If memory serves me, the S&W M12 used different grips during its production, some unique to the M12 series. Where does the M12-3 fall in this regard? TIA

Your Model 12-3 requires the M&P Airweight-specific stocks, standard K-frame stocks won't fit properly. The change to standard K-frame stocks arrived with the 12-4.

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SWHF #448

Grip frame size on the Model 12 came with production of the 12-4.

Grips frame through 12-3 are slightly thinner than a standard K frame thickness by .080".

Grips from a standard K frame will not fit properly on models prior to the 12-4, resulting in a gap of .040" on each side of the narrower grip frame.

Grips that fit the frames through the 12-3 series are difficult to find if replacements are needed. Interior cutouts on aftermarket rubber grips also pose a fitment problem due the the narrower frame.

Thanks. So much for putting Ajax Ivorex grips on my M12-3.......

If you wanted the Ajax grips, I would look at some of the knife makers sites and see if they have some very thin sheet G10 and just shim them. Might not look the best, but if you have a blued gun and you get black shim material, it would take a close inspection to see it. Just a thought.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

The grip frame on K-As is identical to steel frame guns. It is the major thickness of the remainder of the frame that is .080" thinner. This results in a gap between the "horn" of standard stocks and the sides of the frame!

Rubber stocks usually fit the K-A frame just fine.

Finally, "Fitment" is a British word referring to the metal furnishings used on furniture. Americans call these items hardware! Try interchanging the two words in a sentence and you will see how silly it sounds.

QUOTE:"The grip frame on K-As is identical to steel frame guns. It is the major thickness of the remainder of the frame that is .080" thinner. This results in a gap between the "horn" of standard stocks and the sides of the frame!"

And thus an IDEA hatches! THNX!

Standard K frame grips could be sanded on the inside surface making them thinner so they might just fit a Model 12 frame.

I would recommend experimenting with a set of beat up old K frame wood grips first because as the grips get thinner the way they fit to the backstrap also changes due to the grips rounded backstrap .

I will never forget when I bought what I believed to be a pristine set of K Frame RB Diamond Grips at a gun show for $15 bucks. Came home and couldn't figure out why they fit my 3" M65 so poorly and years later discovered that they were indeed M12 Grips. I then sold them for many times what I paid for them - guess I did not do so bad after-all.

Another solution, if it happens to fit your hand and your taste, is to use service grips (pre-Magna factory grips), either factory or otherwise. This worked particularly well for me when I bought a very nice set of reverse-stained jigged bone grips from Wyatt Burp. They look great on my blue 12 with a Tyler. I'll post a photo as soon as I get a round tuit.

This was EXACTLY the idea that I had last night. I look forward to seeing your pics.

For me, personally, there was even another advantage to using the service grips. For my hand size, even factory magnas with a Tyler are a little large on a square butt, which is what my blue Model 12 snubby is. With the slimmer service grips, the whole rig fits my hand significantly better.

I'll try to get some pics up in a day or two.

At present, I'm not able to spend much time on photography, but I think that these will give an idea of what they look like.

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	2015-07-12 Seven More 006c.JPG (37.0 KB, 45 views)
	2015-07-12 Seven More 007c.JPG (37.2 KB, 40 views)

If the pictures were better I'd be even more mad at myself for selling you those grips! Just kidding, sort of. I know how those grips feel with a grip adapter, but had other options for my 4" M&P. For some reason it's a whole different story on that snub nose. They belong on that gun.

Since no one else has posted a Model 12 with replica hard rubber service stocks, I will. these are my two current Model 12s. The top gun is a 12-3 with N.C. Ordnance model G-29 stocks. The grip frame for the New Model 3 Double-Action and round-butt K-frame guns are identical. Here is the link: Gun Grip - Smith & Wesson Number 3 Grips

A caveat for these stocks, they can run a bit small around the perimeter. This 12-3 has a particularly small grip frame. This isn't the fault of the style, just how they are finished when made. These were ground a bit too much on the back. I would prefer getting them un-finished, but it seems they will not furnish them that way! The color isn't really black, but shows some purple in sunlight. The N.C. Ordnance grips are far higher quality than those sold by Vintage Grips! The Brown stocks show detail better.

BTW, the strain screw is tight! It hangs out because the grip frame was over-polished and is undersized on the perimeter! It has not been re-finished!

The bottom gun is a 12-nothing with Smooth factory Goncalo Alves stocks. They are M-12 stocks, not modified standard K stocks.

These are two of my carry guns, and, yes, they are loaded. If anyone is interested these are pocket carried in a pocket holster. Some don't think a K-frame can be pocket carried, but it works very well, including in Jeans! All the guns I carry are kept loaded at all times. They are only un-loaded for cleaning. In the safe they are all flagged with a red tag indicating they are loaded!

The stock pictures are from N.C. Ordnance. The Brown one is not available, I wish it was. Don't have any idea why they posted this color at one time.

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	Model 12 left.jpg (73.6 KB, 30 views)
	Model 12 right.jpg (65.2 KB, 24 views)
	G29.jpg (16.0 KB, 18 views)
	G29_SMALL.jpg (69.0 KB, 17 views)

Thank you gentlemen! I struck out on any grips other than OEM models at the B'ham AGCA show this past weekend. I'd really like some polished bone, I believe.