Relieved & Non Relieved Grips? Help Pls

[MrTrolleyguy]

A side by side photo could make the difference clear.

We could already own a set of valuable unrelieved grips and be unaware of it.

I am willing to bet that I am not the only member who wants to know more about them. Which models had them, what time periods and variations are there? What does the value continuum look like? The more detailed the answers the better.

Of course we'd all like to see photos of your examples.

Looking forward to getting some feed back.

Fill us in please.


Joe

 

[H Richard]

This is Non-Relieved targets on a Pre 27, from Sept 1953. It is my understanding they were utilized up until nearly 1960. Thew were available on the Mod 29, 27, and early 58's.

 

[Jack Flash]

OK, I'll play!

The target stocks shown below have the "extractor relief cut". This modification was made to allow the extraction of ammunition / spent cases without the marring that occurred on non-relieved target stocks.

These stocks are more commonly known as "Football Targets" for obvious reasons.
.

 

[Mike McLellan]

1950 Marked the birth of target stocks. They were special order and unrelieved. In 1955 the "football" appeared. I routinely put them on most of my guns because I really like the way they feel. Speed-loaders wouldn't clear the wood, so a full cut-out was initiated in 1977.

**The diamond surrounding the screw was discontinued by executive order on Oct. 11, 1965 and reiterated 3 months later by another order. This cost-saving measure was not unanimously welcomed by the artisans in the wood shed.**

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

I had thought the relieved referred to something about the checkering or the diamond.

Thanks..

Now what about value?

 

[handejector]

1960 Marked the birth of target stocks. They were special order and unrelieved. In 1965 the "football" appeared. I routinely put them on most of my guns because I really like the way they feel. Speed-loaders wouldn't clear the wood, so a full cut-out was initiated in 1977.

**The diamond surrounding the screw was discontinued by executive order on Oct. 11, 1965 and reiterated 3 months later by another order. This cost-saving measure was not unanimously welcomed by the artisans in the wood shed.**

You need to check your dates!

 

[wbraswell]

I've seen plenty of target stocks that were earlier than 1960.

 

[murphydog]

Have a look at this current thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/403461-last-non-relieved-targets.html

 

[Leatherhead23]

 

[Mike McLellan]

You need to check your dates!

I was only 4 years old! I didn't know any better!

**Dumb & Dumber**

 

[Doc44]

Target stocks for N-frame revolvers were available in late 1952 (a few pairs were used earlier), but not cataloged until 1955. The relieved area on the left panel appeared in 1958/59, but was used in 1956 on coke bottle stocks on the 44 Magnum. The diamond around the escutcheon and nut disappeared in very early 1969. The overall shape of the stocks changed by 73/74 as the amount of wood where the stocks meet the frame near the trigger guard was reduced.

This is a lot of stock history in a few sentences, but a full chapter in a book could be devoted to post-war N-frame stocks.

Bill

 

[Jack Flash]

To make this thread complete, could someone kindly post a picture of target stocks with the speed loader cut out?

 

[Walter Rego]

Here is a set of the full speedloader cutout smooth Target Stocks

 

[flundertaker]

This is Non-Relieved targets on a Pre 27, from Sept 1953. It is my understanding they were utilized up until nearly 1960. Thew were available on the Mod 29, 27, and early 58's.

Non relieved targets on my pre 25 as well

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[rck281]

I've never seen original non-relieved targets on an early 44 Magnum.

 

[lowhog]

Not a very good picture. Early non-relieved smooth rosewood n frame stocks.

 

[VM]

Not a very good picture. Early non-relieved smooth rosewood n frame stocks.View attachment 173706

lowhog - looks like Goncalo Alves to me

 

[glowe]

lowhog - looks like Goncalo Alves to me

Oh No! - Let's not start this argument again!!!!!!!

 

[lowhog]

VM, They look like rosewood to me. Regards Mike

 

[VM]

They are beautiful lowhog and no arguements Glowe
They just have alot of orange streaks/grains that look like GA to me.
It will help to see better, detailed pics inside and out once you get the gun