Pre War Diamond Checkered K Frame Service Grips With Large Silver Medallions

[boykinlp]

I recently got a pair of Pre War Diamond Checkered K Frame Service Grips With Large Silver Medallions. I love the look of the large medallions. I am trying to find out some information about these grips. I have come to realize that N frame service grips like these are kinda easy to find, but the K frame ones are really difficult to find. I understand that they are from around 1930.
There has been a lot of talk about grips on the forum, and I really like seeing it and pictures of the many different styles over time! I recently got a “new to me” pair. I haven’t found a lot of information about them.

These grips don’t have the serial number on them, at least as far as I can tell with bright light. Why do you think there aren’t more of these around? I have two pairs of Pre War Diamond Checkered K Frame Service Grips With Small Silver Medallions, and one pair of Pre War Diamond Checkered N Frame Magna Grips With Large Silver Medallions, but this is the only pair of these that I have ever seen in the wild. My very early K22 Outdoorsman from January 1931 came with a pair with the small medallions. Please tell me what you know about these K Frame grips with Large Medallions, and I’m sure other forum members have some, so please show pictures of them.
Larry

 

[Retired W4]

You can't see that serial number on that right panel?

 

[boykinlp]

You can't see that serial number on that right panel?

My X-RAY vision isn’t what it used to be!
Larry

 

[Dennis2149]

I have a pair of 1936 era N Frame Diamond Magna Stocks with large silver medallions that were shaved down to fit a K Frame S&W--a shame but they look good on my 1965 K22.

 

[DARE]

There is a Notable Thread on this subject that has lots of good information.

Pre War Large Medallion K Frame Grips

 

[Vtgw938]

N Frame

K Frame

 

[boykinlp]

There is a Notable Thread on this subject that has lots of good information.

Pre War Large Medallion K Frame Grips

Looking back at that thread, I actually posted in it. I knew I had seen something about them being rare. When I saw them the other day on a post war (1950’s) gun, I knew they weren’t original to that gun.

In the 2012 thread, there was talk of around 20 pairs at that time. I feel sure that more have surfaced since then, such as mine. With what is known about them how would I determine a somewhat accurate value for them? It can’t be what I paid for them since I got a gun too. What do y’all think their value is?

Also, since then does anybody have any “new” information on them? I saw this thread after I had gotten these grips and was hoping there was something similar (as complete) for the K frame grips, but I didn’t see any thing like it. Hoosier45 did a FANTASTIC job on this thread, and I can’t imagine how much time it took to compile the information.

https://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-h...ar+frame+service+grips+large+silver+medallion

Larry

 

[boykinlp]

No value estimates from you folks?
Larry

 

[Vtgw938]

Rogers Grips & Guns has two sets with small medallions for $400 and $450. They sold a large medallion set at some time (no pics) for $350.

 

[paplinker]

I know of one set that sold for $210.00 in nice shape.

I found one side once in a junker grip pile at a gun show. I bought it and a couple beat up N frame sets just for the medallions. Decided the K set deserved a better fate than getting chopped up so now my buddy on here just needs to find one more side.

 

[boykinlp]

Rogers Grips & Guns has two sets with small medallions for $400 and $450. They sold a large medallion set at some time (no pics) for $350.

I wish pictures were available for the large medallion set. WOW, that’s definitely up there for the small medallion sets! Of course, they look brand new. My original pair, that came on my K22 Outdoorsman, is as nice as those, IIRC. Thanks for your feedback.

Larry, seems like the consensus is that maybe around 1500 sets were made circa 1930. All that have been reported were in the 610000 to 611000 serial number range. So scarce if not rare. In SCSW 4th talking about the .38 M&P 1st Model, says Target model worth 2X-3X premium. On some other models says Target model worth premium. Guessing that means there were not very many .38 M&P 1st Model Targets.
Thinking it would be something like that. Large medallions a 2X-3X premium over small medallions. Have to warn you that is a very non-expert opinion.

I read that “around 1500 sets were made circa 1930” in a thread on the forum. In that same thread, I saw where David Wilson had done some figuring and come up with about only 20 pairs of that 1500 had been identified at that time (2012). I would guess more have been discovered since then. Were these grips used on the .38 M&P 1st Model Targets revolvers? I believe there is a premium for the Large Medallion grips over the Small Medallion ones, but don’t know how much. A 2X-3X premium over the Small Medallion ones based on Roger’s Grips numbers would be nice! Thanks for your feedback.

I know of one set that sold for $210.00 in nice shape.

I found one side once in a junker grip pile at a gun show. I bought it and a couple beat up N frame sets just for the medallions. Decided the K set deserved a better fate than getting chopped up so now my buddy on here just needs to find one more side.

Was that $210 recently? I wonder if the seller knew what he had? Thanks for your feedback.

I would love for the SCSW 5th Edition to maybe include something about them. Anybody else have a value estimation?
Larry

 

[paplinker]

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Was that $210 recently? I wonder if the seller knew what he had? Thanks for your feedback.

I would love for the SCSW 5th Edition to maybe include something about them. Anybody else have a value estimation?
Larry

If I remember correctly it was maybe two years back on Salt lake
I was tempted myself but am staying with target grips.

My guess on these would be between 225-300

I have also come across two sets of large medallions on guns on GB
Both were on MPs One was matching to the gun and the other I do not remember.