Original Grips for a 686 no dash?

[brian686]

About thirty years ago, I picked up a police trade in 686 no dash 4". I didn't like the grips and bought a set of rubber grips (Pachymar). Recently I wanted to try the original grips again and put them back on the gun. I noticed that the grips did not have the Smith and Wesson medallion on them. They are wood, look like the Smith and Wesson grips except have a cut out for a speed loader and no medallion. It does not look like it ever had them. So my question is, what grips were 686's originally shipped with?
Were guns shipped to police departments outfitted with different grips? The gun did not include a box.
(I'm at work but will post pics later when I get home.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Sevens]

Pictures would help. I believe that nearly all of the 686-no dash through at least the 686-3 came with Goncalo Alves Target stocks, but I think it is possible that a few early guns came with the walnut Magna stocks.

Both should have medallions.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

You might have smooth targets maybe? But they should have the medallions.
I do not know how police department 686 guns were shipped. But, my 686 no dash(6") and -1(4") came with checkered targets with medallions. And Goncalo Alves wood.

 

[H Richard]

My no dash was G A. I don't recall seeing any in Walnut.

 

[brian686]

Ok. I’ve edited the original to include photos.

 

[S&W Fan]

This is my late father's no dash 686 purchased in Sept. 1981 (I inherited it in '92 when he passed away). GA target stocks, left grip is the "speedloader" cut as seen in Lou's photos.

 

[Sevens]

Hahahaha, it says HERRETT’s right on the sticker inside the left stock.

Those are not original to your revolver, they are Herrett’s, maybe the “Shooting Star” model of aftermarket stocks.

 

[Walter Rego]

Brian686, I believe the stocks in your photo are Herretts Shooting Star models. A popular accessory for many years. The correct type are as shown by the posters above.

 

[Sevens]

This is my late father's no dash 686 purchased in Sept. 1981 (I inherited it in '92 when he passed away). GA target stocks, left grip is the "speedloader" cut as seen in Lou's photos.

I’ll bet you know — you’ve got a scarce early variant here! That box was used for a very short run and your large emblem on the right side of the frame was only on the earliest examples of the then-new L-frames. That would be a damn difficult 686 to replace. Very, very cool one that you’ve got.

 

[T44spl]

I have a first year 686 in the 8 3/8" barrel s/n range ABV56XX that came with the Goncalo Alves target grips with the speedloader cut out exactly like on Lou the welder's guns. I don't know how a PD issued 4" weapon would have been equipped, that may depend on their contract.
But I believe the standard stocks would have been the target grips.

 

[brian686]

Thanks for the info and great pics. I had a feeling they were not original.

 

[Jason Demond]

The good news is you shouldn't have much trouble finding a nice pair of them. As nutty as the values are on some S&W grips, the GA grips from this era is still pretty cheap at 50 to 150 dollars depending on grade.