I found a blue S&W Model 49 Bodyguard 38 special (all steel) in about 90% condition - more from carry I would say than from being shot. There is only a faint drag-line on the cylinder - no cutting that I can see on the top strap. My wife really likes revolvers (she has a K frame) so I thought I would get this for her as a CCW. It has the recessed hammer and the 1.75" barrel which would be super in my opinion for this purpose. Asking price was $300 which seems fair. I am not a revolver guy really but it seems nice - I would prefer a nice Sig, Walther or 3rd Gen S&W auto.

I was thing a pocket holster if she wants to carry in her pocket and a OWB pancake holster with a retention strap to take it in the woods horseback. I don't think crossdraw would work very well for this gun with the 1.75" barrel. How do your significant females (wife, gf, mistress, daughter) carry their J frames?

It has the cheapy factory looking grips on it. I wanted to get it a nicer pair of grips but with my big hands I don't think the grips I would pick would fit my wifes small hands. (She is 5'4" and kind of petite. I have been thinking about it for a day or so and came up with the following:

1.) Pacmyers maybe procomps?
2.) Pink Hoques but I think they may that nice 49 look kind of down scale?
3.) Yellowish corian or fake ivory would look great but not sure about the hardness/smoothness of that for shooting? Sid Ryan does some interesting work but not sure of the quality.
4.) Fake pearls - not sure the 49 is really nice enough match dressy grips like that and then again shootability?
5.) Or maybe some nice rosewood or other exotic wood?

Not sure what shape would work best for a small hand for balancing "shootability" with decent concealment (those hoques may be to stick to CCW well). Not sure that ascetically what I would like as a man would be something she would like. Any opinions thoughts would be greatly appreciated - please suggest shapes and brands. Or if you know any reasonable price custom grip makers (I like esmerelda but at $100 plus that is little out of budget).

I was hoping to get the gun, grips and holster lined up for x-mas. So if I am going to have to order grips or a holster I better get it on. Thanks for the assist.

I favor the rubber Uncle Mike's boot grips. Had some other grips on various S&W snubs and all but one had the boot grips installed shortly after I bought them. Craig Spegel designed them and I believe still makes them in wood. You'd have to search for the black rubber ones since they have been out of production for a while.

I say sell me the model 49 (I LOVE the Bodyguards) and get her something lighter to carry!

Check out these grips from VZ Grips: Smith and Wesson J-Frame

Those 320 VZ Grips are awesome. I had looked that them several years ago for auto grips but ended up just putting rubber on it. Never knew they know made them in G10 for revolvers. Those are really really nice and next to indestructible. A very definite possibility.

If not satisfied, you can send them back for a refund, minus shipping - Policy. Kind of hard to go wrong! The only reason I still don't have a set is because I can't decide which color I like best!

S&W Secret Service J Frame Rnd. |S&W Secret Service J Frame Rnd. Butt grips Rosewood Secret Service Grips. These Hand Gun Grips, Gun Handles, Pistol Grip from Eagle Grips - Eagle Grips Inc. - Gun Grips

I really like these grips.
The SR holster with straps gives several options and I got a carved one for my lady. Great looking rig and comfortable as heck in behind the hip carry.

Silver Dollar Pancake
Hope it is helpful.

Wow those Kirinite Grips are really hot looking for a lady and the prices on the wood grips are fair. The Kirinite Grips are probably a little rich for this project I would have 1/2 the cost of the gun in a pair of grips.

+1 on the silver dollar pancake. I have heard great things about SR but did not even think of them for this project. Not sure why. Thanks for the reminder about SR - and it is good to know the pancake works well for your lady.

Rubber grips that cover the backstrap have always been the most comfortable shooting grips for me.

Neither the wife or I use them for carry. We use the standard S&W grips with a Tyler T grip adapter. We front pocket carry a bunch, and want to keep the gun as small and handy as possible.

I find that the Hogue mono grip really allows a good grip and it covers the backstrap. Some have complained that it adds to the overall size of the gun, which it does. But it is still ultra concealable and more shootable.

Shooter686

She will just have to try a bunch of different grips and see which ones fit her best and give good recoil control.

If she plans on using full power, +P ammo, full size rubber grips that cover the backstrap are highly recommended.

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Centennial Every Day

Hard to beat CT for the J's:

Crimson Trace | Laser Sight Grips for Guns

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Pink Barami grips.

fordtrax.......................

it's impossible for you to choose grips or a holster for your wife's model 49. you don't have her hands or her preferences. She is the one who will be using the gun. Let her choose the grips that feel the best to her and the holster that she likes.