Smith & Wesson Perfected with Ivory Updated

[merl67]

No numbers on the grip frame the roll marks are more worn as you get to the front sight crisper towards the cylinder. the Grips are ever so slightly smaller than the frame but it is uniform all the way around the grip. I know that ivory shrinks over time but how much I am sure it varies from grip to grip. Would you letter this one?

 

[Masterpiece]

Would you letter this one?

merl67,

The choice is up to you in regards to whether or not you should get a Factory Letter, but only that I seriously doubt it will "Letter" with the Ivory Grips as they have the $10.75 Pricing on them!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "Not" to letter it if you want to find where it's Shipping Destination was anyway, or even that the Grips are positively not original to it, but only that it's highly unlikely the Letter will show it shipped with those Grips given the pricing!! Like I said, the choice is up to you as the only way to know for sure is a Letter as Glowe stated!!

 

[H Richard]

Weren't guns shipped with a flyer in the box about available accessories back in about that time frame? Good chance the original buyer received it and decided to order the Ivories shortly after he got the gun?? No way to ever know.

 

[Masterpiece]

Weren't guns shipped with a flyer in the box about available accessories back in about that time frame?

H Richard,

Yes, generally most Boxes in that time period did have a Label pasted inside them or Flyer included!! Even so, the $10.75 Price was much higher than they would have cost at that time as I've seen Factory Pricing for Pearl Stocks well into the 30's only selling for an add'l $4.95!! I don't have a Price Sheet from the period of the Perfected, but I believe in the Early 1900's the Pearls were more expensive than the Ivory Stocks for one reason or another!! Maybe someone here has some insight into the Early Prices to see what Ivories were selling for at that time!!

 

[merl67]

I figured the $10.75 price would be to high to be contemporary with the gun. Perhaps when it was refinished they were bought. I would have to say whomever bought them made the right choice they really set it off at least to me it was a huge factor in my decision to buy it. Now to find some ammo as I have to shoot it at least once.

 

[jojodogfaceboy]

I said $275.00 out the door he said sold

Thank you all for the comments and education this is the first top break for my small Smith & Wesson collection. Took the grips off today to do some clean up they have a price of $10.75 on each grip written in ink no serial number on them so does that mean they were purchased later? Also the side plate and hinge screws are blued or casehardened here are a few new pictures

WOW. great price on an amazing pistol.

any more photos? the grips are beautiful.

 

[merl67]

Did you find any numbers stamped on the frame below the left stock? S&W stamped their returned guns with a number month and year.

Glowe I took the grips off to soak them in oil after reading that will keep them in good shape. While I had the grips off there was some corrosion on the grip frame that needed to be dealt with so after some cleaning 1. 51 appeared from under the rust. question if I letter this gun do they also show the rework information and could the Ivories been put on then seems kind of late for that style of grip but I am certainly no expert.

 

[glowe]

I would still think the stocks did not belong to your Perfected when manufactured or on its return to the factory in 1951. More likely retuened for a renickel job, which is in almost perfect condition today. Ivory does shrink with age, but the fit I see is not something that the factory would have done. All stocks were hand fitted to perfection for each gun. Also, each gun will have a slightly different shape butt frame, again due to hand finishing of the metal. If you notice the rounded top fits tight against the frame, but there are large gaps on the flats at the bottom of the round tops, so shrinkage would not account for that area. I am curious if there was matching corrosion on the inside of the ivory? It might give you an idea of how long the ivories have been on the gun.

The factory letter will tell you what the original stocks and finish was when the Perfected left the factory. There are records for most factory returns through the S&W Historical Foundation. They are back to the 1930s now, so check out the website.

Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation - Home Page - Insuring that the rich history of Smith & Wesson will continue for generations to come

 

[merl67]

The ivory does have matching rust stains on back of grips no telling how long the grips have been on the gun.