S&W Grips: Does one size fit all?

F

FLChinook

New member
Sorry; this is the dopiest of questions. I already "know" the answer must be a big, fat NO!!

I'm looking to replace the after-market grips on my S&W Pre-27 with original grips. Do I have to look for pre-27 grips only? Will 27/28 grips also fit?

Any others? If so, can we expand the options to pre-10s or 10s?

Thanks
 
As to fitting, all N-Frame grips will fit like style N-Frame guns, that is, round butt or square butt. But Model 27, 28, 29, etc. will fit interchangeably.

The same is true for K-Framed guns, and K-Frame grips will fit L-Framed guns as well.

And J-Framed guns will take J-Frame grips.

Folks with older guns will look for older grips, i.e., the diamond pattern around the grip screw.

Over the years S&W has made several styles of grips. The original were the small round top grips, then came the Magna style, and Target grips. Target grips were made both smooth and checkered. And finger groove combat grips were offered also. Early grips were walnut, some rosewood grips were offered on select models, and the last were goncala alves. These all wood, rubber has been offered too.

That should answer your question.

Bob Wright
 
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the model number does not have to match, but the frame size does (except K and L frames will interchange grips)

J frame (small)
K frame (medium)
L frame (medium)
N frame (large)

bob has got it..
 
You may. The Model 10 (Military And Police Model) is K-framed. Typically, the Model 10 came with Magna grips.

Bob Wright
 
The model 10 is a K frame. 10 thru 19 is K frame, 20 thru 29 is N frame, and then from 30 to 38 and 40 are all J frame. The model 39 is a single stick 9mm DA semi.

60, then 63 to 68 are SS.

Where is the pic of your pre model 27?
 
I get my pre-27 on Saturday (or Monday if my wife's shooting class lasts too long). I'll post a picture as soon as I have the beauty in my hands :)

What's a good price to pay for a set of old diamond grips? I may want to get these K-sized ones even though I don't yet have a K (because I surely will soon :o)
 
Here is an example of the Magna stocks, round butt, on a K-Framed Model 19:
000_47001.jpg


These are checkered target stocks on an N-Framed gun, a Model 29:

101_0019.jpg


Smooth target stocks, K-Framed stocks on an L-Framed gun:

101_0014.jpg


And, smooth finger groove combat stocks on an L-Framed gun:

100_9991.jpg



All of these grips were available from S&W at one time on Special order.

Bob Wright
 
Grip fitting

To a point the information from Mr. Wright is spot on. The only thing I believe he missed is the fact that the O/P's revolver is a PRE M-27, and most of the earlier Smith and Wesson products had the grips fitted to a specific revolver

After final fitting the grips were removed so the revolver could be blued. the grips were then marked with the revolver's serial number so they could be reattached during final assembly.

To the O/P as Original stocks, diamond magnas, to fit your PREM-27 can be expensive if possible try fitting the stocks before you pay for them, or consider a pair of quality after market stocks. If you would like a referral drop me a P/M.
 
To a point the information from Mr. Wright is spot on. The only thing I believe he missed is the fact that the O/P's revolver is a PRE M-27, and most of the earlier Smith and Wesson products had the grips fitted to a specific revolver

After final fitting the grips were removed so the revolver could be blued. the grips were then marked with the revolver's serial number so they could be reattached during final assembly.
Click to expand...

That is only true for magna or service grips which reveal the frame. The wrap around target grips were not fitted to the frame because the fit did not require the same precision.

It will take a set of diamond magnas like these:
Click to expand...

You probably know, but 44 mags and early 29s had "coke bottle" grips, not N frame magnas.

A pre 27 could have been ordered with wrap around target grips. They would look like the grips on Bob's 29, except with a diamond around the screw escutcheon. They would not be numbered. The only way to know for sure is to see what type of stocks are listed in a factory letter. Not every letter has the grip type however.

Here is my pre 29 complete with the coke bottle grips, They run $300 to $500 a pair today.

GEDC0587.jpg
 
Remember the poster who complained recently about having to replace his keyboard because of his uncontrolled salivating at the gorgeous pictures... Will you never learn.. :)
 
Yeah, I know. I just put those old magna's on it for illustration purposes. The cokes are back on it now.
Click to expand...

Everyone's a funny guy :p It didn't bother me the grip type, but I couldn't tell based on your first post whether you knew or not. Thats a nice gun, I assume its a 29 no dash, maybe around S185XXX or S190XXX ?

Remember the poster who complained recently about having to replace his keyboard because of his uncontrolled salivating at the gorgeous pictures... Will you never learn.
Click to expand...

Despite the uncontrollable salivation problem, at least you have good taste in revolvers ;)

I got pretty lucky all around with that 44 magnum aka pre 29. I traded 3 undesireable guns for that and a nice Remington 722. The gun is 1958 production, 4 screw, S173XXX IIRC. Before I got it, I got an old manual for a 29 / model 44 magnum. Then this year, I went to a gun shop that has a lot of little stuff laying around and I managed to find an aluminum handle knurled screwdriver and a black presentation case (found on early 44 mags to early 29s) at the same shop. I got both reasonable, but the screwdriver was modified a little and the case is not mint but still, pretty neat for it all to come together like that.
 
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A few other facts about Target stocks...

...just cause I have a good memory for this stuff. :D

The original design had LH and RH panels that were nearly identical. However, in the mid-50s, S&W had been getting complaints about the top of the LH panel taking a beating from ejected cases, so they added a relief cutout. It's shaped like a concave football- the American kind ;)- so collectors often refer to these stocks as "footballs". The earlier ones are referred to as "non-relieved" Target stocks and are the most rare and sought-after type of Target stocks.

In the early 1970s, S&W redesigned the Target stocks again, adding an even larger C-shaped LH-side cutout for speedloader clearance.

In summary, there are 5 basic types of N frame Target stocks, roughly in order of increasing supply and decreasing value:
  1. Non-relieved "Coke bottle" (early to mid 50s)
  2. Relieved or "football" Cokes (mid 50s to early 60s)
  3. Relieved, non-Coke, diamond escutcheon (early 60s to 1968)
  4. Relieved, no-diamond and non-Coke (1968 to mid 70s)
  5. Speedloader relief cut, no-diamond and non-Coke (mid 70s to 1999)
 
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