N-Frame Grip Adapter Pricing

[Modified]

Ebay auction just finished up; Winning bid:US $1,300.00

I've kept an eye on these over the years and I don't think I've seen one go this high. And this one isn't even pristine.

The other interesting thing is that it looks like there were bidders on it in the ~$900 range before two people brought it all the way up to that $1300 bid.

Curious if anyone else tracks these. I personally have never liked how they looked, but grabbed one (on the cheap apparently), to complete one of my Registered Magnums as it lettered. At this point, if this is the going rate, I might just have to sell the one I have...

But I feel like I am missing something here that maybe one of you guys can fill me in on.

 

[burneyr]

Not surprised somebody ponied up $1300 for one. For the last couple years at least quite a few have changed hands at a grand based on several posts.

All it takes is a dry spell of not being able to find one and needing to have it...

I'm sure we've all overpaid at some point in this hobby for something we had to have. I'm guilty, and I just wish the tariff had been $300.

 

[rct269]

I can only give you some history:

Suffering from the same obsessive compulsive disorder as you, I HAD TO HAVE one for an N Frame, but I'm too lazy to fool with these online auctions; so I fire off an email to David Carroll. In a matter of minutes, he replies: "A small package is in the mail to you---call me when it arrives." ("call me when it arrives" translates to, "So I can tell you how much you owe me.")--------$500. I don't remember when that one was.

The next one was a nail biter! The letter telling me I was now the owner of the 22/40 gifted to Philip B. Sharpe had just arrived (December, 2014)---and said, "with grip adapter attached". "Great!! Where the hell am I going to come up with one of these things for a K frame?!!" (I was pretty sure I'd never even seen one for a K frame!)

Well it worked once, I'll try it again----another email to David. Same reply---AND the same price----and I was a happy camper!!

As an aside, the one for the N frame arrived without the short screw. It turned out to be a 5-44 near as I recall, so I call Brownells, who obliged with a package of 5-44 screws. They're way too long, and the heads are way too big. I chuck one up in my "lathe" (drill press), and have at it with a file. I'm pretty sure it ended up fitting better than an original---and a little dab of cold blue here and there even had it looking like an original.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[.455_Hunter]

That thing would be removed from my gun before you could say "boo". If lucky, it would make it into the miscellaneous grip tub and not the trash can.

 

[series guy]

I watched that go off and wasn't surprised at all. Supply and demand.

 

[22hipower]

Piece parts to make a Registered Magnum match the letter and complete a package are very much in demand. Would I pay $1300 for one, certainly not just to have one. If I had a very nice Reg. Mag. that lettered with one. . . . . .maybe.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[bruce5781]

I saw that auction finish. Made me want to round mine up. Somewhere around here, I have a couple N's (one set with modified magnas) plus a K frame set up.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[bengal fan]

I was watching that one also. I have a 5in NRM that letters as shipping with one so I would love to have one. Just can't bring myself to that kind of money!

 

[Alk8944]

It wasn't that many years ago I called David Chicoine looking for one of these. At the time he said he had two of them that he would sell for $100, and I didn't miss any zeroes. I didn't want one that bad even then!

 

[clang444]

Interesting they bring so much money. I picked this one up a few years ago along with the service grips:



It was at a gun show from a table of a guy that sells mostly Altamont grips. Someone probably traded them to him as partial payment for some Altamonts, and he was selling them for the price of the grips, not knowing what the grip adapter was.

I knew I could have dickered the price down a bit, but didn't even bother. He was extremely happy with the deal and so was I.

I do pity the poor fool that traded them in, but what are you gonna do?

 

[RKmesa]

Caleb, I too was following that auction and was surprised. I thought that $700 was about where it would end up. But I guess if you gotta have one… you gotta have one. I would be one happy seller.

 

[luvsmiths]

I was watching that one also. I have a 5in NRM that letters as shipping with one so I would love to have one. Just can't bring myself to that kind of money!

Wait two years. Im sure they'll be much more inexpensive.

 

[DARE]

Makes me glad my RM came with Magnas. I picked up a pair a little less than 2 years ago for $750. What are they going for these days?
Glad I didn't have to pay $1000-1300 for a grip adaptor plus several hundred for pre-war service stocks.

 

[BC38]

It wasn't that many years ago I called David Chicoine looking for one of these. At the time he said he had two of them that he would sell for $100, and I didn't miss any zeroes. I didn't want one that bad even then!

Sounds like you missed a golden opportunity.
But then who knew?

 

[austintexas]

grip adapter

I picked one up for my Registered Magnum about 15 years ago at a little, (30 table) show in a closed empty Target store for $5.00. I found it in a junk box and ask the guy what they were for, His answer was "I don't know but I'll take 5 bucks for it". SOLD!
SWCA 892

 

[pharman]

Is this a good one?

I recently came into one of these...looks exactly like the one in post #1...it is not marked on the one side "mfg by Smith and Wesson"...did any other company make these? Mine is also accompanied with a beautiful set of N frame round top service grips exactly like the grips pictured in post #10...any ideas on the value of ths set? Thank you for your time...Roger

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I recently came into one of these...looks exactly like the one in post #1...it is not marked on the one side "mfg by Smith and Wesson"...did any other company make these? Mine is also accompanied with a beautiful set of N frame magnas exactly like the grips pictured in post #10...any ideas on the value of ths set? Thank you for your time...Roger

Roger, the grips pictured in post #10 are not magnas. They are round top service grips. That set is typically how the guns fitted with grip adapters shipped. I suggest starting another post with pictures of your adapter and grips to get more precise information.

 

[pharman]

Thank you Guy

Roger, the grips pictured in post #10 are not magnas. They are round top service grips. That set is typically how the guns fitted with grip adapters shipped. I suggest starting another post with pictures of your adapter and grips to get more precise information.

Thanks Guy...I corrected my post...I will try to get pictures later today...Roger

 

[larry21556]

Grip adapter Picture

From a dust covered shelf in my garage. On the left original S&W. in the middle Repros, on the right, Repro's box.

 

[rct269]

From a dust covered shelf in my garage. On the left original S&W. in the middle Repros, on the right, Repro's box.

I dare say the "Repros" are fetching a pretty fancy price these days-----I've seen exactly one set in my time----and they are a first class reproduction---and clearly marked by their makers---who weren't trying to fool anybody.

Ralph Tremaine