S&W Factory Grip Adapters 1930's

[CHARLIE699]

I've seen several posts displaying vintage Hand-Ejectors with the factory grip adapter. All that I remember have been Registered Magnums, though I'm certain I've missed some on others.
I see in the 4Th Edition that these early adapters were also available in 1934 for the smaller "K" frame.
Is the larger "N" frame rarer or the "K" or were they made in similar numbers?? Were these only special order on revolvers or were they sold as accessories also?

 

[old bear]

To try and answer your question. It's my understand that the K frame sized grip adapters were the rarer of the two sizes. Have no idea if the adapter had to be ordered along with the revolver, or could be ordered as an after thought.

 

[lestert357]

Attached is a picture of page 28 from the 1939 S&W Catalog which gives you some information on the Wesson Grip Adapters. I can’t speak with authority regarding numbers manufactured other than to say I have seen many more N frame size adapters either mounted on revolvers or separately for sale than K frame size. The Wesson Grip Adapter was included with all Registered Magnums originally shipped with service style grips either mounted on the revolver or separately in the box - as per the customer’s order. That practice continued throughout RM production but mostly ended when the Magna stocks were introduced for the RM’s in about August/September 1935.

 

[CHARLIE699]

Thank you both for the quick response. I see from the advertisement that they were offered with the K-22. I have an assortment of early parts, possibly K-22 and this adapter was in the group. Trigger & hammer both have the "REG.U.S.PAT.OFF." markings on them. I'll try to post a photo in AM. Rear sight in group that I need to identify also.

 

[Bob L]

Thanks Terry! I have seen pictures of one of these and had to wonder exactly how they fit on the grip frame. I appreciate the scan of the page.

 

[RKmesa]

Here are a couple of K-22's with adapters on them:

This well used one was missing a screw in this photo (a gracious member subsequently gave me a screw )



A K-22 tricked out by King with their super target package:

 

[Green Frog]

Well Richard, once again this forum needs a “lust” icon... “like” just doesn’t convey. That “tricked out” K-22 really turns my little froggie gears! Thanks for sharing.

Back to the OP, I would love to know how many of each size were made overall. Also, since Tyler seems to be on the ropes I wonder whether anyone has considered tooling up to make a modern version of these, perhaps in a modern, more durable material. How about it, you entrepreneurial types?

Froggie

 

[Daniel Howe]

I know a guy that is retired and has a full blown machine shop. If you can provide blue prints or good drawings I can try to talk him into making some for us. I would like a few myself.

 

[CHARLIE699]

RKmesa, THANK YOU for posting the eye-candy ("gun-porn" as my Bride calls it)!
Below are some pics of my adapter & parts that were with it. The "K" hand-ejector grips fit it perfectly.
I agree. This would be something that shooters would love. The issue with later adapters seemed to be the attachment clips marred the grips or required modification to seat grips securely.
Please take a l@@k at parts lot. Is sight possible from same revolver era as trigger/hammer & internals. Found in same bag.

Thanks! C.J.

 

[Engine49guy]

IIRC there was a member that made some copies of the N grip adapter , saw some at the 2011 SWCA symposium.
Keep in mind the grip adapter only works with the shorter "Service stocks".
Using them with Magna stocks would result in a gap at the top.
The only way around this is to either thin the Magnas or on a K frame you could use Model 12 Magna stocks which are thinner.

 

[RKmesa]

Please take a l@@k at parts lot. Is sight possible from same revolver era as trigger/hammer & internals. Found in same bag.

Charlie:

Nice bag of parts. The hammer is from a K-22 Outdoorsman (no firing pin). The trigger most likely is from the same K-22, but could be from almost any pre-war K or N Frame. The grips are too early for the K-22 Outdoorsman (but would fit most any K-frame gun). The rear sight with the two rear vertical adjustment screws (post 1931-32) is also probably from a K-22 Outdoorsman and the 4-digit numbers are the last 4 of the SN of the gun it was originally fitted to (pre-war rear sights were fitted and finished to a particular gun). I would also imagine that the internals and the thumb cylinder release is also from the same K-22...

Thanks for sharing,

 

[Green Frog]

Why is it that when I buy a junk box of gun parts it's usually full of .....
JUNK?
I'd love to find a pre-War grip adaptor for a K-frame, just waiting to be rescued and put on a deserving revolver. (SIGH!)