The recessed gold medallion is unique to the 1911-1920 period. The medallion is actually brass with a thin gold plate (or wash) on it.
A brief history of S&W walnut stocks:
From the beginning of the K frames in 1899 (round butt) and about 1904 (round and square butt), S&W revolver stocks had no medallion, and the stock circle was flat or slightly concave.
Beginning in c. 1911, a brass medallion was added that was given a thin gold wash. These medallions were dished or recessed. Most commonly, these early medallions are found with a greenish tarnish on them. This indicates that the gold wash has worn off, exposing the brass which has become corroded.
In 1920, the medallion was eliminated, and the stock circle was convex, distinguishing this style from the pre-1911 type.
In about 1930-31, the medallion was added again, but it was silver in color and flat (flush with the surface of the wood).
In about 1935, the company introduced a new style of stocks that they called “Magna.” Unlike previous wood panels, these came up higher on the frame, above the stock circle. A medallion similar to what was installed on the standard service stocks of the period was embedded in the circle of the Magna stocks.
During World War II, the Victory revolvers were issued with non-checkered walnut stocks having no medallion.
After the war, the medallion appeared again on the postwar Magna style, and this time it was slightly rounded on the surface to match the curvature of the stocks themselves. This continued for about half a century until S&W discontinued wood stocks altogether.
For a very short time in the early 1950s, the medallion was made of plastic or steel. But for most of this period, they were made of base metals.
It should be noted that from the advent of Magna stocks through about the end of 1967, the checkering did not go right up to the screw hole on the left panel and the escutcheon on the right panel. Instead, a smooth (non-checkered) diamond shape was left in this location to dress up the appearance of the stock panels. This diamond pattern was also on all prewar walnut stocks.
The diamond feature was discontinued in the mid-1960s, presumably as a cost-saving measure.
I have not included any information on target stocks. Those were available on selected models in the prewar period and for all frame sizes beginning in the 1950s.
