I picked up a pair of Uncle Mikes rubber grips for a K frame Sq. butt (59005). Figured they were a $10 grip, but I see some crazy prices? Did they just not make many or what? What is a reasonable price for these things?

thanks.

It isn’t so much the grips are valuable as it is that your money isn’t. Have you bought any gas, groceries, or ammo lately?

Not certain which grip that is but thinking theyre just popular and out of production. Same for their similar J grips. Thinking $25 range is more normal price these days???

I searched high and low for UM grips for my Hi Power. As noted, they are licensed Spegel clones but in rubber.

I think UM revolver grips were standard on some S&Ws. I know my 646 came with a pair.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

As Trout said - the Spegel designs are excellent grips and the prices have been climbing.

A combination of a great design and the fact that they're no longer in production causes prices to rise.

I really would not care whether Spegel or Leonardo da Vinci designed them.

But back when they came out, they offered much better ergonomic options for different hand sizes than the then-ruling Pachmayr and Hogue rubber grips, both brands which tended to cater to people with ham-sized hands.

All my Pachmayrs were replaced with UM’s in no time. If I were still buying new revolvers as shooters and for carrying, I would be willing to pay quite a bit for UM grips on the used market.

I can remember S&W doing a close out sale some years back on the K frame round butts. They were under $20….maybe $15.

They feel fantastic.
What are they getting now?


Have a pair of boot grips on a NY-1 J frame model 60. We are talking these, correct?

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Sure you did

I have Hogue, Pach, and now an Uncle Mike’s grip similar to these for my 3” Model 13-3. they were new in the box at a local shop for $2 and are far best of the three. The Hogues seem a little long at the butt and the Pach are wraparound the back strap which I don’t like.

Don't have a picture of them yet but they are square butt, kind of like a slimed down Pachmayr Gripper. Saw some go for $60 but I did see that the boot style was more consistantly high. $20, $25 seem fair to ask or is that too high? Just trying to pay for the grips I keep.

The SB K’s are hard to find.

I have two RB’s, one is on my 66-1 snub. Here’s the other NFS.

No better Goodyear’s, imo.

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Sure you did

They may not be BBQ material, but they’re excellent for the intended purpose. As previously mentioned, they were designed by Craig Spegel and they’re long discontinued. S&W did supply them on guns for a while, until they decided not to pay royalties.

A number of them have recently sold on ebay for between $50 and $90. If you think that’s high, check out what the UM/Spegel grips for a Browning High Power go for.

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"I also cook."

It is very easy to find some Uncle Mike’s grips.
But square butt K-frame (not round-to-square but square) and HiPower grips are like hen’s teeth.
They are, in my experience, the best of rubber grips. And they dont feel like a fistful of play-do like Hogues.

The shape of them is fantastic but I find the long term wear characteristics of the rubber to be lacking (they take on a weird tacky feel).

The UM boot and combat grips are my absolute favorites. I have them on almost all of my guns that might be called on for defensive use. I'm really not a fan of rubber at all. But these fit my hand so perfectly that I have to have 'em.
Back when they were still made, they sold for about $20 new. However, they're so good that I'd happily pay $50, maybe more for a set.
BTW: UM only made them for J & K frame S&W revolvers. I have often wished they had made N-frame grips as well.
UM secured licensed rights to several of Craig Spegals excellent designs, made them in rubber and sold them cheap. The story goes that Spegal got pissed that UM was selling far more of his designs than he was. When the license expired, Spegal refused to renew it.

Here are some pics. of the ones I have. Are these a Spegel design?

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VTgw yes they are.

Thanks for all the info. I got what I needed and I learned a lot and will be adding them to my list of grips to look for.

Yep, they are

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213th FBINA

I haven’t priced them recently cause I have all I need.

I have them on a 41 Magnum Redhawk and they’re PERFECT for shooting those stout “Ruger only” loads.

I’m a believer in them for sure. Are they pretty? No, but by golly they work as intended at least for me.

I've bought guns just to get the Spegel grips that were on them--one was a 4" 686 with round to square Macassar Ebony grips, the other most recently was a duplicate 66 2.5" that had the round butt rubber grips--those are nice to use.

If I ever actually decide to sell my Mk. III High Power, the dark cocobolo Spegels won't be included, unless the new buyer ponies up a stack of benjamins (in other words, it ain't for sale).

Kind of makes you wonder why Uncle Mike's does not start making them again...

Somebody had a clearout of Spegel's for HiPowers a couple of years ago. The rush for them on the Web was biblical. Mine sit on a worn old FEG clone, but man, they make the gun feel so much better.

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Release the Kraken

I run UM's on all my round butt revolvers. A clean set for about $30 to $35 would be a pretty good price. I think I've paid more. When it's the grip you want you pay what it costs. I installed a set of UM's on my M&P340 and the difference in handling and control compared to the factory grips is instantly noticed. I see no difference in concealability compared to the boots that came with.

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That was Bud’s Guns. Was able to get a pair for my Hi-Power. As I recall they were right at $50. Wish I’d have bought several.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I have the same set as 1sailor on my 340 PD. They are so much better with dealing with recoil than the skinny boot grips that came on it. I like having someplace for my pinky finger and they still do fine for pocket carry.

I've hunted up a couple sets and they are on their way, and I'm determined to find a set for the Hi-Power. They will be posted for sale as I come across them.

938

Many years ago there was an old school gunsmith at a locally-owned gun-shop. There was always a box of old handgun grips sitting next to the shop door. All grips were $5.00. Found both of the UM grips at the same time. I like the grips. I don't have large hands and they fit me perfectly. I've never found any for sale locally since that day. The ones on the Internet are going considerably higher than $5.00.

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I type. Therefore I am.

Uncle Mike's boot grips for the round butt J frame gives an identical grip profile as a set of magnas with a Tyler. The magnas and tyler are a wee bit lighter and less sticky. I like the magnas with the Tyler with a wrap of vet tape for sticky. Old school

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Forum consigliere

I would like all the money back I’ve spent trying to get a nicer set of grips for my 66 2.5. I keep putting the Uncle Mike’s boot grips back on. Nothing feels or shoots better in my opinion.
Not sure if anyone touched on it in other posts but I read that they stopped making them due to Craig Spegel not renewing the licensing agreement apparently they could not come to terms. As others have said would love to see them made again.

I had Pachmayr Compacs on my beater Model 13. I found some Uncle Mikeys and they feel great. The gun lives in my center console so concealability isn’t a big deal.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

On my FEG hi power clone, every now and then I have to pull the Uncle Mike's off and wipe them down as they get a little gummy sitting up against the frame. They do make it feel better when it sits in your hand.

The Hogue J frame and Taurus 85 grips always had finger grooves that were too small and too close together for my hands.
The UM grips were perfect for me.
My wife likes the pink Hogues on her 85.
My 85CH came with the UM boot grips, as did hers.
I put the rosewood boot grips on her, per her request.
She didn't like them, just like I had told her.
Not that they weren't nice grips. They just don't absorb recoil.
Not what boot grips are designed to do. plus, the whole 2 finger hold thing.
I put black Hogues on it. She liked the feel, but wouldn't be happy until she had the pink (ugh) Hogues on it. So, I put a set of pink Hogues on it for her.
IIRC, my 1994 Taurus M44 came with UM grips. I like them much better than subsequent Taurus rubber grips.

Speaking of not-so-common grips: I found two pairs of Bianchi Lighning grips a year or so ago, at the LGS. The non-negotiable price was right, and I jumped on them.
If 2.5" model 66s hadn't gotten so expensive lately, I'd throw them on it and carry it.
Maybe I still will.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

There's grips for photo taking meant to impress the viewers and then there's grips for shooting at the range that allow for a solid non slippery grip.
For range sessions with the RB K/L frames I like the Hogue Bantum rubber grips.
For photos the factory wood RB Combat Stocks sure do look pretty,don't they.

The Big Deal with the Uncle Mike's is only that they are no longer made and greed has taken over.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Also during the purchase of UM by Hoppes,or Bushnell(can't recall) the grips were moved to the Butler Creek product line, then discontinued.
all UM holster production was moved to China, and some didn't fit.
All in all another great stand-alone company ends up purchased by a big one and get messed up. Sad tale of modern America.

Their grips and holsters are now made overseas. Way cheaper(low quaility) product sold by them now..........BTW Prices are high on everything.

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S&W Accumulator

It used to be against the law for competitors to buy each other and consolidate their competition. Reagan made this legal in the 80s and huge consolidation began hurting employees, consumers, and making companies huge and too powerful. This needs to be reversed.

When talking about older UM (Uncle Mike's?) grips, what models/age are desirable for J-frame and K-frame S&W revolvers?

Uncle Mikes sold a set ( CA logo) for the Bulldog. Comfortable and great recoil tamer for the beast. I put a set on my Undercover.

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John

I just lucked into a NIB set of K-Frame Square Butt Uncle Mike's off e-bay for a Buy It Now price of $20!
I was more than happy with that price. They rarely turn up for under $50 these days.
Perfect for a recently purchased 66-1 that needed grips.
Not the prettiest in the world, but very comfortable and eminently practical for an actual "using" revolver.

I have one pair of UM rubber grips for a K frame square butt and they are great, but Pachmayr Gripper grips fit my hand like they were made for them. The UM grips sit in a drawer. I won’t sell them because I might put them in something else one day and I won’t be able to replace them easily.

I have bought numerous "goodyears" for various revolvers. None met my requirements as good as the Uncle Mikes.

If I want or need rubbers, Mikes are the only ones I'll accept.

I think the short answer to the OPs original question is...THEY FIT! I only have two guns with OEM UMs. One is a 696, .44 special and my trusty 649-3, .357. They are just perfect for my medium sized hand.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I replaced the factory grips on my 642 with UMs because the originals interfered with speedloaders. Then I bought a BHP with UMs. Tried other grips but not for long. As the Monkees said "I'm a believer".

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Speaking of rare and hard to find.....
Back in 2014 I bought a S&W 696. I love the .44 Special cartridge, but absolutely hated the round butt frame on this gun.
After doing some on-line research, I stumbled across a set of the ultra-rare Uncle Mike's round to square conversion Combat grips. I bought them immediately! IIRC the price was $40. I happily paid it.
This is one of my favorite shooters! And those grips are a big part of the reason why.

When I got my 940, I went looking for UM Boot Grips but couldn't find any at a reasonable price. I ended up getting a Hogue Ultra Compact Bantum grip that looks to me to be functionally equivalent. They're in current production.

This is a very interesting thread to me. I always learn something every time I log on

I have not really been a big fan boy of rubber grips, but with one big time major exception...my Model 66-6. This gun is the only 357 Magnum I kept when selling off my Magnums last year. My daughter LEO has wanted this gun and she shoots it very well.

This gun is all original, in THE box (actually a blue plastic case), all documents and fired case dated May 28, 2002. Per Dr. Roy it shipped June 2002. It is a 4" one piece barrel, product code 162706 on the case. I've shot this gun many times with full house rounds and it does absorb recoil very well with these grips.

Are these factory supplied grips the same Uncle Mikes (Spiegel style) that are being discussed above? When did they stop being issued on S&W wheel guns?

I always thought Uncle Mikes stuff (holsters especially) were Walmart el-cheapo, lowest cost, made in China, junk and avoided them at all costs in lieu of leather or decent made in USA brands.

If these grips on my 66-6 are the real thing I guess I'll have to rethink my opinions cause I do agree that to me and my LEO daughter, they are the only way full house maggies can be handled by our average size hands.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

The only Uncle Mike's I have is on my 59, and I'm a big fan -- the beaten-up Pachmayrs that came with it make N Targets feel slim in my hands. Texture is good, and I can shoot it very well.