N Frame Grips and Adapter

[jeremyws1]

I'm looking for information about the grips and adapter pictured below. If I'm reading the SCSW correctly, the grips were used from 1929 to 1941. On what models would they have been shipped? As for the grip adapter, any information would be more than I know now. What is the fair market value of the grips and adapter? For the record, they are not for sale at this time.

 

[jeremyws1]

I'm looking for information about the grips and adapter pictured below. If I'm reading the SCSW correctly, the grips were used from 1929 to 1941. On what models would they have been shipped? As for the grip adapter, any information would be more than I know now. What is the fair market value of the grips and adapter? For the record, they are not for sale at this time.

 

[Joe M]

I'll take a shot at it. Those are early service grips and a much later S&W copy of a Tyler grip adaptor. Also just by observation, thats a post war Smith with pre war grips.

Joe

 

[JSW]

This grip would have been used on any N frame of the time, even some Reg Mags were shipped with service grips. The grip adapter looks like the kind that S&W sold in the 70s-80s. Is it plastic? I wonder how this post war .357 ended up with pre-war grips and a 70s grip adapter?

 

[jeremyws1]

The gun is definitely an enigma. I'm supposed to pick it up at a gun show on Saturday. It is a Pre-27 3.5" (S107xxx) with a McGivern front sight (Lee J. helped with with that information). I'm going to replace the grips, but I don't know about the adapter. Is it period correct for ~1954?

 

[Stophel]

The Pachmayr grip adapters apparently go back to the '30's (I don't know what material they're made of. One is pictured in Ed McGivern's book). Is this one? Perhaps sold/licensed/approved by S&W?

Do those grip panels hang below the bottom edge of the frame?

 

[JSW]

If it is the grip adapter I am thinking about with the Smith & Wesson emblem on them S&W sold them as an accessory in the 70s or 80s, if so that would not be correct for this gun. I saw this on gunbroker and thought about bidding myself, guess you're the lucky winner.

 

[jeremyws1]

Originally posted by Stophel:
Do those grip panels hang below the bottom edge of the frame?

Yes, but it is a post-war frame.

 

[Doc44]

Jeremy...your service stocks would have been used on any N-frame (Third Model of 1926, Heavy Duty, .357 Magnum) and was eventually replaced by the Magna stock (although it could be ordered on certain models, as I had a .357 Magnum shipped in 1937 with service stocks and grip adapter attached).

The grip adaptor is certainly post war, but I am not sure when they were first offered by S&W.

Bill

 

[jeremyws1]

Thank you for the information so far.

I don't recall ever seeing a set of grips like this for sale. What is the going rate?

 

[JSW]

Originally posted by jeremyws1:
Thank you for the information so far.

I don't recall ever seeing a set of grips like this for sale. What is the going rate?

In the condition they're in I would say the grips are worth $100.00-150.00, more if you put them up for auction. You should definitely get this gun lettered; if it originally shipped with a McGivern front sight it's probably a pretty rare bird. Most post war .357 models that I have ever see with a 3 ½ inch barrel had a ramp front sight. Congratulations!

 

[Kamerer]

I think i have some nice N frame magnas from that year or close (you said '54?). I could trade them for those pre-wars if you like. What I am looking for really are gold medallions like that for a 1916 HE, but those are so scarce I'd settle in the mean time for silver medallions like that. I believe the over all values should be similar. or we could adjust.

 

[opoefc]

S&W sold those Tyler/Pachmayr clone grip adapters in the 60s-70s, etc. in 3 different sizes -Small, Medium & Large. Presumably for the J, K, & N frames. They are not rare or expensive. Usually can be bought for $5 to $20, depending on whether the box is still with them, or not.

 

[jeremyws1]

I thank everyone for the interest in the grips, but Nframe was first in line before this thread was created.