Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide
- Thread starter Hoosier45
- Start date
Best is to look at the size of the "ledge" at the top of the stocks in front and back of the top round. K frame stocks have a small ledge, while N frame stocks are over twice as large. Best I can measure is that the N frame ledge is .16", while the K frame ledge is .06".
I found a picture I had taken of both K and N walnut service stocks for comparison below.
I found a picture I had taken of both K and N walnut service stocks for comparison below.
Attachments
Last edited:
An easy reference for me is that if both "ledges" look to be the same length, it's a "K" frame...If one is noticeably larger, it's an "N" frame...
...Ben
S.B.
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,617
- Reaction score
- 725
My ignorance doesn't allow me to understand your description, please illustrate? I usually just try on different frames.An easy reference for me is that if both "ledges" look to be the same length, it's a "K" frame...If one is noticeably larger, it's an "N" frame...
Steve
Last edited:
fleabus101
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Try this....Look on the backsides of the grips at the metal round plates. K frames have about a 1/8 inch wood shoulder on ea side of the rear medallion... The N frame grips have about a 1/4 inch of wood on ea side or the rear metal
plate/medallion reinforcement plate..
Applies to Magnas and Target type.
Randy..
plate/medallion reinforcement plate..
Applies to Magnas and Target type.
Randy..
Sharp shoulder magnas stopped showing up on new guns shipped in the very early 1950s; depending how long the guns sat in the vault before selling. I don’t know if the change order date is known, but it would be awhile after that until inventory was exhausted.
margethatcher
Member
Everything you wanted to know about *grips, but were afraid to ask.
Pre-War N frame magna grips info help
I am seeking information about these grips. I understand that the turned metal washers were used from ~1935-1946. I was wondering if the age of these could be narrowed down to a particular year based upon the markings shown on the washers. (U. S. Patent number and Smith & Wesson.) any input appreciated.
I am seeking information about these grips. I understand that the turned metal washers were used from ~1935-1946. I was wondering if the age of these could be narrowed down to a particular year based upon the markings shown on the washers. (U. S. Patent number and Smith & Wesson.) any input appreciated.
Attachments
The short answer to your question is “no”. The Pre-War Magna grips first appeared on Registered Magnums in August 1935. The washers on the early Magna grips were unmarked. Although there are a few outliers, the use of Magna grips such as pictured in your post essentially came to an end on the Pre-War .357 Magnums in December 1940. I do not know exactly when the washers on the Pre-War Magna grips transitioned from unmarked to marked with the patent number etc., but my guess is sometime during the 1936/1937 timeframe. Perhaps someone else can give you a better idea of when that transition occurred.
You can, however, date your grips from the serial number on the right side grip; it looks like 61545 to me - that would probably be about May/June 1940.
Last edited:
Good information
Thanks very much for the information.
Thanks very much for the information.
YeshuaIsa53
Member
Good food.
OutAtTheEdge
Member
Any Info On These?
Among my collection of S&W artifacts, is this nice set of gray laminate N-frame SB combat stocks. I picked these up when the store I worked at for 16 years folded their tents, and we cleared out all the accumulated odds 'n ends in the drawers and closets and cabinets of the gunsmith shop. I'm thinking they may be aftermarket from Altamont, but I really don't know for sure. If anyone has any insights about origin, year of manufacture, and approximate value, I'd sure appreciate it.
Among my collection of S&W artifacts, is this nice set of gray laminate N-frame SB combat stocks. I picked these up when the store I worked at for 16 years folded their tents, and we cleared out all the accumulated odds 'n ends in the drawers and closets and cabinets of the gunsmith shop. I'm thinking they may be aftermarket from Altamont, but I really don't know for sure. If anyone has any insights about origin, year of manufacture, and approximate value, I'd sure appreciate it.
Thank You for your contribution to the forum. This research took a considerable amount of time & effort to sort things out & to post the proper pictures of each generation & variant of grips. This is a tremendous aid to members attempting to identify and make "correct" the grips that their respective guns came with.
I would like to suggest perhaps making this an independent sticky of it's own so it is easier to find in the future and tweaked or added to as necessary. It would make future research a lot easier for the membership.
I would like to suggest perhaps making this an independent sticky of it's own so it is easier to find in the future and tweaked or added to as necessary. It would make future research a lot easier for the membership.
Engine49guy
Member
Great informative thread,
Don't know how I missed it until today!
Not sure if it's considered "Minutia" but during the Korean war shortages of brass apparently motivated S&W to change the stock medallions from nickel coated brass to plastic then Stainless steel just prior to the end if that conflict, I feel it's interesting as these were only used for a short time but important to observe if a collector wants to find a period correct set of stocks for S&W firearms made in the 51-53 time frame.
Another bit of minutia is the checkering pattern used on target stocks made from 1950 to around 1962-63 ish which have a sharp turn at the heel backstrap turn where diamond target stocks used from around 63-67 have a pronounced rounded turn there.
Important to know when fitting era correct target stocks,
One last piece of minutia is that it appears that shorter SS escutcheon continued on non diamond stocks until perhaps around 1970ish when they changed to shallow brass escutcheon.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to produce such a great and informative thread!
Don't know how I missed it until today!
Not sure if it's considered "Minutia" but during the Korean war shortages of brass apparently motivated S&W to change the stock medallions from nickel coated brass to plastic then Stainless steel just prior to the end if that conflict, I feel it's interesting as these were only used for a short time but important to observe if a collector wants to find a period correct set of stocks for S&W firearms made in the 51-53 time frame.
Another bit of minutia is the checkering pattern used on target stocks made from 1950 to around 1962-63 ish which have a sharp turn at the heel backstrap turn where diamond target stocks used from around 63-67 have a pronounced rounded turn there.
Important to know when fitting era correct target stocks,
One last piece of minutia is that it appears that shorter SS escutcheon continued on non diamond stocks until perhaps around 1970ish when they changed to shallow brass escutcheon.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to produce such a great and informative thread!
Jcon72
Member
I don't think those are Altamonts (although they look VERY similar), but rather OEM S&W that were produced for a short time.
Oldengineer
Member
Just simply outstanding. A treasure for us enthusiasts.
Tom H.
Tom H.
This body of work is definitely a great addition to the S&W knowledge base. I hope that Supica/Nahas can add any updates to the "SCSW 5th Ed." In the meantime, as others have suggested, is there a way to archive this post somewhere within the Forum which allows quick access to members for reference? I will attempt to save it to my Desktop because it truly provides a wealth of information. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
It’s already in the Grips section of the Notable Thread Index, this being a Sticky.
