Mottled Grips Redux

[gunbarrel]

I read with interest several older subject posts, and I have decided to get my .32 DA 4th Model lettered as Jim King advised me; not just to see if the mottled grips are mentioned, but also to see about the engraving. It doesn't look amateurish; so, I want to know if it's factory. Since I'm a fairly new S&W collector, I figured that this is the best way to find out.

A couple of things about the grips; I would say that the fitting is very good, and they are matched to the gun on the right panel with lightly scratched (and hard to see!) numbers. Here are some pictures of the little revolver. As you will see, my photographic skills leave a lot to be desired; so, the colors vary according to the light and the focus...

 

[gunbarrel]

More pictures...

 

[moralem]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mrcvs]

The inside of the stocks of both of these revolvers differs greatly. Especially the delineation around the edge, the OPs being much bolder than the second example. FWIW.

My guess is the OPs may be of later vintage.

 

[iby]

It is a nice gun but the engraving does not look Factory

 

[Boulder350]

Great looking revolver!

As you can tell by my avatar, I like the mottled grips. What do you think the finish is originally, blue or nickel? Some say that the mottled grips were only installed on blued guns, but based on my research, I think they were applied to both blue and nickel guns. On the single action 38's and 32's nickel guns, they appear quite often. Based on research, the mottled grips are less common on nickel double action 38's and 32's than they are on blued models.

I have serial number 59871 in my research records. Its currently a blued revolver and wears the mottled grips and has a 3 1/2" barrel. It does have a star next to the serial number so it was sent back for work or a refinish.

Please let us know what the letter says when you receive it.

 

[gunbarrel]

Thank you, Mark! Oh, wow--this one is S/N 59876--only 5 serial numbers apart! *If* I had to say, I would guess this one was made with a nickel finish, but it's hard for me to say. I will post the letter when I get it. I just took a picture of the inside of the grips; please, see attached.

 

[H Richard]

How many colors have these stocks been observed in? I know red has been the most common, but I know of green and blue. Any others known?
I had one on a 32 Single Action 1 1/2.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


I have a nickel 32cf SA with a pair of them.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[mrcvs]

How many colors have these stocks been observed in? I know red has been the most common, but I know of green and blue. Any others known?
I had one on a 32 Single Action 1 1/2.

Isn't mottled yellow also believed to exist?

 

[Books]

It's hard for me to resist the marbled grips.

Books

 

[merl67]

Beautiful Topbreak !
I wonder does anyone have examples of the other colors of mottled grips to show. I have heard of blue, green, and yellow but have seen none other than red ones.