Model 49 questions

[444 Magnum]

I just acquired this Model 49. The pistol is in nice shape with the usual micro-scratches but everything seems tight and solid.





Mike was kind enough to send me the invoice. It shipped in February of 1961.



It came with some white synthetic aftermarket grips. I'd like to fit it with some period correct factory grips.
I have this set of smooth rosewood grips in my accumulation (black washer). They look good, but what time frame are they from? I know they are pre-73ish, but can anyone be more precise?




Also, this picture is from an old post by jcelect showing different types of high horn j-frame grips. Did these run in certain time periods, intermingled...??



The pistol with the rosewood looks good in this custom holster by our own Bamabiker...





...but, if they aren't period correct, I'd like to find something that is.
Thanks for any help.

 

[413Maxwedge]

Look at those 1961 prices!

 

[Engine49guy]

Nice nickel 49 flat latch.
Im no expert on J frames but in that era the Model 49 had higher horns than the other J frames as depicted in your post,(yours is clearly like the middle one).
Those smooth Magnas are correct era with deep escutcheons but lack the higher "horns" but smooth stocks on nickel guns are my kryptonite so Id be totally fine putting them on it.
( Btw later versions had standard J frame stocks).
The earlier Hammerless models had stocks that only fit those models but like the 49 eventually got standard J grips IIRC.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I have this set of smooth rosewood grips in my accumulation (black washer). They look good, but what time frame are they from? I know they are pre-73ish, but can anyone be more precise?
View attachment 795250

Also, this picture is from an old post by jcelect showing different types of high horn j-frame grips. Did these run in certain time periods, intermingled...??

View attachment 795252

That is a handsome Bodyguard. Congratulations.

Your smooth presentation stocks could be correct for the era (sometime after 1954), but they were not for a Bodyguard (Chiefs Special, maybe?).

A Bodyguard from your era would have had what jcelect calls semi-high horn stocks, like the middle gun in his borrowed photo. Smith & Wesson did away with those by 1969 and began using standard J-frame magnas on Bodyguards, like the top gun in his photo.

Here are close-up photos of the two styles. You can see how much taller the original Bodyguard stocks are in the first photo--use the thumbpiece as a reference point. In addition to the deleted diamond around the escutcheon you can see the checking pattern shrank. Serial numbers on the inside of the right stocks on these two match the guns.

Model 49 590710, shipped in April 1968.


Model 38 J5938, shipped November 1969