Serial numbers on grips?

[45Smashemflat]

I THINK I am correct in my assumption that S&W stopped stamping the matching serial numbers inside the grip panels ahead of the switch to model numbers. Can anyone confirm this for me?

Thanks!

 

[Thiokol]

I don't know exactly when they stopped but I have many model marked revolvers with the serial number on the inside of the right grip panel.

 

[handejector]

Grips were still numbered into the late 1970s, perhaps even into the early 1980s.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Mods, my apologies if this is in the wrong section… I'm looking at a 17-2 and wondering if it's grips should be marked with its serial number.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Numbered Grips seemed to continue in some Models but not others.
And not ever in newly introduced Models.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Looks like this is a 17-2 with a 1965 ship date. Trying to do my due diligence to see how original it is.

 

[kscharlie]

Assuming magna stocks, your gun would have shipped with serial numbered stocks. I have a 17-4 that shipped in December, 1979. It has the serial number stamped in the right side stock panel. The serial number of the gun is 75K9559. The number on the stock panel is 9559. They only stamped the numbers that followed the K.

 

[sceva]

Target grips were seldom numbered as they did not need to be fit to the frame.

Service and Magna grips were normally numbered

 

[JP@AK]

Here is a brief rundown of serializing walnut service stocks (including Magna stocks when they were introduced in the mid-1930s).

From c. 1900 to sometime in the early 1930s, the serial number was written with a pencil on the inside of the right stock panel.
From whenever that was in the 1930s until the end*, the number was stamped with a die stamp on the inside of the right panel.

* Numbering ended when S&W stopped hand fitting the Magna stocks to each individual frame. That was long after model numbers came into use (roughly 20 years).

 

[45Smashemflat]

Thanks for all the insights and details!

 

[Swissfan]

I have a 17-2 that dates to 1964 and the magna stocks are stamped.

 

[Ameshawki]

I believe 1981 was the last year, but as with all things Smith, it varies.

 

[jimgoldth]

Early grips were numbered to the guns because of the slight differences in frame sizes of the same model guns the grips were fitted to the individual guns and finished and numbered. By the late 1970's and early 1980's the manufacture methods of revolver frames were so perfect in size that the grips did not need to be custom fitted. Of course it took different time frames to get all the perfect sized frames for all new revolvers.