yet another grip question

[kimporter]

were all grips numbered to the weapon they were put on? the reason i ask is because i was out "shopping" this past weekend and had 2 dealers tell me that they didnt always do it, i looked at 3 victorys (all overpriced at 500. and up) and not one had numbered grips,i thought all smiths had numbered grips,

 

[glowe]

There are many grip experts on the forum that can add more detailed information than I can, but I have lots of Smith's onwhich to make observations. All my antiques all have serial numbers on the right grip. Starting in the early 1900's, many of my top breaks and HE's do not have any marks on the grips. I have purchased several S&W wood and rubber grips of that period and find none to date have serial numbers.

So I would state that many S&W's in the 20th century did not have serial numbers on their grips. Now all you need is one of our many Victory experts to comment on that model, since I don't own anything that recent.

 

[H Richard]

Many S&W's, even pre war, had the S/N written on the right hand grip in pencil. Over 50-60 years it has faded to be nearly invisible. When you don't see any number on one you feel is an original, use a bright light from an angle and see of you can see remnants of a pencil number. On most all of my break tops, the early ones had the numbers stamped, and the later ones were scratched inside the right grip panel.

 

[mikepriwer]

Generally, pre-WW2, grips were fit to a frame early in the
manufacturing process. An unfinished pair was mounted on a frame,
and belt-sand to an exact fit. This also removed a bit of metal from
the grip straps. The grips were then numbered to the frame, and
sent to another department for completion. This is why all grips were
numbered to a frame.

That procedure was suppossed to have been followed during WW2,
as well. The grips were simpler, lacking checkering and medallions,
but still had to be fit to a frame, so they should be serial-numbered.

This was the manufacturing process.

Mike Priwer

 

[Retired W4]

I am not a grip expert, but all the Victory models I have owned or own currently have had numbered grips. Not all of them matched the gun. The Austrailian FTR's in particular rarely have matching grips. All the metal parts I have seen match but not the grips. It seems they payed little attention to that part of reassembly. The one martially marked .38 special Victory I own does have matching grips. My sample is really too small to make a solid determination.