I'm soon to own a 19-4 2.5 inch.
I want to preserve the original grips and put something else on of a more pratical and aesthetic nature.

Show or link me to some possibilities please.

IIRC the 19-4 is a roundbutt, right?

Only if it has a 2.5" barrel. AFAIK all the 4" and 6" 19s were square butt frames unless production lasted until S&W made the brilliant move of making all revolvers with round butts. So yes, a 2.5" 19-4 should have a round butt.

Any fine looking grip suggestions?

There are a ton of options out there and I'll mention a few in a minute. But, honestly, mine looks great and shoots great with the round butt service grips that are original equipment. I'm keeping mine in original condition.

If you're looking for options, here are a few that I've tried. I have a set of Uncle Mike's combat grips on my 2" Model 64 that also fit the 19. They can be had from Smith at about $35. They cover the backstrap and absorb recoil splendidly. Not much to look at. I also have a set of round-square conversion "coke" reproductions from Nill. These guys are uber-expensive, costing north of $250. They fit the gun like a glove, but the look certainly isn't traditional and, honestly, I don't think they go well with a snub. I also have tried some wooden K-frame round butt Hogues on the gun. These grips look great and work equally well on a 4" barrel revolver. But, on a snub? They're just too big in my opinion and are sort of counterintuitive if you're thinking concealability. Ditto for rubber Hogues and even more so for Pachmayr Grippers.

So, for me, the bottom line is the original grips or-- if you want something that's super functional, the Uncle Mikes.

I've included a picture of my 19 with the originals and my Model 64 wearing the Uncle Mikes.

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I've always had good luck with Hogue Grips on my K frames:

I spent about 25 years trying every conceivable stock on S&W revolvers.

The rubbers look awful and smell awful (and the odor lasts for days after handling the gun).

The finger-groove type never feel right in my hand.

Stocks that are longer than the frame increase felt recoil because of the fulcrum effect. Also, on a short gun like a 2.5" 19 the point is to maintain compactness which is not accomplished with huge stocks.

Most aftermarket stocks are thicker than OEM units. I don't have long fingers so this not only compromises concealability but makes for less than perfect gripping.

I need checkering for a firm grip. Any gun that I carry to protect my life must have checkered stocks. Period. Anything that is smooth twists and slips and I cannot fire the revolver in DA mode.

So after all those years of experimentation, here's what I found to work best:

There are almost too many options to list. If you like nice wood, you literally have more choices than finger and toes. I'm fond of grips by Ahrends, Spegel, Eagle and Esmerelda. There are lots of choices when it comes to the type of wood, the configuration, the finish, etc.

My favorite S&W handgun (at the moment) is my 3" 686, seen here wearing a set of Round-butt Spegels in checkered Bolivian Rosewood.

Anyone done the round to square conversion sets?

I was thinking these would look rather nice on a Model 19-4.



Spegel.

I'm partial to the "Magnas and T-Grip" combo. Classic looks, and fits my hand well, too. If I want to preserve the originals, I sometimes buy a second set for carry.

However, Tyler 3R's for the round butt K frame are kinda scarce, and I've been thinking hard about trying some Ahrends' in tung oil finished maple.

Not the greatest picture but here's what feels best to me. A set of Keith Brown's "Hide out" grips in smooth black walnut and a Lobo Improved Pancake floral carved.

The standard magnas were just a little too small and didn't get me far enough forward for my short trigger finger to have the best fit. These are what work for me.

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KSCowboy

These combats on my 66 feel just fine and are a good fit for my hands.



Craig....

Thanks for the suggestions and sharing the pics. I'm kind of liking those Brown "hideouts" KC.

I want something that fits and has some OWB BBQ appeal. I'm liking the Lobo Holster too!! Great looking rig.

dubhelix, nice collection. I need some TTs for my M60.

Is Keith Brown still in business and making grips? His website seems to have some major issues.

How about an email address.

Ahrends makes some nice grips. Bought them through Brownells.

S&Wrevolvers1.JPG

I generally like Pachmyers on my wheelguns. Look much better than Hogues and feel better, too. I have them on my 686, but when I tried to put them on my 19-2, they just looked wrong. Black rubber and blued gun just doesn't look right to me. So i took them off and put the original diamond targets back on. When i took them off, there was moisture under there, which is not good for blueing, so I put them on right before I shoot the gun and take them off when I'm done. Never any moisture under my wood grips, especially since the gun doesn't get carried or exposed to the elements. On a side note, the checkering off the target grips is irritating to me. The pad of my middle finger gets rubbed by it. If I was gonna shoot the 19 with wood on, I'd have to find something else.

Here's a few directions I've gone with the 66. I actually like all of them but the rubber grips never stay on long...



My favorites:



Ahrends - These look a little big on the K frames - They look better on an L frame but they function very well:

Yes Keith Brown is in business. He posted a while back that he's re-doing the web site.

His email is : keithbrowngrips@gmail.com

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KSCowboy

From a pragmatic standpoint, I like the rubber grips for utilitarian purposes. They aren't much to look at and I have a set of Mongrips on a 686 3 inch that gets a fair amount of range shooting and I have used this set-up to introduce new shooters to revolvers and between the weight, grips for recoil mitigation and 38 spl loads in a L frame it's a nice trainer.

I'm picking up my first K Frame a 19-4 2.5 inch and looking for something comfortable (good ergonomics) but also aesthetically appealing. The standard grips I would like to remove and bag and put with the box, tools etc to preserve value for the future.

I like the looks of the Kieth Browns and I am checking with Bang Products, Jerry Miculek to see if he has something in that genre for a roundbutt K frame.

Yes, this is a 19-4, but with a Metaloy finish and a pair of Kelly's rosewood boot grips.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

The metaloy finish; did that S&W start out life as a 66 or a 19. Very nice looking. I like the grips too.

I'm looking for a 66 too for CC so initial condition isn't an issue. The metaloy looks like a good way to "recondition"? Almost looks like a bead blasted stainless?

I have a question for you. First let me start by saying WHAT A COLLECTION! That is amazing. All you need is a 649 and you'll have what I'm hoping to get one day. I'm not big on stainless, but I'd be very happy with those. I'd like to one day have a collection just like that in stainless, blued and nickel finish. All those, plus the Bodyguard in all 3 finishes. The snub 586 I don't believe was ever made in nickel, but a nice polished up 686 could fill that gap. That is seriously so cool. I'm hoping to at least get one set. I forgot they don't make a snub Model 67 too, so that's one I'd be short too. I'm hoping to have a blued set at least. I have the snub 15 and snub 36 so far. I'm a long ways off, but every collection has to start somewhere. Very nice though, you've definitely inspired me. I saw another picture a long time ago that I really liked that had 4 stainless snubs and I found it recently and after looking at it further, it looks like 4 from the collection you displayed here. I'm attaching it, are those the same guns and do you still have these?

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I really like Herrett Stocks on my 66-2. They feel great to "ME". We are all different. Bob

Should have looked at the original post date. "2011" Hopefully the right stocks were found by now!

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Most of us have acquired a "big box of grips" as we search for the one(s) that fit "our hand" best....... for me it's Spegel's Boot and Extended boot grips.


Your hand may.... will....... vary. Good luck in your search.

I would just mention that you might want to look at Culina grips. Made in CA

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Pete
Hey, be safe out there

They aren't aesthetic, but they are eminently practical for concealed carry: Bianchi Lightning grips.


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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36