The Many Faces of "Rosewood"

[SweetMK]

Looking at the S&W Store really complicates figuring out what wood is what.

They list these grips (they call them grips) as rosewood;

They list these as cocobolo

Ruger said these grips were cocobolo when these anniversary special guns were sold;

I kind of think the Rugers are rosewood.

This makes ordering grips kind of tricky, I would hate to select a nice "color" and end up with "muddy" looking grips.

 

[mike from st pete]

Darker rosewood has always been my favorite grip material other than very black and solid ebony(.i.e. no streaks etc) A very good post keep those nice pictures coming.Its like looking at candy in a candy store.

I fully concur especially on a Stainless Steel revolver.

 

[NFrameFred]

Ruger said these grips were cocobolo when these anniversary special guns were sold;I kind of think the Rugers are rosewood.

Cocobolo is rosewood. Not synonymous - a type of . . .

 

[mikepriwer]

Those S&W grips are laminates, probably made out of the wood as described.

Mike Priwer

 

[BearBio]

This shows the problem of using common names.

 

[glowe]

Cocobolo is rosewood. Not synonymous - a type of . . .

Without getting into the family, genus, and species discussion, below are photos (with years made when known) of stocks sold by S&W as rosewood.

That is like saying that Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa) is White Pine (Pinus Strobus) or Red Oak is White Oak. There are 2 different trees, one is Cocobola (Dalbergia retusa) and Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)

Bill - Great photos. Glad you added the statement about not getting into a species discussion.

 

[NFrameFred]

That is like saying that Red Pine (Pinus Resinosa) is White Pine (Pinus Strobus) or Red Oak is White Oak. There are 2 different trees, one is Cocobola (Dalbergia retusa) and Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)

Bill - Great photos. Glad you added the statement about not getting into a species discussion.

No, that's like saying Red pine and White pine are types of pine - I knew what I said when I wrote it - I said it was not synonymous with "rosewood", that it was a type. Bob Taylor writes extensively on all types of wood and it has been enlightening to see what has to be done to get a lot of these woods from the forest to the pistol grip or guitar back.

 

[dacoontz]

I'm not sure if these are Rosewood or not but they sure look like it....

N Frame

I don't believe these are Rosewood despite being very nice looking. I say no because the pores are too tight together. Rosewood has larger spaces between pores like some demonstrated on pics above. But of course, I am not the expert and could be wrong.

 

[mikepriwer]

Two more pairs smooth K-frame magna rosewood stocks

Here are two more pair of very nice smooth magna rosewood stocks. The dark pair has
shades of brown in it, so I think its a very dark rosewood. The lighter pair is similar to
the ones on the nickel 38, but these have more grain figuring.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[dlbx2]

Here's mine.
DLB

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

This gun shipped Dec 1956, serial number K280XXX. Its a special-order nickel
3" barrel, with polished front sights ( whatever that means ). It has smooth Goncalo
Alvez ( I assume ) rosewood stocks.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike,
That pic of the right grip shows the texture of rosewood to me, but calling the grips Goncalo Alves confuses me somewhat. I have never seen a set of grips like those before seeing your pics. Can't really make out the left panel. I sure am not one to come to regarding these things, but want to learn what I can if for nothing else but knowing. The lighter color with that texture has me confused. Can anyone further elaborate?
Mike?
Edit to note the assumption.

 

[Doc44]

Stocks are either Goncalo alves or rosewood. It is incorrect to call a wood both types. The stocks on Mike's revolver are rosewood.

Bill

 

[dewey]

My friend a woodworking/cabinet maker and friend of all things S&W gave me a lesson on wood types.

We said that the same tree grown on different sides of a mountain in South America will have different grain tightness and color do to it's location to the sun's rays. Their heights will vary do to ability to draw water thus another variation in color and/or grain tightness.

WE WENT ON & ON for about 20 minutes as he went thru exotics and what makes them different.

The wood grips here are examples of what he was talking about. dan

 

[glowe]

Back when many S&W exotic wood stocks were manufactured, exotic wood was readily available. Heartwood was preferred, since it was dense and had a natural rich color. Since the governments started to limit the purchase of these woods, more and more sapwood was being used, which is almost always lighter shade and less dramatic grain pattern.

That, coupled with Dan's comments on where the tree grows, gives the same species of wood many different grain characteristics.

 

[Rule3]

But to truly understand or be completely confused one must get down to the species of wood.

Rosewood is a broad term and the Cocobolo and other names are in the same Genus with many similar characteristics. Either/or they all are really nice!!

Yes, it's only Wikipedia but is easy to read.

Rosewood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dalbergia retusa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dalbergia nigra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I am not sure what these are on my 25-5. I do know that they were made by Altamont.

 

[Rule3]

I am not sure what these are on my 25-5. I do know that they were made by Altamont.

They be PURDY!

 

[clang444]

Back when I was too poor to be able to afford many of the S&W guns I wanted, I used to prowl the gun show tables for old S&W grips. Up until about 5-10 years ago, you could still find a nice set of grips for $20 or less. Since I couldn't afford the guns, I made a hobby of collecting the grips instead. Here is a sampling of some grips I collected that have not found a gun to call home yet:

One of the most interesting set of grips I bought was a set of N Frame Targets from the 1970's or 1980's. They were actually striped with a greenish colored when I bought them, but after I wiped them down with a light coat of Arrow Oil, they turned a brilliant Orange stripe. I wish I had before and after pictures, but I did not take pictures before and the grips went with a gun some years ago.

 

[sophie]

Great pictures of so many nice grips and good explanation of differences in woods. I know it is difficult to tell the difference in the woods used at times and confusing to say the least. So much information on this forum and guys willing to share and discuss. Great place to be and participate.

Thanks

_________
James

 

[Engine49guy]

Back when I was too poor to be able to afford many of the S&W guns I wanted, I used to prowl the gun show tables for old S&W grips. Up until about 5-10 years ago, you could still find a nice set of grips for $20 or less. Since I couldn't afford the guns, I made a hobby of collecting the grips instead. Here is a sampling of some grips I collected that have not found a gun to call home yet:

.

Holy Moley , thats a "Small sampling" !?!? .....I think I just peed a little ....
You have a small fortune in that treasure chest of grips there !
Do you realize that you can sell those grips off and buy many of the guns you wanted but couldnt afford?
I see at least 2 pairs of pre war Magnas worth a couple hundred each and the diamond targets now sell for $100 and up a pair.

Buying those stocks when they were cheap was Genius ,
I on the other hand removed them and tossed them in the trash along with the original box.

 

[410bore]

I see at least 2 pairs of pre war Magnas worth a couple hundred each and the diamond targets now sell for $100 and up

well I see non relieved diamond targets
and those funny ones with larger checkering

Yeah I see what looks like the following;

K Pre War Magnas
N Pre War Magnas
diamond magnas (several pairs)
Cokes (at least one pair)
Non Relieved Diamond Targets (several pairs)
Relieved Diamond Targets (several pairs)
N Smooth Non Relieved Targets

Boy you gotsa' ton of "green" in that tool chest

 

[clang444]

Thanks for the comments Gentlemen. For the record - the top open drawer are N Frame Grips and the bottom are K/L Frame grips.

The other drawers are for some of my Colt and J Frame grips (or Stocks if you are a Colt guy).

Here's another interesting story - the Pre-War N Frame Magnas in the picture were originally bought without the medalions in them. I paid $7 or $8 for them. Other than the medallions removed, they were in like new condition. The original owner must have bought himself a nice set of stag grips and had the medallions tranferred to them. I bartered for a set of beat up Pre-War N Frame service grips that somebody tried to fit to a K frame gun and used the medallions from them for these grips. Here is what they looked like when I bought them:

The picture also shows a Registered Magnum I bought that came with an excellent set of Cokes on them. They made great take-offs when I replaced them with a different set of Pre-War Magnas. I'm saving the pristine set of Pre-War Magnas for a Pristine Registered Magnum (which I will probably never be able to afford).



Here are some well worn Pre-War N-Frame Service grips and a S&W Grip Adapter (I used to buy these up too):

No Medallion/Brass Medallion/Silver Medallions. I like how they look, but Magnas feel so much better to me.

 

[Rule3]

I feel sick!

 

[410bore]

Thanks for the comments Gentlemen. For the record - the top open drawer are N Frame Grips and the bottom are K/L Frame grips.

The other drawers are for some of my Colt and J Frame grips (or Stocks if you are a Colt guy).

Here's another interesting story - the Pre-War N Frame Magnas in the picture were originally bought without the medalions in them. I paid $7 or $8 for them. Other than the medallions removed, they were in like new condition. The original owner must have bought himself a nice set of stag grips and had the medallions tranferred to them. I bartered for a set of beat up Pre-War N Frame service grips that somebody tried to fit to a K frame gun and used the medallions from them for these grips. Here is what they looked like when I bought them:

The picture also shows a Registered Magnum I bought that came with an excellent set of Cokes on them. They made great take-offs when I replaced them with a different set of Pre-War Magnas. I'm saving the pristine set of Pre-War Magnas for a Pristine Registered Magnum (which I will probably never be able to afford).

You have done well.....a pile of desirable/rare stocks and an RM

 

[clang444]

Thanks! Pre-War and 5 Screw N Frames are my favorites. Here is my 34/44 Outdoorsman with original grips:

Those Pre-War Magnas get me every time.

 

[DHENRY]

Wrong gun for the grips, but I put them on one day for a trip to the range.
Don

 

[mike from st pete]

Where are all the S&Ws that now wander the Earth naked?

 

[clang444]

Where are all the S&Ws that now wander the Earth naked?

Plenty of good guns wearing rubber grips our there, there are also many good aftermarket alternatives. Here is a set of genuine Ivory K frame grips I picked up that I am still looking for the right gun to mount on:

These are crying to be put on a shiny engraved gun, just haven't found the right one yet...

 

[glowe]

But to truly understand or be completely confused one must get down to the species of wood.

Rosewood is a broad term and the Cocobolo and other names are in the same Genus with many similar characteristics. Either/or they all are really nice!!

Yes, it's only Wikipedia but is easy to read.

Rosewood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dalbergia retusa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dalbergia nigra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wieipedia!! As I understand, S&W mostly used Brazilian Rosewood for their stocks. While the genus is the same, the woods are different and should not be lumped together. The Genus Pinus (Pine) has many species (White, Red, Jack, Scotch, Loblolly, etc.) , which are all different and distinct in nature. The walnut stocks used by S&W was mostly Juglans Nigra (Black Walnut), but other genus species are Butternut, California Walnut, English Walnut, etc. These species all differ in appearance and silvics characteristics.

OK I will take off my Dendrology hat now.

 

[mikepriwer]

Non-factory smooth combat Cocobolo grips

I bought this pair in the late 1970's, from the San Francisco Gun Exchange. The grip
maker was a good friend of the Posner family that owned the store, but I don't
remember who it was. I bought several pairs at the time, but subsequently sold all but
this pair.

These next two pictures have a glare problem, but they do show the nice color.

Mike Priwer