What kind of stocks are these?

[Patmcclat]

I have heard stock descriptions like magna, target, cokes, football, diamond, checkered, etc., but don't understand exactly what the terms mean.

Please help me determine what kind of stocks came on my used Model 19-5, blued, 4" barrel, .357 Magnum revolver, serial number AZE13xx (1988).

The S&W medallions are silver colored, not brass. The date stamped on the RH stock is June 6, 1988. A forum member told me they are probably Goncalo Alves wood.

I appreciate any terminology explanations that I can get, and appreciate help with identifying my stocks. By the way, they were too big for my hands to comfortably handle, so they are in a drawer, replaced with Hogue monogrips for range practice.

 

[arjay]

Those are targets with a speed loader cut

 

[Pizza Bob]

To take arjay's answer a little further: Checkered Goncalo Alves square-butt, Target stocks with the speed loader cut.

 

[Patmcclat]

Thank you Arjay, Thank Pizza Bob.

I now know that my grips are S&W (probably original) Checkered (not diamond), Target (not Magna), square-butt, Goncalo Alves stocks.

Pertaining to stocks, can anyone provide the meaning of:
Magna,
Coke,
Football?

I am interested in learning all that I can about S&W revolvers.

 

[k22fan]

Cokes were only made for N frames. They are a variation of Targets that have a larger checkered area. More importantly they were thinned above and below their center giving them, when viewed from the rear, the shape glass Coke bottles had in their day, mid 1950s through mid 1960s. Later Targets like yours evolved into a more, err ... 2 X 4 lumber shape. Originally Targets did not have any clearance cut for ejection. Targets that have that cut are called Foot Ball Targets. The last version like yours are said to have a speed loader cut.

Before the 1930s service stocks did not extend up to cover any of the side plate. During the 1930s the first stocks that did were made. They were named Magnas, a play on their first application on early .357s. The earlier smaller service stocks remained the standard through WW II. When production for the civilian market resumed Magnas were made the standard service stock.

 

[Patmcclat]

Thank you k22fan, for the clear terminology explanations. I do appreciate the knowledge/history of the terms.

I'll bet that others appreciate the information, too.

 

[murphydog]

The Standard Catalog of S & W 3rd edition has a small illustrated section on stocks, and there is a good post here with the same information and photos...try the Google search function with "stock types" and you should find it.