What's the story on these grips?

[scott1970]

I stopped into a garage today and was speaking with the owner when he showed me three old, top break revolvers.

Admittedly, I know next to nothing about these older revolvers. This old Smith has grips I've never seen before, but they do have the S&W emblem on them.

 

[BC38]

Those *look* like red mottled gutta purcha if they are originals. Pretty rare.
On the other hand, if they are reproductions made with resin, not so much.

 

[scott1970]

They do have wear on them, and the brass around the screw has corrosion, so I was inclined to think they had some age on them. But that's just a guess.

 

[mmaher94087]

Carefully remove the grips and see if the grip(s) are numbered to the gun. The grips are fragile so please use a great deal of caution. The grip panel will crack at the center of the butt because there is a blind locating pin if they are not removed correctly.

 

[BC38]

To remove them loosen the screw completely then tap the protruding head of the screw very gently with the butt of your screwdriver to push the grip panel off the other side. Once you have the threaded side pushed off the frame you can remove the screw then push the other side off by putting your finger through the grip frame and pushing on the inside of the grip panel.

 

[scott1970]

It's not my gun, so I won't be risking breaking his grips. I'll see what he thinks about taking them off, though.

 

[rct269]

My two cents worth: The grips are legitimate S&W products. Whether or not they are original to that gun is another matter altogether. They hail from the late 1870's to the early 1880's.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Boulder350]

Beautiful mottled grips on a single action 38!

I collect these blued guns with the mottled grips as you can tell from my avatar. There were just over 108,000 made single action model type. I have 191 serial numbers in a spread sheet to track different barrel lengths, finish, and style of grips. They were common on the blued guns. The logo on your grips was the fancy version instead of the earlier block style logo. If I remember correctly the fancy logo w designed by Gustave Young. The first serial number I have recorded is serial 59532 with the fancy logo.

I believe the factory installed the mottled grips on nickel guns too. I have recorded 23 with the red mottled grips. Eleven were blued and 12 were nickel.

They always warn of reproduction red mottled grips. I have a pair of target grips that are reproductions of the red mottled and they are way different than the original ones.

Most Single actions I have seen with the mottled grips have the straight pattern. Most of the double actions I have seen with mottled grips have the swirled pattern. Please see PM for a request of your barrel length and serial number.

 

[iby]

Boulder 350 is the resident
authority on this model
For what it's worth, I agree that the grips are authentic

 

[scott1970]

Thank you all for the information. When he pulled that old gun out of that worn holster, I was fascinated by those grips.

Is this a situation where the grips are worth more than the gun?

 

[glowe]

Those stocks are not rare or scarce, maybe uncommon, but they are found on quite a few 1880s models. Mottled stocks were used exclusively on the near 1000 S&W Revolving rifles made, plus 38 SAs, 38 DAs, New Model 3s and 44 DAs. I think I recall seeing them on 32 SAs as well. The S&W logo was designed by Gustave Young in 1879.

Tell your friend that there are not many 38 SAs in as nice a condition as that one out there today. Many are heavily worn, with no finish left and worn or damaged metal. I bet the bore is nice as well. I would venture that revolver would sell for $800 to $1000 in the right auction setting.

 

[Boulder350]

Tell your friend that there are not many 38 SAs in as nice a condition as that one out there today. Many are heavily worn, with no finish left and worn or damaged metal. I bet the bore is nice as well. I would venture that revolver would sell for $800 to $1000 in the right auction setting.

I agree with Gary's comments, well said.

 

[merl67]

That is one nice S&W topbreak! Who else is curious about the other two topbreak revolvers not shown ?

 

[mmaher94087]

Boulder350, I choked on my coffee when I saw the serial number (59532) and had to check my .38 SA. My revolver was 59523. It also was blue, mottled grips and a lanyard ring with the SN stamped across the butt. Grip logo was the fancy style.

 

[Schof45]

scott1970, you should let your friend know that keeping that cool old gun in a holster could damage the finish.

 

[scott1970]

scott1970, you should let your friend know that keeping that cool old gun in a holster could damage the finish.

I mentioned that to him yesterday.

 

[ammodave]

Is there still a source for reproduction mottled grips? I'd like to put a pair on my blue single action .38.

 

[gmborkovic]

Are these the grips that had some kind of bird intertwined in the design.
Like a stork or a turkey? Or have I lost my mind? Mike

 

[Thuer]

This is why i am happy to be a member of this forum. Just learned something good. Thanks.

 

[glowe]

Are these the grips that had some kind of bird intertwined in the design.
Like a stork or a turkey? Or have I lost my mind? Mike

No, turkey grips have a floral design with images of the bird instead of checkering. The picture below is from an early 32 DA revolver. The second image shows the pre-1880 stocks found on the 38 Baby Russian and early 2nd Model 38 SAs.