Does anyone know who makes the current rubber grips for S&W revolvers? I know they historically contracted with companies like Altamont and Hogue for their grips. Are they making their current grips in house? Or is someone making them for them?

I ask because I really like the new tan grip on the new 360. The Unfluted cylinder is pretty sweet too.

For sure,beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Is there a screw in the bottom of the grip = Hogue.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

No screw on the bottom. Screw is on the other side. These are the same make of rubber grips that S&W has been using the last 3 or 4 years.

They be ugly.

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Qoheleth 12:13-14

I looked around a bit for you, and the FDE (Flat Dark Earth) J-frame grips are not mentioned anywhere except in write-ups for this firearm model that was just announced as shipping few days ago.

Perhaps once it's arrived, then the grips will start to appear. As for who makes them, all the other rubber grips on the S&W corporate store are labeled Hogue, except the J. Probably is Hogue.

I know Altamont still makes most, if not all, of the wood laminate S&W OEM revolver grips. It wouldn't surprise me if Hogue made all the rubber OEM grips. But I have some doubts because all of Hogue's S&W rubber grips don't look anything like the OEM S&W grips. Usually they look exactly the same minus the S&W logo.

I haven't thought to ask or really cared about the rubber grips the last few years because none of them were particularly interesting to me. But I like this tan grip. Kind of follows the whole polymer pistol market. Lots of polymer semi-autos have FDE polymer frames and black slides. I guess this is the revolver equivalent. Surprised it took this long!

I have paid a proverbial pretty penny to buy a couple of the grips shown - but in the original black. To me, they're the best fitting J-frame grips, hands down. I checked a spare set that I have and they don't have any numbering or markings of any sort on the inside. They seem pretty similar to the old Uncle Mike's grips but I don't think UM makes grips - or at least - grips like this anymore. I doubt they are Hogue's only because Hogue likes the clunky-looking bottom-screw attachment idea. That only leaves Pachmayr and all of their recent rubber grips, that I have seen, have been junk. Maybe the mothership tooled up and makes these grips themselves?

They have the Uncle Mike's look but I think they're out of the grip business now?

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

The S&W corporate store website offers the rubber square or square conversion grips from Hogue, for their K/L/N/X frame revolvers with and without a logo. The rubber J grips manufacturer is not identified.

Rubber Grips - Smith & Wesson

I must have missed the part where he asked for your opinion.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Uncle Mike's is out of business for a few years. S&W did use the Uncle Mike's Boot Grip in the 90s as the OEM J Frame grip.

These grips are actually nothing like Uncle Mike's. These cover the backstrap and are lighter material. I have both, and they have little in common other than they are black.

That's right, just want to know who makes them

I'm actually a huge fan of FDE frames and black slides on my semi-autos. This is pretty much the same concept.

Quote:
Originally Posted by StakeOut View Post
For sure,beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Is there a screw in the bottom of the grip = Hogue.


I'll just leave it at that.

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Qoheleth 12:13-14

OP HERE.

I had to know so I called S&W Customer Service and found out two things.

The Part number for the FDE Grip = 3007235

ALL CURRENT S&W RUBBER REVOLVER GRIPS ARE MADE BY HOUGE.

So Hogue makes this grip as well as the black version and the boot grip version. Good to know.

I hope they offer the shorter "boot grip" in FDE as well. I'm a sucker for the FDE/black two tone look as well.

Good question re: Hogue makes them for S&W. On my 642 they are, without a doubt, the most comfortable and felt-recoil-taming for me.

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John

I have 2 sets with the UM logo inside. They use a standard grip screw. The newer model, essentially the same, uses an Allen screw to secure them. They are a good grip, but I've never liked them, too long for pocket carry. I have the UM boots or the S&W knock-offs on all of my Js.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

The only rubber grip I have on a revolver is on my .44 mag mtn gun.....Hogue with real(metal) emblems in the rubber.......Everything else wears wood......

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S&W Accumulator

I sure wish someone would make a J-Frame-type boot grip for the N-frame.

My thinking exactly! That's the one I want. But it will be nice to have the bigger grip for the real light scandium 357 J Frames I have.

S&W makes the SYNTHETIC grips shown above, in the same plant where the poly frames are made.

I was told this three years ago & confirmed again today.
Whoever told you ALL S&W synthetic/rubber grips are supplied by Hogue was wrong.

The people who answer the phone seldom really know much.
You have to ask the right people.

S&W may offer Hogues on some models, but what you see above are not among those.
Denis

There is a tremendous possibility that those grips are Ugly. I'm just saying, Not that anyone asked. Some people just might say they are cute. Yeah, like "that ugly little baby you have got there is mighty cute."

Good question! I have the exact same grip that came from S&W on my new 640. I also have two new 686 Plus revolvers that came with similar designed rubber grips. The 3" came with a compact round butt style for a round butt frame. But my 4" came with similar grips, only there were for a round butt frame, but more of a square grip style.

None of these grips show as being available from S&W as an accessory.

I doubt they are made by Hogue as they do not use the 'Hogue' patented bottom screw with the frame bracket. Instead, they use the more convential side screw. The screw is an Allen type, rather than a slotted screw. The grips also have a hard rigid plastic insert, with the outer rubber modled over it. This allows for a good firm tightening of the grip screw, without distorting, or caving in of the rubber grip. They are superior to any rubber grips I've seen!

Can you read post #21?
Denis

Yes I can read. But if that is true, why doesn't S&W offer the grips for sale? I've been told they don't even offer them as a replacement part for the ones shipped with the revolver. If they actually manufacture them, that doesn't make any sense at all!

Who actually gave you this information? Did you ask them if they can be ordered?

They be beautiful

I'm press.
I deal with people at S&W who actually can give out correct info.

The source today is Laura Lavallee, in their Marketing Department.
I have dealt with her numerous times, she's both reliable & in a position to know what goes on there. She has to be. It's her job.

I don't recall the S&W source three years ago, but the same info was given then when I asked, and I included that info in a printed article I wrote on a current 686.

I don't know why S&W does or does not do whatever it is you think they should be doing with these grips, nor do I care if it makes any sense to you.

I have no further interest in whether these grips are available separately or not, I am ONLY responding to the original question of who makes 'em.
I didn't ask if they can be ordered separately, I don't want any & I didn't even think to ask.

I answered this same question a few weeks back on this same forum.

You are entirely free to continue guessing, or you can accept the answer & move on.

As I said- the people who pick up the customer service phones rarely know much outside their own small bubble of service-related functions.

I have to deal with people higher up, who in turn have to know more detailed info, if they're going to pass that info out for publication.
And I also have to do my best to make sure what I put out is accurate.
That's why I confirmed, again, today.

You can be anonymous, I can't.
Denis

Will they ever release a new sa/da revolver without the lock?

A special edition 686 sans lock would sell out in minutes.

Your press? I'm not impressed. You sound like you're depressed. Take a nap. Maybe you'll wake up with a better attitude.

I have asked several times over the years & the answer has always been that the lock is here to stay.

Obviously, they've produced some Js without it, so the possibility does exist that they MAY (I emphasize MAY) extend that into other frames.

But- Don't hold your breath.
Denis

TAC,
Whether you're impressed or not is a matter of total indifference to me.

I mentioned it to explain my information channels with S&W and to establish my foundation for access to better information than you'll get by calling Customer Service.

You asked who gave me the info I passed on.
I gave you the name of the person, exactly where she works at Smith & Wesson, and why I have access to that level of info.

I could not care less if you are impressed (not the reason I gave you my foundation for the info), or if you accept what I told you about those grips.

I answered the original question, explained how I got the info & exactly where it came from, and you, along with everybody else here, are perfectly free to accept or reject it.
Up to you.

If you prefer to keep guessing & waste space on this forum doing it, have at it.
Denis

The 'original' black version of these grips was offered on the S&W site for $28-ish up until roughly March of this year. I saw them and passed up on getting a pair ... ... since I didn't have a 640 at the time. They disappeared around then and haven't returned. Subsequently, it cost me $35 or $40 to get an as-new pair. I have a 638 on lay-away at the local FFL, and it has the worthless-to-me boot grip version of these grips. The 638 will be upgraded to the subject banana grip within a nano-second of arriving at my hoo-chee.

It's great that you have a credible source for the info but the angry condescending raving is unnecessary. Thanks for the info.

It's neither angry, condescending, nor raving.

It gets very old when I'm in a position to be helpful on a number of forums because of what my job entails, and I have to constantly deal with somebody who demands a notarized statement from God.

To forestall endless argument with such people, I do tend to get a little emphatic.

Even WITH a notarized statement from God, there's always somebody.

I can explain till the other half of my hair falls out that I'm not saying I'm anybody special, I just have a different job than most forum posters & I deal with a different level of people inside a number of companies that my job requires I have access to, and there's still ALWAYS somebody who still wants to argue & who takes the view that I'm trying to "impress", when all I'm trying to do is explain how I can answer questions with the info I have.

Coming off a couple weeks of dealing with multiple "You're lying" commenters across 5 forums when I passed on the fact that Browning has dropped the Hi-Power because FN has discontinued production, the responses by TAC here are neither useful nor justified, and again- it gets very old when I try to help & have to continually defend my info against people who don't want to hear it.
Denis

OP HERE:
I was told by someone who answered the phone at the S&W that they are made by Hogue. I also emailed someone I had an email address for at Hogue and they told me they cannot sell the OEM grips they make for S&W. Here is the quote from the email from person at Hogue

"...Unfortunately, we cannot sell OEM products directly to the public. We only sell them to S&W."

You may be right. But I now have one person at S&W and one at Hogue confirming it.

I am familiar with the injection molding plant S&W purchased in 2014. It is called Deep River Plastics.

Deep River Plastics: Rapid Prototyping, Tooling, Injection Molding, Secondaries, Assembly

Smith & Wesson completes Deep River Plastics purchase | masslive.com

Foundries and Polymer Factories - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog

They made the purchase to make frames for their Polymer M&P series. But they make lots of other stuff at Deep River Plastics. Anyway I just went ahead and emailed Deep River Plastics to see if they make the grips. Maybe they will respond.

Their website shows several models with Hogue RUBBER.
The grips in question are a different material.
Denis

S&W, like other companies, sometimes have clueless employees. I'm not referencing the Hogue/in-house discussion, but the availability of the grips. S&W does not advertise every part available on their website, so the grips may be available if you speak to the right person. It might also make a difference if a FFL called instead of one of us average peons.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Part of the problem may be in how you're talking to people about the grips.

If you're using the word "rubber", then you're hearing responses to the word "rubber".

It's true that ALL of the RUBBER grips S&W uses are made by Hogue.
But the material of the grips under discussion is not considered rubber.

Hogue won't sell you RUBBER grips they do under contract with S&W.
That's also true.

Did you ask specifically about those exact SYNTHETIC grips you want when you talked to Hogue?
Or did you just ask Hogue if you can buy some rubber grips they make for S&W?

My marketing gal was quite clear in saying S&W makes the grips in the photos shown in this thread, and my question to her was quite clear in referring specifically to them, NOT asking about who does their rubber grips.

If Deep River's making them, then as an owned-subsidiary of S&W, by extension that can be said that S&W does make those synthetic grips.

Sometimes it's a matter of asking the right people the right question, and correct terminology does matter.
Denis

How would you describe the material theses grips are made of?

Synthetic, as I said above, or polymer, or even plastic.
I would not call them rubber.
Denis

I used the SKU of the NEW 360. The SKU is 11749. The S&W REP looked up the SKU and told me the part number for the FDE grip on the 360. He said The FDE grip is part #3007235. He said it says it is made by Houge in his system! That was my conversation. Did I do it right? LOL.

You have the info now, call and do the same. See what they tell you. I bet they say the exact same thing.

Actually - no - you didn't do right. It's "Hogue" not "Houge". The S&W Rep gave you bad information ...

There's no point in me calling the S&W customer service line, just to get the same info you did.
I've never denied your statements regarding what they've told you.

What the CS people might tell is of less importance to me than what the marketing gal has told me.
In a very long experience doing what I do, I rarely find a CS rep who knows much beyond his or her small sphere of operation, and even their computer systems are occasionally wrong.

When you communicated with Hogue, did they confirm that they make the exact grips shown in the photos in this thread?

Have you heard back from Deep River?
When I called them today & asked, they would neither confirm nor deny that they make the grips, which is a common reaction with a sub-contracting company making parts on contract.
Denis

The grips I was referring to, and I'm assuming the OP was referring to are a two part grip. There is an internal shell that fits the frame of the revolver, and yes it appears to be made of polymer/plastic. However, the outer shell of the grips are definitely rubber, very similar to Hogue rubber grips. I think they call this process 'over-molded'. They are not all polymer, or plastic.

Have you actually seen a pair of these grips yourself?

I have a new 66 here with those grips.
The first time I asked S&W three years ago who made the same grips on a new 686, the grips on that sample were two-piece & the same material.
In the absence of any confirmation from Hogue that they make them, I'm putting my money on S&W's Marketing division.

If you choose to go with the Hogue theory, have at it.

I've given you my best info, given to me twice in three years by S&W, that the grips are made in the same plant as their polymer frames.

If not good enough, embrace your own pet belief.
Denis

We've always been free to express opinions here.

S&W came out with their new style two-piece rubber grip about the same time Uncle Mikes got out of the grip business. The way these two events coincided always make me wonder if S&W and UM cut a deal. Smith bought UM's tooling and injection molding machines, and brought the grips in-house.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

A number of replies here are good examples of unacceptable behavior on this board.

I'll deal with this later... maybe.

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"I also cook."