The RAREST Target Stocks

[lawandorder]

Re read this thread and it reminded me of the 3rd Model HE I have that has been modified and wears a similar grip adapter.

Modified or altered Firearms............

 

[glowe]

Not really, but I would not be surprised if it is bakelite or something very similar.

I will bet money that there was a thread in the distant past that pictured that exact style of target stocks complete with the plastic insert, but I am really bad at finding old threads on the Forum.

Bakelite was mostly out of favor by the end of WWII, replaced by thermoplastics. Thermosets were a very brittle form of plastics, which was a big complaint about Bakelite from the very start of production in 1909. By the 1930s, several companies were working with thermoplastics and Dow Chemical is credited with the first successful commercial launch of polystyrene, tradename Styron 666, marketed in 1938. Dow manufactured Polystyrene for the WWII effort and by the late 1940s, a high impact Polystyrene was developed, improving elastic properties of the product.

Many companies stopped using Bakelite in the mid-1940s as the demand for new and improved World War II related products took hold. By the end of the War, new technologies in the world of plastics had made Bakelite obsolete. My guess is that those inserts could have been made from polystyrene, partially because of what you noted, they did not break when stretched to fit the frame of your K frame.

 

[adrianolsen]

So, I have a set of these grips. But, were they for all masterpieces or just the k38 like in the post

 

[handejector]

I will bet money that there was a thread in the distant past that pictured that exact style of target stocks complete with the plastic insert, but I am really bad at finding old threads on the Forum.

Bakelite was mostly out of favor by the end of WWII, replaced by thermoplastics. Thermosets were a very brittle form of plastics, which was a big complaint about Bakelite from the very start of production in 1909. By the 1930s, several companies were working with thermoplastics and Dow Chemical is credited with the first successful commercial launch of polystyrene, tradename Styron 666, marketed in 1938. Dow manufactured Polystyrene for the WWII effort and by the late 1940s, a high impact Polystyrene was developed, improving elastic properties of the product.

Many companies stopped using Bakelite in the mid-1940s as the demand for new and improved World War II related products took hold. By the end of the War, new technologies in the world of plastics had made Bakelite obsolete. My guess is that those inserts could have been made from polystyrene, partially because of what you noted, they did not break when stretched to fit the frame of your K frame.

You better look again. Bakelite was widely used in electrical components well into the 1980s, and probably longer. I haven't worked in the trade since then.

 

[handejector]

So, I have a set of these grips. But, were they for all masterpieces or just the k38 like in the post

They will fit any K frame.

 

[Green Frog]

Since Roper, Sanderson, and others were making all-wood target grips prior to WW II, and there were apparently no patents involved, I’m having a hard time understanding why S&W in 1950, went to the additional effort of making those oversized grip panels and then adding what must have been even then a tricky plastic? Bakelite? Hard rubber? “Adaptor”.

Was Rube Goldberg in the design department back then??

 

[Bumpus13]

I got pointed in the direction of this thread a little over 3 years ago for some info about my set that I stumbled across on my K-38 (unfortunately broken, yet still quite functional) … good read, again!


Even with the plastic in 2 pieces, it feels solid and comfortable in the hand.

 

[paplinker]

I had a shot at acquiring a set of these grips a couple years ago.

They were valued at 1200.00 or more by the seller. I found them interesting but not that interesting. For a factory offering they were a bit clumsy to put on and the fit wasn't that great.

I wonder how many sets they sold.

 

[younggun22]

I had a shot at acquiring a set of these grips a couple years ago.

They were valued at 1200.00 or more by the seller. I found them interesting but not that interesting. For a factory offering they were a bit clumsy to put on and the fit wasn't that great.

I wonder how many sets they sold.

I picked up a K38 a few years ago that has the 3 piece stocks and truthfully I bought the gun for the stocks. Over the last handful of years I’ve actually seen 3 pop up for sale but was only able to get my hands on the one.

 

[kennicka]

I was lucky to find a set that lettered to a trophy gun I had stumbled upon. Below is the link to the post I submitted in 2015.

New to me - K-38 Target Masterpiece w/ 3-piece target stocks

I did get it lettered and was overjoyed by the outcome. I took them off for the picture and they went back on after that. I don't think I will take them off again for fear of breaking them!