The original .44 Magnum and "cokes"

[Gun Relics]

I have read where the original .44 Magnum (pre-29) did not come with "cokes.

Here's an ad from it's introduction in April of 1956 from my website. It sure looks like cokes to me and read the description of the stocks.

Does anybody know for sure?

 

[DARE]

The original 44 Magnum came with Cokes. S&W called the grips Oversize Target Stocks made of Goncalo Alves.
Here is my 1st year gun with Cokes.

 

[Kinman]

Cokes came out in the mid 50's which goes well with your advertisement.

 

[Retired W4]

Cokes my man, cokes.

 

[moosedog]

Where was your source on the "not coming with cokes'? Someone should correct them.

 

[Gun Relics]

Where was your source on the "not coming with cokes'? Someone should correct them.

Good info, will correct them.

 

[Doc44]

The 44 Magnum was supplied with special oversize stocks made of Goncalo alves from the beginning. These stocks are known to collectors as coke bottle stocks. These "special stocks" had a larger area of checkering, a noticeable (although slight) palm swell and were somewhat thinner than diamond target stocks of the period.

Bill

 

[SuperMan]

Since Cokes were only offered on the .44 and .41 Magnums, does anyone know why these very special grips were not numbered to the guns...

Was in a large shop a couple of weeks ago in the middle of nowhere where there was a very blue worn 1953 5" pre-27. Lots of bluing loss, hardly a turn line and very little signs of being shot. Had a Service Trigger but a Target Hammer...very smooth action. What didn't match all the blue loss were were the grips...a set of Cokes in 98% condition...

Because of the bluing wear, the negotiated cash price was only $100 more than the last nice set of Cokes I saw sell for on eBay.... Found a very clean set of 1955 Magna stocks for $95 delivered so now the gun is back to "original".

Bob

 

[Doc44]

Target stocks, including coke bottle stocks, were not numbered to the gun because they were not fitted to the grip frame like Magna stocks. Very early in the life of the .357 Combat Magnum and 1955 45 Target revolver, some stocks were numbered, but the practice was soon discontinued, and often numbered stocks were used on guns with a different serial number.

Bill

 

[Gun Relics]

Were the cokes the first target stocks to feature the football cutout?

 

[DARE]

A good resource for N Frame grips.

Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide

 

[Gun Relics]

A good resource for N Frame grips.

Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide

Perfect, very helpful

 

[22hipower]

Since Cokes were only offered on the .44 and .41 Magnums, does anyone know why these very special grips were not numbered to the guns...

As Doc44 noted above, some early ones were numbered, this set is the only one I have that is. They probably left S&W on a Model 25 or pre-25, but no idea what they were on for the decades before they came to me. They now reside on a Model 25 no dash but not THE 25 no dash on which they likely left the factory.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nc48so https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2nccaZp https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Retired W4]

To add to the topic of numbered non-relieved targets, here my one and only set. No idea what the come on originally.

 

[Doc44]

Coke bottle stocks were the first to feature the relieved area on the left stock panel for N-frame stocks and stocks for the .357 Combat Magnum probably the first for K-frame stocks.

Bill

 

[Shark Bait]

Did the earlier non relieved K frame targets have a larger checkered area than later ones? The one set I have are almost coke like.

 

[Vettepartz]

Retired W4, For what it's worth, I have a pre-25 that is only 6 digits less than the number on your stocks.

 

[22hipower]

Did the earlier non relieved K frame targets have a larger checkered area than later ones? The one set I have are almost coke like.

There were at least three quite different checkering patterns on non-relieved K frame diamond target stocks. One of those patterns looks very much like that found on N frame "cokes."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nEY3Ze

 

[Doc44]

The pattern of checkering was somewhat dependent on who was running the stocking machine. Larger checkering patterns on K-frame stocks were a result of manufacturing variation and not because of a change in specification.

Bill

 

[Retired W4]

Retired W4, For what it's worth, I have a pre-25 that is only 6 digits less than the number on your stocks.

Yep. I think it's a pretty safe bet that these came on a pre-25. Wish I had that numbered gun. Or finding the owner of S130986 would be good. Either way they need to be reunited.