post war N frame grip section question

[AudieMurphy]

I noticed on my mid 50's N frame 7 rib backstrap at the bottom right there is a hole just short of 1/4 inch round.... Also when S&W transitioned to the newer style 10 rib when did they delete the hole ...just wondering what that hole was for?

 

[DARE]

Is this what you are talking about?

 

[Alk8944]

That is commonly believed to be a "jigging hole" for setting the frame up for machining operations. These appear on S&W frames of all sizes at different times and probably has nothing to do with the back=strap grooving.

 

[AudieMurphy]

Is this what you are talking about?

View attachment 785404

 

[AudieMurphy]

yes! Ive noticed some frames of various sizes have/dont have that hole....thanks for your reply,I appreciate it

 

[DARE]

I think the jig hole came in after WWII and was gone by 1960. K and N Frames have it. I have a K-22 Masterpiece from 1949 that has it. Also a 1956 Combat Magnum and a 1956 44 Magnum that have it.
My Model 53 that shipped in 1961 does not.

 

[JP@AK]

Going by memory here, but the jig hole is gone by about 1958, based on my observations. As noted above, it showed up shortly after WWII.

A few years ago, I was tracking this on the K frames, but I haven't looked at those data lately. But IIRC, it peters out at about the time model numbers appeared (1958).

 

[Wiregrassguy]

1959/60 - Hole in the grip frame used to secure the frame during manufacturing was deleted. This was at c. #S196000 on N-frames.

S&W Chronology of Changes | Supica Gun Heritage

www.gunheritage.com

 

[AudieMurphy]

S&W Chronology of Changes | Supica Gun Heritage

www.gunheritage.com

thank you Sir!

 

[Doc44]

The change from tangs with six grooves to ten grooves is independent of when the jig hole in the grip frame disappeared. For N-frames, the change to tangs with ten grooves took place at approximately serial number S166700 in mid-1956. The deletion of the jig hole in the frame for N-frames took place in late 1959.

Bill