Smith & Wesson pre war N frame stocks critique

[mrcvs]

Does anyone care to critique these? The good and the bad, if either even apply?

I will then chime in again.

 

[murphydog]

The 1910 decade factory N frame service stocks I have seen have a grooved border around the checkering and the medallions are more recessed into the top of the panels, so my vote on these would be a nicely made pair of reproductions. Except for the medallions having rotated out of place.

 

[Capt. F.]

Does anyone care to critique these? The good and the bad, if either even apply?

I will then chime in again.

Maybe they aren't the best for heavy recoilers but they just scream S&W, when they were at their peak.
Stunning!

 

[Mbrgr1]

I have a pair that are waiting for a gun, numbered in the 35000 range.


They do have a border around the checkering. Are yours numbered?

 

[handejector]

They are not Circassian.
The screw and escutcheons are not Factory hardware.
As others stated, the checkering is not proper.
One medallion appears to have a thicker lip, so I wonder if it or both are repops.
The finish appears to be a clear coating like varnish, not the original oil/wax the Factory used.
In short, nothing about them looks right.

 

[mrcvs]

The 1910 decade factory N frame service stocks I have seen have a grooved border around the checkering and the medallions are more recessed into the top of the panels, so my vote on these would be a nicely made pair of reproductions. Except for the medallions having rotated out of place.

Right, for the most part. I have these same stocks, or at least one of them, photographed with proper stocks that are likely factory original. Yes, the medallions themselves are surrounded with a circular concavity, and the groove surrounding the checkering is different as well. I think the medallions were improperly fitted to begin with, as the other stocks demonstrate that the medallions should be aligned with the axis of the stock.

Also, the lack of concavity or other dissimilar workmanship gives the appearance of two parallel receding "spines" beginning with the medallion area and radiating distally. The photograph that best demonstrates this is repeated in this post.

Any idea who would have manufactured these and when? The biggest question of all is where would the medallions have been obtained from, other than an existing pair of stocks, which means that it was less effort to create a set of stocks than to deal with or refurbish a set of existing stocks. Unless were these medallions available at one time for sale not installed in a stock???

 

[mrcvs]

They are not Circassian.
The screw and escutcheons are not Factory hardware.
As others stated, the checkering is not proper.
One medallion appears to have a thicker lip, so I wonder if it or both are repops.
The finish appears to be a clear coating like varnish, not the original oil/wax the Factory used.
In short, nothing about them looks right.

Yes, all quite valid. In addition to improper hardware, the diamond within the checkering differs in proportion from the original.

 

[mrcvs]

Maybe they aren't the best for heavy recoilers but they just scream S&W, when they were at their peak.
Stunning!

Well, other than the deviations from factory originals or factory specifications, they are indeed stunning! Someone was a skilled craftsman who manufactured these and to the untrained eye they do look fabulous indeed.

 

[murphydog]

I have a pair that are waiting for a gun, numbered in the 35000 range.


They do have a border around the checkering. Are yours numbered?

The number and medallions date this set to the early 1930s. But they are original.

 

[Donald Paul]

... my originals from a 1934 38-44

Roy's letter says they are correct 1934, 38-44 N frame.
-Donald

 

[Toyman]

I am surprised if the grip are from the 1910 era they would be that clean on the back side, no oil stains.