Never Quit Learning

[papalondog]

We are never to old or senile to learn something. Did you all know that it is even possible to learn something from VM??? I looked at my .45 ACP revolver and sure enough, the unrelieved diamond target stocks ARE numbered to the gun. Amazing! Serial number S1595XX.

 

[VM]

Congrats you Dog! (I mean you old fart)

 

[Vulcan Bob]

First, nice six-gun! Second, I never knew they numbered targets either.

 

[Jack Flash]

Is the number stamped (or embossed) into the wood or is it written in pencil?

 

[VM]

Is the number stamped (or embossed) into the wood or is it written in pencil?

JF - they stamp the serial number on the wood just like the magna stocks of the same era.
Here's a picture of the inside of a set that I have that are a little later than Lonnie's

 

[papalondog]

That is exactly how they are STAMPED in mine. Three over three.... pretty neat. I never had paid any attention, because I didn't now they had numbered any target grips either.

 

[29aholic]

The 1955 Target guns are the few that could have numbered target grips. Those are the only numbered target grips that I know of.

 

[DCWilson]

Well, I sure learned something from this today. I had long subscribed to the notion that target stocks simply weren't numbered, period. Thanks to PD and Curtis, I now know that the Model of 1955 revolvers break that "rule."

Thanks for the learning! I may not go to bed any smarter tonight, but I will do so better informed!

 

[VM]

The 1955 Target guns are the few that could have numbered target grips. Those are the only numbered target grips that I know of.

We've had other documented Revolvers w/ numbered Targets here on the Forum in the past

- Combat Magnum w/ relieved diamond targets
- Model of 1950 44 spec. w/ walnut Cokes from Dec. 1955
- Pre 28/ Highway Patrolman with diamond targets

 

[Jack Flash]

Thanks for the information, VM and Papalongdog.

 

[GF]

Lonnie, you and Mike sent me digging through the box (accually a padded dehumidified drawer but that's another story) to look on my set and....
No serial numbers.
Still they were made from '50 to about '54, right?

GF

 

[VM]

Still they were made from '50 to about '54, right?

GF

Gail - I believe the non relieved overlapped the start of the relieved targets if for no other reason to use up inventory. I believe there have been documented non relieved thru 1956-7..........maybe later

 

[Doc44]

Non-relieved plain target stocks made of rosewood or Goncalo alves were used at least through mid-1958. Concerning numbering, S&W did whatever they needed to do to ensure "fitted" or "selected" parts stayed together during the manufacturing process. Below is a photo of the right stock panel from a pair target stocks selected for an engraved 44 Magnum (S170040) that was shipped in September 1957. It is numbered differently that what is normally seen and was done after numbering of stocks generally was discontinued.

Bill

 

[JSR III]

IIRC, S&W numbered targets when they shipped with the gun. Obviously, many were sold over the counter in blister packs and those would not be numbered as there was no way to know what future S&W they would adorn.

If you ordered a S&W and asked for targets in addition to the stocks that normally came with the gun, I believe that it was possible for both sets to be numbered to the gun. At least that's what I recall.

 

[linde]

Speaking of stock numbering . . . and never quit learning . . . please help me learn a good technique for reading very faint pencil serial numbers. I've tried various light levels and magnification but with little success. Didn't try to clean the inside of the panel for fear of losing what little may be there.

The grips in question appear to me to be period correct early post war K-frame magnas and came on a 2" bbl square butt M&P, s/n C16XXX circa 1948. Even if they weren't numberd to the gun, I would have expected the right panel to be stenciled ... but it isn't.

Thanks for your teachings,

Russ

 

[lowriderfxr]

I had a pre 24 that I sold to Steve Harris STH44, that had target stocks numbered to it.

Also, when you took the grips off of that pre 25, did it have the normal type mainspring? That is another interesting thing to look for in that model.

 

[papalondog]

Oh thanks!! Now I have to go dig it out again. I think I would have noticed if it didn't have the normal type spring, but then as VM said, I am old.

 

[handejector]

Speaking of stock numbering . . . and never quit learning . . . please help me learn a good technique for reading very faint pencil serial numbers. I've tried various light levels and magnification but with little success. Didn't try to clean the inside of the panel for fear of losing what little may be there.

The grips in question appear to me to be period correct early post war K-frame magnas and came on a 2" bbl square butt M&P, s/n C16XXX circa 1948. Even if they weren't numberd to the gun, I would have expected the right panel to be stenciled ... but it isn't.

Russ

That's all you can do- try different KINDS of light at different levels, with and without magnification.

Pencil numbers disappear decades before your grips, and become stamped. Generally, stamping seems to begin with the return of medallions around 1930. I have not yet seen non-medallion grips with a stamped number, and I have not seen medallion grips with a penciled number.

I don't know what you mean by 'stenciled'.

 

[VM]

linde - the picture of gun with grips installed shows the horn not reaching out to the edge of the frame.
It's possible those are replacement stocks and were never numbered.
How's the fit on the bottom of the butt?

Being a 60 year old gun, who knows how many times it's been bought and sold and grips removed - they are era correct so that's a good thing. That's a cool M&P snubbie!

 

[linde]

I don't know what you mean by 'stenciled'.

Lee,

Thanks for your reply . . . I meant "stamped".

I'll try the different light approach on pre-medallion stocks, but, on this one, you've convinced me a pencil number was never there.

Russ