S&W collector question

Johnn Peterson

Johnn Peterson

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Chemainus B.C.
Any Smith & Wesson collectors out there? If so, I have a question. I have a set of Smith & Wesson factory ivory magna grips for their N-frame revolvers :d . I've been told they are extremely rare. This set originally came on a 5" nickel plated model 27 but I now have them on my 4" 29. They're checkered, have the S&W medallion, just like the wood magna grips, but these are ivory. Any idea as to how rare and approximate value???
 
josquin said:
Preferably with pics. I suspect there will be a fair bit of drooling from south of 49. (To be fair, the drool runs both ways, once you start investigating some of the threads there...). For instance, there's a series of threads on GRIPS here.
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I've had a 'few' offers, a couple very serious but I'm not really interested in parting with them. One such offer was made when the individual confirmed they were actually real ivory and not what he classified as 'faux ivory' after he looked at a couple of photos. The offer he made was he stated "you know what your particular 29 is worth, with those grips, my offer is double that". He confirmed a very limited number of sets had been made and the two sets he'd seen had been on early production model 27's.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I've had a 'few' offers, a couple very serious but I'm not really interested in parting with them. One such offer was made when the individual confirmed they were actually real ivory and not what he classified as 'faux ivory' after he looked at a couple of photos. The offer he made was he stated "you know what your particular 29 is worth, with those grips, my offer is double that". He confirmed a very limited number of sets had been made and the two sets he'd seen had been on early production model 27's.
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I'm not surprised. I recall a thread on the S&W Forum where someone wanted ivory grips made but since it's no longer available, he got a stunning set made from a Dall (?) sheep horn. Still worth posting a query on the S&W Forum just to get people excited :)

Here are some hits from a search on the S&W Forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/527863-n-frame-ivory-grips.html?527863=#post139668074
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/518115-value-n-frame-ivory-grips.html?518115=#post139558352
http://smith-wessonforum.com/accessories-misc-sale-trade/335905-wts-n-frame-ivory-magnas.html?335905=#post137440513
http://smith-wessonforum.com/wanted-buy/345387-wtb-n-frame-ivory-grips.html?345387=#post137549651
 
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josquin said:
I'm not surprised. I recall a thread on the S&W Forum where someone wanted ivory grips made but since it's no longer available, he got a stunning set made from a Dall (?) sheep horn. Still worth posting a query on the S&W Forum just to get people excited :)
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I did a little look/search on that site but not much more than that, ;) so far. Oh, in addition, I did contact a S&W Canadian warranty repair center that's fairly close by, Murray Charlton Enterprises. A girl there said she'd see what she could come up with, but in the meantime, gave me a number to phone in and talk directly to a S&W rep. ;) I may go that route. And, another interested individual says he 'believes' only about 10 sets were made, and again, usually ended up on early vintage 27's.
UPDATE:
Looking at the links in your post, I don't see any that look like what I have. The last link looks like someone looking for exactly what I have. Again, exactly like a set of N-frame, square butt, checkered wood magna grips, only in ivory.
 
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Johnn Peterson said:
... I did contact a S&W Canadian warranty repair center that's fairly close by, Murray Charlton Enterprises. A girl there said she'd see what she could come up with, but in the meantime, gave me a number to phone in and talk directly to a S&W rep. ;) I may go that route. And, another interested individual says he 'believes' only about 10 sets were made, and again, usually ended up on early vintage 27's....
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Hmmm... Given that information, you could just put those grips in an armoured car and drive them over to Murray Charlton under guard and let him see for himself. Take the smelling salts. :cool:
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Any Smith & Wesson collectors out there? If so, I have a question. I have a set of Smith & Wesson factory ivory magna grips for their N-frame revolvers :d . I've been told they are extremely rare. This set originally came on a 5" nickel plated model 27 but I now have them on my 4" 29. They're checkered, have the S&W medallion, just like the wood magna grips, but these are ivory. Any idea as to how rare and approximate value???
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I had a brief 'name your price' moment.....Lets just say that I wouldn't hesitate to part with a bottle of the no longer available Macallan 21 year old that I have stashed away in my safe for that pair of ivory stocks. And I'd throw in a 1995 Glendronach 18 year Tawny Port finish as well....because there is nothing as excellent as trading guns and parts, for fine whisky. Really fine whisky in this case. What do you say? If you go for it, the hardest thing for me to decide would be what to put it on....but I lean towards either my nickel M29-2, or my blue 5'' Model 27-2......either way, where are these pictures???

Ivory sure is nice though, I have a Python with original ivory grips from Colt and the presentation box with ivory tools, patch box, oiler....they are special.
 
Twisted Canuck said:
I had a brief 'name your price' moment.....Lets just say that I wouldn't hesitate to part with a bottle of the no longer available Macallan 21 year old that I have stashed away in my safe for that pair of ivory stocks. And I'd throw in a 1995 Glendronach 18 year Tawny Port finish as well....because there is nothing as excellent as trading guns and parts, for fine whisky. Really fine whisky in this case. What do you say? If you go for it, the hardest thing for me to decide would be what to put it on....but I lean towards either my nickel M29-2, or my blue 5'' Model 27-2......either way, where are these pictures???

Ivory sure is nice though, I have a Python with original ivory grips from Colt and the presentation box with ivory tools, patch box, oiler....they are special.
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I had posted photos, but they went by the wayside :rolleyes: when photobucket 'flipped out'. I have recently sent out photos of the grips but did it by way of e-mail. I'll have to make arrangements for something to replace photobucket :redface: but in the meantime, e-mail is the route I'll have to use. Send your e-mail address and I'll send them on to you. Got a few others that you may find 'interesting', related to Pythons. I had a VERY nice 1957 vintage 6" Python that I traded to a 'snake' collector :) for a 6" new in the box 1980 vintage Python, plus CASH.
Oh, where I came into the S&W factory ivory grips was at a local gun show years back. The gentleman that had them was employed in a sporting good outlet a few km's away. There was something at the show he needed some additional cash for and he offered them to a friend of mine at the show who, like myself, had a number of N-frame Smiths. He asked for $75.oo and my buddy, who is very :rolleyes: 'frugal' turned him down. The truth be known, if $10.oo would've been asked for, my buddy would've only considered $5.oo, but that's another story. Anyway, he looked around, spotted me and knowing I had a number of N-frame Smiths, offered them to me. I asked price and when he suggested $50.oo, I couldn't get the cash out fast enough. The icing on the cake, a couple of years back, my 'frugal' buddy acquired the 5" nickel 27 the grips had initially came on and stated, "Here's the gun those grips belong on". I 'corrected' him with, "They're on the gun they belong on"! So, quite likely ;) I'll hang on to them for the foreseeable future :) .
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I had posted photos, but they went by the wayside :rolleyes: when photobucket 'flipped out'. I have recently sent out photos of the grips but did it by way of e-mail. I'll have to make arrangements for something to replace photobucket :redface: but in the meantime, e-mail is the route I'll have to use. Send your e-mail address and I'll send them on to you....
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Oh heck- here they are (from Johnn via me) You just can't have too many purty pictures on CGN :)

View attachment 159677

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Dang those are pretty...and I changed my mind, those would have to go on my 5 screw 1954 pre Model 27 with the 5" barrel. Absolutely. And you got them for $50. Sweet loving Jesus.....well, the deal on the fine whisky stands! They are lovely grips.
 
Twisted Canuck said:
Dang those are pretty...and I changed my mind, those would have to go on my 5 screw 1954 pre Model 27 with the 5" barrel. Absolutely. And you got them for $50. Sweet loving Jesus.....well, the deal on the fine whisky stands! They are lovely grips.
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Definitely one of my better deals, from a stand point of quality and finance. Oh, if you're interested in seeing the Pythons I've mentioned, PM me your e-mail address.
 
bigi said:
And the Moose lives ON !

What's a M27 ?

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...ictures-of-S-amp-W-M27-and-M28-Post-them-Here!!!
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Hey Ivan;
Good to hear from you!! I was thinking about you the other day when a club member was trying to deal me out of my/your Kimber Super Match II. ;) He has a dream but that's about as far as he's going to get with that little Princess.
Oh, the M27 is when S&W tried to replicate a Python :p. ;) And yes, the Moose is still on the loose. Take care Bud.
 
Nice grips , rare as heck, Good you want to keep them, just a caution, the U.S. boys will pay a pile for money, but those can't be imported into the U.S. without special permits, so don't send off in the mail south.
I am also a Stanley tool collector and the U.S. have declared old Rosewood as a protected wood, so guys selling old Stanley planes with rosewood totes ( handles) are getting them seized by the US customs when they are shipping out of the country . Just some more gov't B.S., gets deeper every day.
 
marshall said:
Nice grips , rare as heck, Good you want to keep them, just a caution, the U.S. boys will pay a pile for money, but those can't be imported into the U.S. without special permits, so don't send off in the mail south.
I am also a Stanley tool collector and the U.S. have declared old Rosewood as a protected wood, so guys selling old Stanley planes with rosewood totes ( handles) are getting them seized by the US customs when they are shipping out of the country . Just some more gov't B.S., gets deeper every day.
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:) Thanks. As I mentioned, the intent at present is to keep them.
With some of the government decisions, or lack thereof, sometimes makes one wonder. :rolleyes: Prime example today was the waste of time the Ontario PC exhibited in attempting to determine and name a new party leader. And to think we actually elect and pay these people to govern the country.
 
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