Tyler T,s all Hype, low quality

[caryg]

After reading all the comments about tyler t,s I just don,t get what the hype is all about. I have seen countless pictures on this site and others and I have yet seen a set of tylers that fit well. Every picture I have seen has some gaps or poor fit. I tried an older set borrowed from a friend, who also does not use them and the looked cheap and the gripping leaved alot to be admired. I have heard that after shooting them they sometimes move out of adjustment. If they are so good then why did pachmayr who also made them quit making them? I think most people use them just for looking at and nothing else. I for one just don't see the hype. Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[valkyriekl]

I have a set on every gun I carry (which includes a J-frame, two K-frames, and an N-frame); I like the way they fill the area behind the trigger guard and give me more to grip without adding any bulk. That being said, I have noted that the fit isn't perfect, and yes they do shift a bit.

To fix this, I have cut up some old bicycle inner tubes into strips which fit between the T-grip and the grip frame, to prevent some of the shifting and lift it off the frame to prevent marring the wood grips. After that little mod, my T-grips were good to go.

Yes, I do also like them because they look pretty and (to me) give the guns a 'classic' look.

Your opinion is yours and you're allowed to it; I don't mind one bit if anyone else doesn't like them.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Ok.

You might not want to add one to one of your revolvers then.

No offense taken. I do happen to like them better than any other aftermarket grip on my old favorite Model 10.

I've long been a stickler for dead stock factory configuration. Wouldn't add aftermarket grips, or even the T-Grip. After obtaining a used one early last year, I tried it out on my Model 10 for a year to see if I liked it.

Looks like it is staying put as I think it is a very worthwhile modification. I carry and shoot this revolver constantly and the T-Grip does not shift. I have fairly large hands with long fingers and the T-Grip does "take up the slack" in an admirable way. It does nothing to increase the bulk of the revolver and leaves it in otherwise "factory" in configuration.

I've never liked the way any grip adapter looked on a revolver which is why it took me 35 years to even try one but performance rather than appearance sold me on the grip adapter. I liked the first T-Grip well enough that I added one to my Model 642 where the modification made even more difference in control, reduction in perceived recoil, and comfort when shooting, all without adding the bulk of sticky rubber grips.

Just a few weeks ago I added a T-Grip to a Colt Detective Special which improved its handling for me even more than the T-Grip on the Model 642 did.

I like 'em but you have the right to your opinion.

 

[TNDave]

Like everything T grips aren't for everybody. I have used them a lot over the years. They are not the ultimate grip but they shine on a carry gun. They do not increase the bulk of the gun at all and really help in double action. Also they used to be cheap. They were $7 as opposed to maybe $25 for Hogues. I carry this 640 everyday. The T grip is perfect for it.

Remember that the T grip appeared at a time when aftermarket grips didn't exist much. The grip of a Smith revolver is made for single action fire and is no good for fast double action shooting. A T grip equipped gun is a lot better than a gun with the factory grips alone.

The T grip is a blast from the past that is still as good as it ever was kind of like a lever action 30-30. Not the ultimate any more but still damn good.

 

[Anton Chigurh]

I am with caryg on this one..........they are kind of cheap looking and I didn't like the way they felt at all. Yes, they fill in the high arching gap behind the triggerguard, but the overall feel of them is nowhere as good as a wraparound wood stock.
To each..........

 

[Cruiser RN]

Hi I have Tyler T's on my 640,my Royal Blue Detective Special Version 2 1967,and my Nickel 1966 Version 2 Detective Special.They all fit fine,add to the grip without adding space,and no shifting while shooting.To each thier own but I love my Tyler T grips.....Mike

 

[Cooter Brown]

I like 'em too. Have Tyler T's on K Frames, J Frames (makes a huge difference on my 36-1) and Ruger Security Six. Need some more so I don't have to swap the K Frames around.

But then again, I like blue steel and walnut, wool shirts and jackets, and I think LPs sound better than CDs and MP3s.

 

[Chuck Jones]

Suit yourself, but I've been using Melvin's grip adapters for 30 years and I'm sure they'll outlast me. S&W showed little desire to improve their stocks over the years and Tyler's filled the gap, literally. I first used 'em on a J frame which they really helped while not adding any weight, bulk, or sticky rubber.

Since that one I've used them on every frame size and brand. They're a great fit for my hand, and maintain the simple old school look I prefer.

/c

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If they are so good then why did pachmayr who also made them quit making them?

Pachmayr never made grip adapters like the Tyler T-grip; they made a hard rubber adapter that didn't last as long and didn't fit as well. T-grips are (or were) an inexpensive solution to the ridiculous shortcomings of factory grips. Though they are no longer particularly inexpensive, they still alleviate, to a degree varying with the individual user, the failings of service and Magna grips, and similar failings of some Colt and Ruger products. For those of us who want to keep the original factory grips, but want to actually be able to use the revolver, they are often a good solution. Sometimes they are even the best solution, offering the smallest usable grip. This is often the case with J-frame Smiths and D-frame Colts.

As for fit, I have had a few Tylers that, in each case, did not fit satisfactorily on one revolver for which it was designed, yet fit satisfactorily on another example of the same frame. Do you think that this was because the Tyler changed shape, or had a personal disagreement with the first revolver, or could it have possibly been because not all Smiths ended up with exactly the same shape of frame? I happen to believe the latter. It would then follow that it is not Tyler's fault that S&W couldn't make all their revolvers the same shape.

You certainly should not buy Tylers if you don't like them, particularly at their present price, but they serve a purpose for some people.

"De gustibus no disputandum est," which I believe is Latin for "Don't spit on your goose."

 

[hunterfisher808]

caryg, I also know guys who don't like them....I do, so if your friend doesn't use that old one he's got I'd like to buy it...any frame size,any color. PM me and LMK. thanks. mk

 

[Texas Star]

Most replacement grips don't fit all frames well. That's one reason why I prefer to use Pachmayr's Presentation grip and its Compac version, which, on average, fits more frames well than replacement wood or ivory grips not made for a particular gun.

I've used Tyler's adaptor on several J-frame .38's, with satisfaction. I like to team them with factory rosewood service stocks with nice wood grain, but those are hard to locate now.

T-Star

 

[RedBerens]

I guess pretty is as pretty does. Rubber grips just don't work as well for concealed carry as wood does (at least for me). The Tyler T's allow me to keep the grip as small as possible, but still allow greater control of the weapon. And like TNDave said, they are a neat blast from the past, a reminder of when revolvers were king, and protected those that went in harms way. I think it's a bonus that they are not only nostalgic, but remain functional to this day.

My model 37-2;

 

[OIF2]

The Tyler Ts are a great solution to using J-frames with the stock grips. I also have noted that they don't fit some frames as well as others. I switch them around, though, and usually find a perfect match on another revolver. Tylers seem to fit the Js well.
Bob

 

[stantheman86]

I have fired thousands of rounds through my revolvers equipped with T-Grips, and never had one shift. I have them on 28's,10's, and a Ruger Speed Six.

I also like the Pachmayr grip adapters, they can be found used for a lot cheaper than a Tyler, for guns that you just want a functional grip for CC. If I want the revolver to look good, it's got to be a Tyler.

 

[GLC1]

OIF2 - Very cool 3" J frame there. .38?

I picked up nice a 3" Model 31 in 32 S&W Long a few months ago that looks just like yours. Waiting on a T grip for it.

 

[caryg]

Like I said Gentlemen, I did not intend to offend anybody, just giving my opinion. When they look like they fit they don't look to bad. I just think they are way overpriced and it seems the factory has overlooked the good people that has purchased the product. I still (my opinion) think a good pair of Hogues are hard to beat. thanks

 

[Texas Star]

OIF2 - Very cool 3" J frame there. .38?

I picked up nice a 3" Model 31 in 32 S&W Long a few months ago that looks just like yours. Waiting on a T grip for it.

You should've seen my M-36-1 with smooth rosewood grips and the Tyler. Looked good; shot good. Felt terrific in the hand. Wish that I hadn't had to sell it some years ago.

Even a snub (as opposed to a three-inch bbl.) feels great with the Tyler. And it is true that smooth wooden grips don't snag some sweaters, etc, like rubber grips may.

T-Star

 

[DCWilson]

It's possible for a T-grip to have tight fit without necessarily having a good fit. The one on this postwar M&P snub looks a little gappy, but there is no slop or looseness to it. This is a better solution for me than putting K-frame diamond targets on the gun. I can shoot with unassisted magnas on any size frame if I have to, but I prefer bigger handles.

The whole T-grip thing is pretty much a matter of personal preference. If you don't like them (and for a long time I didn't), it wouldn't make any difference if they were individually tailored to specific revolvers like Rolls-Royce parts. If you do like them, a lot of forgiveness can be found for a one-size-fits-all product.

 

[SWMod10]

I would not call it hype..it's what people like.

I tried them, did not care for them. I like aftermarket grips better.

To each their own....it's why we live in the greatest country on Earth.

 

[watchmanjimg]

Like I said Gentlemen, I did not intend to offend anybody, just giving my opinion. When they look like they fit they don't look to bad. I just think they are way overpriced and it seems the factory has overlooked the good people that has purchased the product. I still (my opinion) think a good pair of Hogues are hard to beat. thanks

No offense taken here, and you make valid points regarding the rising cost, slow delivery, and inconsistent build quality of the T-Grip. However, as others have pointed out sometimes all it takes is a little experimentation to find the right fit. No doubt it's easier just to slap on a set of Hogues or Pachmayrs, but some of us (myself included) prefer the old-school look and feel. Different strokes . . .

I do have one concern regarding the use of rubber grips that goes beyond mere opinion, and that is the tendency to retain moisture and grit on their underside. Having seen many stainless guns with pitted grip frames and sideplates after many years of wearing rubber grips I'm reluctant to use them on my steel guns. I'm less concerned about this happening to Airweights, but then there are still the typical gripes about stickiness, etc.

There was a great discussion about this on the forum awhile back:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...-steel-revolver-discolored-rusted-pitted.html