Did Smith & Wesson or Wolf & Klar use pencil to number their grips to a gun?
Numbered Grips
- Thread starter Doug627
- Start date
22hipower
Member
S&W did in many of the pre-WWII, probably pre-WWI for that matter, guns. If you use the search button at the top of the page you can probably find a number of threads with detail as to in which decades pencil versus stamps were used. I'm not aware that W&K numbered anything; certainly didn't the only 3rd Model W&K that I have. Someone will be along with more specifics.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
rct269
Member
S&W used pencil to number grips---also stamped the numbers into grips---also scratched the number into (hard rubber) grips---all this practiced at different points in time (which someone who pays attention to such will be able to tell us). (I could likely make a pretty good guess just by looking at a bunch of guns---but some of our real students have already done that, and can rattle it off the same as they can their children's names.) As to what W&K did/didn't do I have no idea.
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
rct269
Member
As to when stamping started, I have at least one pair of either 1st or 2nd Single Shot grips (hard rubber) which have stamped numbers---so that's also pre- WWI.
(My initial reaction to hearing they stamped into hard rubber was to suspect it didn't last very long given the time required to sweep up the shattered grips. I had no sooner planted that in my mind than here's a pair of hard rubber with stamped numbers----so never say never.)
Ralph Tremaine
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Hondo44
Member
• Stamped since 1857, stock serial #s, always right side only, changed to penciled #s c. 1900 and back to stamped #s in 1929. Scratched, penciled or stamped on hard rubber grips and sometimes premium grips (1893 - ivory or pearl were offered but not stamped); stock numbering finally discontinued ~ late 1970s.
Hondo44
Member
This is an area of S&W trivia (which is usually riddled with exceptions) where I have not seen deviation.
But I have seen after market S&W grips which of course would not have a serial # stamped on them, penciled to match whatever gun the owner put them on.
Clearly not factory:
1. because they had the aftermarket black stenciled letter/alpha digits on the back of them, and
2. because factory grip numbering protocol had changed from penciled # s to stamped serial #s over 20 years prior to the 1950's.
But I have seen after market S&W grips which of course would not have a serial # stamped on them, penciled to match whatever gun the owner put them on.
Clearly not factory:
1. because they had the aftermarket black stenciled letter/alpha digits on the back of them, and
2. because factory grip numbering protocol had changed from penciled # s to stamped serial #s over 20 years prior to the 1950's.
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I've not seen W&K grips with anything but Roman Numerals on them. Actually, engraved into the backs of their bull's head pearls. That's one way to differentiate them from other manufacturers.
