Non-Relieved Smooth K Targets

[Retired W4]

I have never seen, or heard of, these before. The type of wood is unknown to me, but it is really beautiful. I'm hoping the very knowledgeable folk here will be able to address my recent find.

I apologize for the poor photography but by the time I got home I lost my natural lighting.

 

[Model19man]

Looks like Goncalo Alves to me.

 

[younggun22]

I can't help you on the type of wood but those are beautiful!

Some of my favorite factory stocks. Enjoy!

 

[Truckman]

Looks like Goncalo Alves to me.

I concur...Nicely figured too......Ben

 

[22hipower]

I don't have any and rarely see them. There was a set for sale at the Concord symposium in 2022. All the non-relieved K frame stocks I have are checkered with diamonds and are walnut I think. I suppose S&W could have put them on engraved K frames in the same timeframe that they used N frame non-relieved smooth targets although I think most of those were rosewood. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along to comment.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Retired W4]

I showed them to KenL while setting up for this weekend's show. He said walnut, but I don't know. I'll check back tomorrow. Early morning for the show.

 

[paplinker]

Well tried taking a couple quick pics of mine but they could be better.

The set on the left are Alves and the right set are rosewood.

I think the OPs are beautiful!

I tend to look at the inside to pick out rosewood.

The K set was at Concord in 2022

 

[paplinker]

Well tried taking a couple quick pics of mine but they could be better.

The set on the left are Alves and the right set are rosewood.

I think the OPs are beautiful!

I tend to look at the inside to pick out rosewood.

The K Alves set was at Concord in 2022

 

[bdGreen]

OP's stocks look like they may be cocobolo.

bdGreen

 

[spin132]

I tend to look at the inside to pick out rosewood.

That's sage advice paplinker. When I first saw this relieved set I was thinking they were in the rosewood family.

But a look at the back quickly disproved that!

The back of the OP's beautiful set looks more like rosewood/coco to my untrained eyes.

Mike

 

[Doc44]

A couple of pairs from my collection.

Bill

 

[Doc44]

Factory engraved .357 Combat Magnum shipped in December 1956 with smooth (non-relieved) stocks made of Goncalo alves. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

 

[410bore]

I have owned a few sets - definitely not seen often. These are simply the best I've ever encountered. Bought them many years ago at OGCA on a Sunday morning still hungover from night-ones shenanigans!

(SORRY FOR THE FLOPPED PICS)

 

[gerhard1]

Looks like Goncalo Alves to me.

That's what I was going to say.

 

[younggun22]

I have owned a few sets - definitely not seen often. These are simply the best I've ever encountered. Bought them many years ago at OGCA on a Sunday morning still hungover from night-ones shenanigans!

(SORRY FOR THE FLOPPED PICS)

Those are spectacular. Might be the best grain on a factory set I can remember seeing.

They make mine look pedestrian.

 

[bigmoose]

S&W still had some decent wood in the 1970s inventory. Here is my Model 16-3 with original factory smooth relieved targets. I was surprised how comfortable these grips are. Very ergonomic, for my average size hands.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

OP's stocks look like they may be cocobolo.

bdGreen

I can resemble that remark, but I claim not to know.

What was the era of these type grips: non-relieved, gold monograms, black washers. Were the rosewoods and cocobolos made the duration of the Goncala Alves? What years were these available? K frames and N frames same dates?

Any way to rule out what they are not?

 

[Mortimer94]

Worked in the stocking dept of S&W for 14 years, I say they are rosewood.

 

[Doc44]

The stocks shown in post #1 are definitely Goncalo alves. The photo below shows a .357 Combat Magnum shipped in 1971 with Class C engraving and smooth target stocks (relieved on left panel) made of rosewood. If you compare these stocks with the others shown you can readily see the difference between rosewood and Goncalo alves. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

 

[paplinker]

The stocks shown in post #1 are definitely Goncalo alves. The photo below shows a .357 Combat Magnum shipped in 1971 with Class C engraving and smooth target stocks (relieved on left panel) made of rosewood. If you compare these stocks with the others shown you can readily see the difference between rosewood and Goncalo alves. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

I like the purplish type of rosewood this stock has. I have a checked set like that.

Some of my rosewood has this tint and others a very chocolate brown with a lot of grain.

I assume its two variety's of rosewood.