Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L

Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Zoot Shooters => Topic started by: Niederlander on September 26, 2012, 09:10:26 PM

Title: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Niederlander on September 26, 2012, 09:10:26 PM
Gentlemen,
       Does anyone here know when Smith & Wesson began using the Magna grip?  Thanks!
Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Peachey Carnehan on September 26, 2012, 09:29:35 PM
From what I've seen, they were introduced in 1935.
Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Niederlander on September 27, 2012, 04:56:38 AM
Thank you!
Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Bat 2919 on October 12, 2012, 01:01:14 PM
Not that I don't believe you but could you provide some supporting information for the 1935 date please?

Thanks
G Man
Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Peachey Carnehan on October 12, 2012, 01:23:09 PM
No problem, here's some of what I found.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/184581-why-did-s-w-even-bother-magna-grips-n-frames.html (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/184581-why-did-s-w-even-bother-magna-grips-n-frames.html)

http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/s-w-revolvers-1945-present/10332-look-what-followed-me-home-3.html (http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/s-w-revolvers-1945-present/10332-look-what-followed-me-home-3.html)

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Grip+adapters%3A+a+less-expensive+alternative+to+custom+revolver+stocks.-a0200505182 (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Grip+adapters%3A+a+less-expensive+alternative+to+custom+revolver+stocks.-a0200505182)

http://books.google.com/books?id=MWFXRDeFrpsC&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=S%26W+magna+grip+introduced+in+1935&source=bl&ots=wxaVBzZ5T3&sig=XGFaGMtWtha5_zjJzWpT2v2P3OM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JF94UP3mNYjhiwLmjIHYCA&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=S%26W%20magna%20grip%20introduced%20in%201935&f=false (http://books.google.com/books?id=MWFXRDeFrpsC&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=S%26W+magna+grip+introduced+in+1935&source=bl&ots=wxaVBzZ5T3&sig=XGFaGMtWtha5_zjJzWpT2v2P3OM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JF94UP3mNYjhiwLmjIHYCA&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=S%26W%20magna%20grip%20introduced%20in%201935&f=false)

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/257236-picture-grips-1935-reg-magnum.html (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/257236-picture-grips-1935-reg-magnum.html)

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2011/01/03/handgun_reviews_smith_12_0507/ (http://www.shootingtimes.com/2011/01/03/handgun_reviews_smith_12_0507/)

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c08.htm (http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c08.htm)

Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Bat 2919 on October 16, 2012, 10:08:30 AM
My mistake, the term Magna brought the oversize wood grips of the 1970's to my mind.  It appears those were actually called "Target" grips.  Any idea when the target grips we introduced?

Thanks
Title: Re: Smith & Wesson Magna Grips
Post by: Peachey Carnehan on October 16, 2012, 12:05:49 PM
Most of the target grips that I've found appear to be marketed from the early 1960s onward for the K and L frame square butt revolvers, and depending on the model and type, it looks like from the early 60s and prominently into the late 1970s. They were offered from S&W and Sile and others. I will say that I did find this:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/printthread/Board/26/main/261587/type/thread (http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/printthread/Board/26/main/261587/type/thread)

About a quarter way down the page illustrates some early target grips, apparently borne from people being unsatisfied with the magna/factory offering and a T grip.

I also found this:

http://www.snipercentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33577 (http://www.snipercentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33577)

So we've got provenance for 'pre-1959' at least. I have found a couple of references going back to various target grips to 1952. The earliest though aside from the 60s/70s that I found was in the link above. Hope that helps!