Magna vs. PC grips

[kscardsfan]

What defines a magna grip from a PC grip? I have seen both mentioned and from what I'm gathering the PC grip was seen primarily on issue guns. But it sounds to me like a regular ole' magna grip. Help me out guys! More smith trivia that I need to learn! Thanks as always guys

 

[Rugskipper]

PC's basically ARE a regular ole' magna, only the bottom is rounded a bit. I presume it was to help the gun to "print" a little less during concealed carry. I'm sure someone will come along with pictures pretty soon.

 

[noshow]

PC's basically ARE a regular ole' magna, only the bottom is rounded a bit. I presume it was to help the gun to "print" a little less during concealed carry. I'm sure someone will come along with pictures pretty soon.

That's pretty much the story I heard. The "PC" designation for Magna grips stands for plain clothes(as opposed to uniform). All round butt Magnas have the rounded edges. PC Magnas pertain only to square butt service stocks as normally supplied with service(fixed sight) revolvers. Most square butt revolvers with adjustable sights came with either Magnas (non PC) or checkered Target Stocks. I think...

 

[s&wchad]

　
K frame “Diamond” Magna stocks (square butt grip frame):

Later N frame Magna stocks (square butt grip frame):

Note how the base of the grips on the above Magna stocks has a sharp edge.
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Below are PC (plain clothes), aka “Modified Magnas”, which are rounded at the butt to print less:

“Diamond”:

Later non-diamond (post 1966):

 

[gunlovingirl]

Hey kscardsfan. Thanks for asking the question. I never even realized there was a difference! And thanks to the members who answered!

 

[kscardsfan]

You're welcome. I just kept seeing them both mentioned and I wanted to see what the differences where between them.
To everyone who helped out, thanks! I am glad to have learned a little more trivia and moved along with my smith knowledge lol.

 

[roycohutta]

Threads like this is what makes this forum so awesome.

 

[JP@AK]

Most square butt revolvers with adjustable sights came with either Magnas (non PC) or checkered Target Stocks. I think...

Yes. The only exception I know of is the 2" Combat Masterpiece Model 15. It came standard with Modified Magna stocks.

 

[Duderino]

How to tell if my piece needs standard or Modified (PC)?

Thanks to this amazing forum, I understand the difference between standard K frame, Square butt, Checkered Diamond Magna, stock grips (1953 – 1967) and the subset Modified Magna Stock grips (aka "Plain Clothes [PC] Magnas").

But, as I hunt for replacement correct grips, I still need to know how to tell if my gun needs standard or PC.

Thanks in advance for any clarity you can provide.

 

[.455_Hunter]

For shooting, I definitely prefer the non-PC variant.

 

[murphydog]

Thanks to this amazing forum, I understand the difference between standard K frame, Square butt, Checkered Diamond Magna, stock grips (1953 – 1967) and the subset Modified Magna Stock grips (aka "Plain Clothes [PC] Magnas").

But, as I hunt for replacement correct grips, I still need to know how to tell if my gun needs standard or PC.

Thanks in advance for any clarity you can provide.

We need to know which gun and its age.

 

[Beau254]

So what pistols did S&W put PC round ended Diamond Magna’s on? I found a set & was wondering. Model 10’s & 15’s?

 

[Alk8944]

The bottom of the PC Magna is distinctly rounded side-to-side where the standard magna stocks are basically flat across the bottom. The reason the PC stocks were this way was principally to reduce damage to the lining of the suit jackets typically worn by detectives AKA plain clothes officers. It has nothing to do with reducing printing, although this may often be a minimal secondary result.

Standard magna stocks are the norm for S&W guns with 4 inch or longer barrels, while the PC Magnas are most common on "snub nose" revolvers that are very commonly carried by plain clothes officers. Personally I prefer the PC Magna stocks on any barrel length 4 inches or less as the PCs are a usually bit thinner than the standard magnas and feel better to me.

Strictly either style of stock is correct on either 2 or 4 inch barrelled guns based on individual preference and application.

As is typical of most current and former LEOs I worked both plain clothes and uniform during my time "on the job".

 

[murphydog]

So what pistols did S&W put PC round ended Diamond Magna’s on? I found a set & was wondering. Model 10’s & 15’s?

Nearly 15 year old thread,

Any fixed sight K frame (square butt models 10 and 12) and (generally) 2” model 15s, and model 58 N frames during the “diamond” stock era.

 

[4BODIDDLEY]

And the 520 ??

 

[murphydog]

And the 520 ??

Yes, but the question was about the "Diamond Magna". The 520 was made after this era.