S&W Model 14 grips?

[Gordon]

To be specific : model 14-3 grips.

Did these gun come with std. magna style grips or the 'large' target grips?

How come some non diamond magna grips are rounded on bottom edge and some square? What guns got which?

Were the non diamond grips of large target style relieved for speed loader cuts at first in a more rounded manner and later in the 80's just crudebeveled circles?

Are all post diamond target k frame grips the same huge size?Or did they grow larger in the 80's? Unlike the Diamond Targets that are just right for me!

 

[thatguy]

S&W stocks changed over the years and variations abound. The Magnas first appeared shortly before World War II and the Targets were introduced in the early 1950s. There were likely slight variations in size and style but I am not expert enough to detail them.

The so-called "diamond" stocks were used until 1968. The rounded Magnas (called PC for Plain Clothes like a detective would use for concealment) are usually found on short guns but I have a 4" 10-7 that came with these so who knows? There are no hard and fast rules on how S&Ws were shipped.

BTW- The PC style Magna were only used on two N frames; the Model 58 and the Model 520 made in 1980 for the NYSP.

A 14-3 probably came standard with Magnas but Targets were always optional.

The first Targets had no relief for loading, then through the 1960s and 1970s the small relief was standard. In the Mid 1980s the style was changed to the large cut for using speed loaders. Other than the size of the relief I believe they are the same.

Pre-war N frame Magnas will bring many hundreds of dollars in good shape. Same with 1950s "Coke Bottle" Targets, named for the slight palm swell. The K frame stocks are generally more available and cheaper.

 

[Gordon]

Thank you!

 

[fecmech]

Gordon--I bought a 14-3 new in the 70's to shoot PPC with. It came with target stocks on it and I had to slightly relieve the left grip to clear my Safariland speed loaders. Sent it back to Smith in the mid 90's after about 50k thru it because mine did not come with a gas ring in front of the cylinder. That made it a pita cause the crane would crud up after about 300 rds and cylinder would drag. Any way they fixed that, turned the barrel in one turn and recut the forcing cone. Today the gun (not me!) will stay well inside the 10 ring on a 50yd bullseye target. It is probably my favorite handgun Nick