factory K frame Cokes would not be the first time things were not thought to be real because of scarcity.

 

[Hondo44]

Jeff:
I agree - here's a set I'm very fond of. They are quite a lot like Ropers.

Leo those are gorgeous. The extra long filler behind the trigger guard is a hold over from the original smooth Cokes w/o checkering or football cutout in the left side grip.

Do they have the football cutout?

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Seems like you got quite a grip on things in Glendale.

 

[RKmesa]

Jeff:
I agree - here's a set I'm very fond of. They are quite a lot like Ropers.

They remind me of an N-Frame set on a rare 8.5" barreled Transitional 357 Magnum (now back in the collection of Terry L). Here is a photo I took of the grips when it spent a little time in AZ...



Notice the similarities in cut and checkering pattern...

They really are beautiful grips.

 

[PeteC]

I like them and the gun.
N cokes
K cokes
and the off the reservation
I J cokes....and yes they do work.

Ok, I'll bite, off the reservation WHAT cokes??

 

[PeteC]

...
Anyway, there are two or three (maybe more?) checkering patterns for non-relieved K frames and some of those do look a lot like "cokes." ...

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I have noticed two types and checkering panel patterns that come up for sale. One that looks identical to the later, relieved style, and a second one that may be older with a longer lip and shorter (?) length below the butt frame. Do they correspond to a date range? This slightly distressed set sold on ebay for about $180 recently:

 

[PeteC]

This set came from the classifieds here. The checkering panel is not as wide with a couple fewer lines, and the front lip is shorter and beveled. (I tried to balance the color for a better match to the one on ebay, but I think they are naturally a different color wood).

 

[Truckman]

Pete, the first pair also has medallions flush with the surface which I think signifies a different era......Ben

 

[Kguy]

Some beautiful craftsmanship here folks. Congrats!

 

[Hondo44]

Pete, the first pair also has medallions flush with the surface which I think signifies a different era......Ben

True, after the recessed gold plated over brass medallions which ended ~1920. And the following change orders:
2/11/1929 - Gold plate over brass recessed medallions ordered reinstated in wood stocks but with ‘convex’ stock circles;
3/18/29 changed to flush mounted, flat gold plated;
April 1929 finally changed to flush mounted, flat silver plated over brass thru WW II.


Then all medallions were considered flush mounted thru the current curved nickel plated brass.