Are they grips or stocks ? I seem to see or hear both terms being used to describe the same thing.

Handle thingie?

I call 'em grips.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

To the un-informed and ignorant cretin, they're grips. To the discriminating, sophisticated, erudite collector, they're stocks. LOL.

You call them whatever you want to call them,
I'll call them what I want to call them which is 'grips.'

__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER

Well then, I guess that makes this old Injun a victim of discrimination. Again.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson refers to grips as stocks. S&W Web site calls grips, grips.

Grips on a handgun and stocks on a rifle or shotgun for me.

__________________
Back to back World War Champs.

Whenever I'm posting here I usually need to edit my post because I've referred to stocks as grips, which is what I prefer. I do this just to avoid a snarky reply inferring that I have no idea how to speak the language. LOL.

__________________
I'm gonna grow fins.

You would think a guy who meets all that criteria would have
a better screen name than 'soda can.'

__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER

What he said.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

This is my rule, not anyone else's, and it's for handguns only. If they're wood, they're stocks. If they're anything else, they're grips . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I was in one of my favorite LGS's mid last year, listening to a young lady, whom I could only guess was new to gun ownership.
She said "Handles", and I cringed.
There are probably a few folks here who could pen a pamphlet:
Gun Ownership 101, with a GLOSSARY section.
I use stocks and grips interchangeably for handguns.
Stock, Forestock, Butt, for long guns.
But then....you've got the variant of a pistol grip on an AR, which, I'm pretty sure is a rifle.

If you think about it, in relationship to the action of holding the firearm:
Handguns are "gripped".
Rifles aren't gripped, but now, I can't think of the right verb. Shouldered. Does that work?

I believe that S&W for many years referred to them as "stocks," so many collectors use that nomenclature (including yours truly). I have, sitting on my bench beside me, a 85th Anniversary S&W catalog from 1937. On page 27, there is a detailed description of the then-new Magna stocks for both N and K frame guns. The text repeatedly refers to them as "stocks" and also makes reference to "the standard S&W stock." The header for the page reads, "The S & W Magna Stock."

On the other hand, I have several factory authentication letters in my safe from Mr. Jinks. In every one of them, without exception, Roy refers to the stocks as "grips."

So you pays your money and you takes your choice! Suit yourself. Call them what you like.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Unless you worry about impressing somebody. But for me, I really like the checkered pistol "grip" on the satin finish walnut "stock" of my old Wingmaster. Besides, I think "Hogue Mono Stock" really sounds funny. In other words, don't worry about it. Only very few people are perfect.

__________________
Just a shooter

Thank you for assuming the latter. There are many who don't share that opinion. I make no claim as to which category I belong, but I do put a lot of stock in my grip on reality, however.

I never heard anything but grips until the internet came along. Now, while hear/see both I still refer to them as grips. Old dog and all that.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I can still remember Jeff Cooper saying they were stocks, a grip is what you put on them, I still call them grips though...

Some of the guys I worked with over the years liked to call those things "handles" I knew what they meant and that's all I cared about.

Don't forget that there are some characters out there that enjoy deliberately using incorrect slang terms or pronounciations just to get the goat of those who are so very concerned about using correct terminology. Who Me?

There are many examples in the English language where two different words can have the same meaning, or refer to the same object. When it comes to the material that you hold onto a handgun, grips and stocks mean the same thing.

Some people just can't get over the way they understand the meaning and make a big deal out of it. This person used this term, this other person called it that, this book said that, this other person said that, this company called it this thing, this other company called it that; blech!!

Most of us understand what is meant when either word is used, and just continue on with our happy lives... Use whatever word makes you happy, I've got your back, got you covered, got your six, etc... .

__________________
NRA Life Member

Only the pink ones deserve handle thingie.

To-may-to, to-mah-to.

I'm kind of a traditionalist, but not a purist except about things like their-there-they're, to-two-too, its-it's, and sweet cornbread.

Oh, and Cheez Whiz and Miracle Whip, two more offenses against nature.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

maybe she was right ?

__________________
Paul
S&WCA #2726

To paraphrase Jeff Cooper, "grip" is what you do with your hand. The wooden or synthetic handle on your pistol is a "stock."

To the best of my knowledge only Smith & Wesson identifies them incorrectly.Kind of like Porche calling the tires the wheels.

Grips or stocks, seems the term stock is preferred by Smith & Wesson purists. My biggest beef is with those who don't know the differences between bullets and cartridges.

__________________
Join the NRA today

They're stocks for those with an obsession for purity----because S&W used to call them that. The easiest way to understand it is to remember the stocks are the things that fit on the grip frame---which I believe is another S&W term---or not. I have no recollection of the grip frame being referred to as a stock frame.

Ralph Tremaine

And just to see what THE "discriminating, sophisticated, erudite, collector" (per "sodacan") calls them, I went through a book with 63 factory letters in it. I will readily admit this a questionable example of analytical statistical analysis----------------------but it's close enough.

STOCKS: 11

GRIPS: 35

NEITHER (No mention): 17

So-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ralph Tremaine

Make that 64 letters. In one of them, the handles were mentioned twice----stocks once, grips once.

Wow, Ralph. Unless you obtained them a long time ago, that's $3200. For that you could probably buy a first year .44 Magnum. Just a thought.

And just so you don't think I'm criticizing, I have about a dozen. And it was money well spent!

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Or between a crane and a yoke.

I always get a good grip on my stock before I shove the clip into my magazine fed revolver.

I have grips on my handguns and stocks on my long guns. I have no intention of changing the way I refer to either and have no objection to anyone's desire to use other terms - although I cringe whenever I hear "handles."

Do a Google search for handgun stocks and see what comes up. Then do the same for handgun grips.

Grips on handguns and stocks on rifles for me.

Besides, who ever heard anybody say "stag stocks"

__________________
C & L

At last! Now I understand! Larry

Why I don't know, but I refer to rubber grips as "grips", and wood and everything else as "stocks". Must be the sofisticated royal blood in my veins

__________________
John

There's a difference??? Larry

A crane is a big bird and a yoke is the yaller part of an egg. Larry

Hey, you're funny man the way you like to yoke all the time.

Pawl or hand ??

__________________
John

DOES IT REALLY MATTER? Most of us know what is trying to be conveyed. Bob

GRIPS! There, it's settled.

I'm much too lazy to worry about it too much.

__________________
John 3:16 .

Get on S&W's website and see what term they use for those things that they sell there.

.45 or 9mm? And which is better for bear?

I think everyone should get a grip on this silly situation and call them what they want to. I call them stocks, or grips, depending. See. In the grand scheme of things it make no difference.

DW

__________________
"NUTS"

Whatever Roy Jinks says.

__________________
Sure you did

I've called 'em "grips" for 40 years. Right or wrong, I'm not going to change now...

__________________
"Shall not be infringed"

Yes - but I want to see it in a letter!

I replaced the stock grips on the handle of my new revolver so I can grip my stocks better.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

It can be just about as confusing as pistol, revolver, gun....Some folks are very persnickety about this stuff and never blunder, they probably did well in English class also. I know for sure that I have been writing something regarding a revolver and got tired of using the word over and over and probably switched off to gun just for a break in overusing the word revolver...which by the way can be a real pain to type, it is very easy to get the second v before the l.

Perhaps you should (snicker) consider legal (giggle) action. I wouldn't put up with it if I were you.