I agree, the checkering modification for the proper proportion of the checkered field would be required to look right. But if not done, the novice would not be able to tell if just fitted to the K grip frame. To a non-novice, yes it would be detected but then the extra bulk of the N frame stocks is already a dead giveaway.
Pre War Large Medallion K Frame Grips
- Thread starter gripper
- Start date
I agree, the checkering modification for the proper proportion of the checkered field would be required to look right. But if not done, the novice would not be able to tell if just fitted to the K grip frame. To a non-novice, yes it would be detected but then the extra bulk of the N frame stocks is already a dead giveaway.
Walter Rego
Member
It is very hard to read the numbers, they are pencil and look they they may be 61545(?) or 61575(?) or in other words in the 615,000 range ?
OldDominion
Member
Hello Gripper, judging by your handle, I think you may be able to help me. Where would I start to look to find a set of N frame stocks for a 2nd model 44 Hand Ejector Target? Ser.# is 319** so it dates to 1929. I am thinking either the plain or medallion round tops would be proper for that period. I would prefer the plain, but I will very happy to get either. Thanks OD.
OP
gripper
Member
Yes, Non medallion grips for your gun. Check ebay, GunBroker, and last but not least, post your wants and needs in the "wanted"section of the forum. Good luck!!!
OldDominion
Member
Thank you. The quest begins...OD
Couple of different theories here about why these stocks are so uncommon. I know somewhere between diddly and squat about the minutia of S&W stocks, but David's theory is what came to my mind as a possible reason (before I had seen his post) when I saw the first pictures posted above of the large vs small medallion K-frame stocks. Does anyone have a picture comparing the large medallion K and N frame versions?
Just shot a couple of photos just for you
N's on the Left and K's on the Right:
N's on the outside and K's on the inside:
My $0.02 - all of the Large Medallion K's (LMK's) I have seen mounted to guns, were on M&P's in the 610XXX to 611XXX range. Makes me believe that they were the earliest SILVER medallioned K stocks and that they were placed on less than 1500 guns. I think that the difference in the amount of wood surrounding the LMK's and LMN's is insignificant. Therefore, I think that it was an appearance decision made by some aesthetic "expert" (most likely with the last name "Wesson"). I however for one, really like the appearance of the large medallions in the K stocks - but maybe that is because they are relatively unique...
This has been a fun discussion.
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Richard,
Great comparison photos that answer a question I've always wondered:
Since the large medallions are the same diameter and the arc cutout .745" in the grip frame are the same in both K and N frames, why is there a larger wood margin above the medallions on N frames?
From your photos it appears that the N frame stocks have the medallion mounted slightly lower than centered in the arc.
Great comparison photos that answer a question I've always wondered:
Since the large medallions are the same diameter and the arc cutout .745" in the grip frame are the same in both K and N frames, why is there a larger wood margin above the medallions on N frames?
From your photos it appears that the N frame stocks have the medallion mounted slightly lower than centered in the arc.
sandwtrader
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Pre War Large Medallions
I have a beautiful set that came from S N 61073X. Just have the grips and no idea of what they were shipped on, but they are really nice. Maybe some day I'll find the gun!
I have a beautiful set that came from S N 61073X. Just have the grips and no idea of what they were shipped on, but they are really nice. Maybe some day I'll find the gun!
Another set of large medallion stocks
I read this thread when it first appeared and the 'bells' failed to go off. Re-read it today when it popped back up and thought maybe I should take a look at my assemblage of M&P's to see if I have anything in the 611xxx range. Sure enough - I have M&P, Model 1905, 4th Change S/N 611490
So I scroll over to my computer's gun inventory to take a look at the pictures and, there they are, large medallion grips. Run upstairs to my gun room and pull the grips (probably did this before but failed to note it in my electronic file) and they number to the gun
I have not lettered the gun nor asked Roy for a ship date. I purchased it off GB for $385 from Vermont where I was born and lived till age 34. Double Karma. Not the best picture quality!
I read this thread when it first appeared and the 'bells' failed to go off. Re-read it today when it popped back up and thought maybe I should take a look at my assemblage of M&P's to see if I have anything in the 611xxx range. Sure enough - I have M&P, Model 1905, 4th Change S/N 611490
So I scroll over to my computer's gun inventory to take a look at the pictures and, there they are, large medallion grips. Run upstairs to my gun room and pull the grips (probably did this before but failed to note it in my electronic file) and they number to the gun
I have not lettered the gun nor asked Roy for a ship date. I purchased it off GB for $385 from Vermont where I was born and lived till age 34. Double Karma. Not the best picture quality!
Attachments
Yup, large medallion.
And Dennis, you have just officially used up your luck issuance for the year. Nice gun! Great price!
I like Vermont, where some early Wilson ancestors who tolerate cold better than I do spent a few generations a couple of centuries back.
Large medallion Nickel's
About 18 months ago found the K frame in the upper right on GB -serial 610953. It's lettered to August of 1932 and was shipped with "walnut silver medallion square butt grips". The grips are not numbered but fit so well and are in comparable condition to the revolver, I believe they are original. Shipped to Bluefield Hardware in Blue Field, WV. Though the picture is poor, its in very nice condition.
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The other "nickles" are a 22/32 and 2 ladysmiths
About 18 months ago found the K frame in the upper right on GB -serial 610953. It's lettered to August of 1932 and was shipped with "walnut silver medallion square butt grips". The grips are not numbered but fit so well and are in comparable condition to the revolver, I believe they are original. Shipped to Bluefield Hardware in Blue Field, WV. Though the picture is poor, its in very nice condition.
The other "nickles" are a 22/32 and 2 ladysmiths
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Beautiful gun and large medallion stocks. Check the back of the stocks under bright light for hard to read pencil notations. The first digits should be 610 or 611.
Can you check the first digit of the serial number again? A gun with a number beginning with 8 would be a wartime contract gun that shipped in 1940 or 1941. I bet it is a 6, in which case those might be the original stocks.
I love that Target Ladysmith. There just aren't many of those, and the ones that exist usually don't look that nice. I have one that needs a little work. But even after I get it fully tuned up, it won't look anywhere near as good as that one.
Can you check the first digit of the serial number again? A gun with a number beginning with 8 would be a wartime contract gun that shipped in 1940 or 1941. I bet it is a 6, in which case those might be the original stocks.
I love that Target Ladysmith. There just aren't many of those, and the ones that exist usually don't look that nice. I have one that needs a little work. But even after I get it fully tuned up, it won't look anywhere near as good as that one.
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Drknobhead
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I have a large medallion S &W 38 special with a SN of 610033, Pencil markings on handles match the butt plate. However,it also has a stamped hammer with Reg. US Pat. Off....Mike wrote:
"the patent markings on the hammer (and the trigger) refer to the case color hardening technique used on S&W revolvers. It was a fairly short-lived practice to mark those parts in this way and was discontinued shortly after it began."
Wondering if there is any correlation with the large medallion and the stamped hammer? Does anyone else have a stamped hammer with their large medallion 1905 m & P?
"the patent markings on the hammer (and the trigger) refer to the case color hardening technique used on S&W revolvers. It was a fairly short-lived practice to mark those parts in this way and was discontinued shortly after it began."
Wondering if there is any correlation with the large medallion and the stamped hammer? Does anyone else have a stamped hammer with their large medallion 1905 m & P?
Attachments
I can't at this moment recall the actual beginning and ending dates, but the era of patent registration stamps on hammers lasted for several years. You see them on most revolvers produced in the 1930s.
Drknobhead
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What kind of estimated value would having these large medallion's add to the gun? Esp if serial numbers inside handles match the gun?Drknobhead
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Or how much do these handles sell for by themselves?
Texas Star
US Veteran
I know little of such subtleties, but are the large silver medallions the same size of the older gold ones?
I'm thinking that S&W may have found some remaining K-frame stocks originally made for the gold medallions but which had never been completed with the medallion installed. Could have been due to the pressure of tooling up for WW I, etc.
If they realized that the large silver medallions would fit, they'd use them and avoid wasting those grips. Or, maybe they had extra large ones from a time when fewer N-frame guns were being sold and needed K-frame grips when small medallions weren't in stock. They'd use available resources.
Is this totally unlikely?
Just a thought from an admitted non-collector...
I'm thinking that S&W may have found some remaining K-frame stocks originally made for the gold medallions but which had never been completed with the medallion installed. Could have been due to the pressure of tooling up for WW I, etc.
If they realized that the large silver medallions would fit, they'd use them and avoid wasting those grips. Or, maybe they had extra large ones from a time when fewer N-frame guns were being sold and needed K-frame grips when small medallions weren't in stock. They'd use available resources.
Is this totally unlikely?
Just a thought from an admitted non-collector...crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Can't recall if I have posted these previously. I got them from Lee Jarrett a year and a half ago during the great Handejector accessory sale.
No. 611127. Interestingly, the numbering is hybrid, with the last three digits stamped into the wood under the hard-to-read pencil equivalent. The first three pencil digits are easy to read.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought the large medallion K-frame stocks were limited to 1930. I had supposed that the silver medallion magnas were introduced for the N-frames, then the design was ported to the K frame guns. I bet a lot of wood was split and wasted getting those larger medallions properly seated in the smaller K-frame half rounds, after which the decision was made to go to smaller medallions for the K guns. Both my K-22 ODs have the smaller medallions; the earliest one is from 1932.
My hypothesis is that any large medallion stocks numbered 610xxx or 611xxx will be original, but that large medallion stocks with later serial numbers may not be. I'd like to see a census of all serial numbers from stocks that have large silver medallions.
Just found a loose set # 611278 that are marked as David's, pencil marked the full serial number (which I couldn't make out) and the last 3 digits stamped. Medallions are in great shape, the wood is drowned in poly or something. Do I now have to buy a gun for them, use the medallions in a custom set, restore and put in the box ????
Charlie
I think restoration for sure. The right person could certainly make them very presentable.
Shootingmaster
Member
Concerning large silver medallion pre-war K frame grips. I have a set with serial number 609744 written in pencil. Hope this information helps.
So the high-low on the large-medallion Ks is 609544 (post 55) and somewhere near 615750 (post 32). The majority live in the 610xxx and 611xxx ranges.
It would be interesting to see how many small-medallion service stocks are known with intervening numbers in both the wide and tight ranges here.
It would be interesting to see how many small-medallion service stocks are known with intervening numbers in both the wide and tight ranges here.
THE LARGE MEDALLIONS ARE .500" AND THE SMALLER MEDALLIONS ARE .400"
handejector
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609966 is a 38 Target with Large medallions numbered in pencil.
Shipped July, 1929
Shipped July, 1929
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I sure miss Charlie Sides. This coming weekend is the Labor Day Flea Market in Hillsville, Virginia and he would have been there and we would have had a nice chat. 
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Charlie was mentioned recently in another thread, that caught my attention. And look where this one ended!
Great detailed information on the early stocks here. But it's been awhile,,,
Great detailed information on the early stocks here. But it's been awhile,,,
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