New to me, 14-3 - correct grips?

[HWayne]

I just picked up a very nice Model 14-3 at an auction, but it came with rubber combat grips. I would like to get period correct wood grips for this. What should I be looking for? TIA
-H

 

[Jim NNN]

Look like Pachmayr Presentations on there. Not factory correct, but probably for a K frame.
Most of that series will have had non-diamond grips, which is good for you in terms of availability and price. Of the factory wood grips, target grips will be the way to go, if you're looking for originality, as non-targets were numbered to match the serial # of the gun. Target grips were not numbered to the gun. Not quite sure if non-target grips were even available by the 14-3 era. A factory letter will tell you if it came with w/target or non-target, but the letter costs a few bucks.

 

[g8rb8]

The 14-3 was made 1967 to 1977.
The diamond was deleted in the grips about 1967-1968 so if you have a very early 14-3 it could have conceivably had diamond grips.
To give you an idea if your 14-3 might have been early enough to have diamond grips here are the serial # dates for K frames:
1967 K715997
1968 K779163
From the mid 1950's to the mid 1970's target stocks had reliefs cut into the left upper grip panel and this would most likely be the correct target grip style for your revolver. For a smaller grip the magna style would be correct.

Relief cut target grips in a model 19-3:

 

[JP@AK]

Not quite sure if non-target grips were even available by the 14-3 era.

They were. In fact, my experience tells me more Model 14-3 revolvers were shipped with Magna stocks than with Targets. At least I have seen far more of them ANIB with correctly numbered Magnas than with Targets, including several in my collection. I was around and buying guns all during the dash 3 period, and most of those I remember were sold wearing "standard" stocks.
When you get into the dash 4 time period, this seems to have changed and more with Target stocks seem to have been sold.

 

[bananaman]

My 14-3 was purchased in August last year. It has target grips. 1977 gun. I think that they are original to it. Bob

 

[Jim NNN]

They were. In fact, my experience tells me more Model 14-3 revolvers were shipped with Magna stocks than with Targets. At least I have seen far more of them ANIB with correctly numbered Magnas than with Targets, including several in my collection. I was around and buying guns all during the dash 3 period, and most of those I remember were sold wearing "standard" stocks.
When you get into the dash 4 time period, this seems to have changed and more with Target stocks seem to have been sold.

Thanks for the information, Jack. Always nice to get an experienced based perspective. My dash 3 has the targets, and a lot of the dash threes I see for sale nowadays have targets, but it's interesting that non-target grips were more numerous back in the day. My gun's from about 1975.

 

[JP@AK]

Yes. Since Target stocks were not numbered to the frame, one can never tell if they are replacements on any given Model 14, unless you have the original box and it is marked with a T on the end label. An S in that spot means Magna stocks.
I doubt there are any statistics available on how many were actually shipped with each type of stocks. I am only relating my experiences. I can't be certain that my impressions reflect reality, but I believe they do.

 

[Engine49guy]

While there are no absolutes with S&W chances are slim to none a 14-3 shipped with diamonds as I have seen too many dash 2's with OEM serial matched NON diamonds.

Magnas were the standard on Model 14-3's (and 17-3's) but S&W would mix n match as well as make anything special order for an individual or distributor back then.

Best advice is since you will never have the original numbered Magnas to go with period correct targets,
That being said to determine the correct style targets for your gun you would need to post the serial number to narrow down the production date.

 

[HWayne]

Thanx to all who replied above! I really appreciate the info!

I went to a very large gun show over the weekend, and walked every aisle looking for a vendor who carried grips for a K-frame and came up with absolutely nothing! In talking to some of the vendors there, they didn't even know where to send me - claiming that most guys wouldn't even want to carry stuff like that anymore, let alone use valuable table space at a show for such a low demand item. Am I really that old?!
-H

 

[DWalt]

The 14-3 was current in the 1967-77 period. If it came from the factory with factory target stocks, it would have the football cutout on the left panel. I have a late-production 14-3 (I bought it new in 1977, but probably of earlier production) which has those stocks, similar to that shown on posting #5. Look on eBay. They show up there often. Magna stocks could also be found. Whether the stocks (either target or Magna) had diamonds would depend upon whether it was of early or late production. If your SN has a digit before the K in the SN (such as 1Kxxxx), it would very likely have shipped with the non-diamond variety. Before that, who knows?