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09-04-2021, 02:00 PM
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Just a rear view mirror reflection on S&W grips
Back in the days of the 70's. The aftermarket "Goodyear" grips hit
the marketplace.
Promoted to, and widely accepted by the population that anything
wood and factory was unmanageable, hand biting, clumsy, and
a deterrent to accuracy.
Had numerous customers back then, that dumped the original
grips, that were subsequently discarded, before they even
fired the gun.
Just a little something you wouldn't know, unless you were there.
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09-04-2021, 02:12 PM
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I remember those days. Many customers bought gun and rubber at the same time. Swapped 'em out right then and there, then just left them for the dealer to do whatever he wanted. Most every gun shop had a big box of factory stocks for sale dirt cheap.
This is also the reason you find many old revolvers without factory grips, but some aftermarket junk. I miss those days.
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09-04-2021, 02:15 PM
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That one plus how many tossed the box, manuals, any tools that came with it and all accessories and now when they learn what the original grips and the above may add to the value especially if the pistol is in great shape some are shocked.
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09-04-2021, 05:42 PM
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I remember all the strange looks I would get at the range for actually shooting most of my magnum’s with the factory wood target stocks.This was in the early 80’s
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09-04-2021, 06:01 PM
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There was a gunshop with lots of spare everything in it up in Pa. Bought several sets of factory grips. Sadly the owner passed and his kids had no desires to run a gun shop.
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09-04-2021, 06:11 PM
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For a couple of decades I usually went to the gun show but couldn't afford a lot of nice guns. I most often bought reloading tools and supplies. The other frequent purchase, often unneeded at the moment but great for souvenirs, was S&W Target Stocks. Most were $5 to $10 in excellent condition.
However, before I started going to shows I bought a couple pairs new in the store for $25. That was in the 1970s. A friend bought the most beautiful pair of rosewood Target Stocks that I've seen new for $50. They had distinct white, black and red grains about 1/8" wide. Hung on the shelf next to them was the only pair of zebra wood factory Targets I've seen. They had distinct black and white grains. They were also $50. Since I've not even seen a pair on this forum I wish that I'd squandered $50 on them. Who knew?
Edit to add: That $50 should be put in historical perspective. Excellent condition Model 36 Chief Specials were readily available for $125 and excellent condition Model 10s were readily available for $150.
Last edited by k22fan; 09-04-2021 at 06:20 PM.
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09-04-2021, 06:19 PM
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I, too, remember the introduction of Pachmayr's famous rubber grips. I bought several sets and still have a few. While they were not necessarily pretty, they were very functional in reducing felt recoil and they were slim and comfortable in the hand. This was in comparison to the very attractive factory wood grips that fit some hands but not all and were not forgiving in regards to heavy recoil in the revolver (primarily) that you were shooting.
Kind of a two-way street..... The wood was great. But, for most or average owners, they didn't fit the hand very well. The large hand swell and sharp checkering could be problematical. The rubber was good for holding a good grip and slippage was almost eliminated while shooting any load but especially heavy loads. One problem that many of us found with the Pachmayr grip was that it had a tendency to cause "sweating" on the grip frame which caused rust. The wood grips never had any problems in this regard. I always liked the wood grips and never got rid of them when I used my old revolvers. But usually when I went shooting, the Pachs were on the gun....
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09-04-2021, 06:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aircrewman
I, too, remember the introduction of Pachmayr's famous rubber grips. I bought several sets and still have a few. While they were not necessarily pretty, they were very functional in reducing felt recoil and they were slim and comfortable in the hand. This was in comparison to the very attractive factory wood grips that fit some hands but not all and were not forgiving in regards to heavy recoil in the revolver (primarily) that you were shooting.
Kind of a two-way street..... The wood was great. But, for most or average owners, they didn't fit the hand very well. The large hand swell and sharp checkering could be problematical. The rubber was good for holding a good grip and slippage was almost eliminated while shooting any load but especially heavy loads. One problem that many of us found with the Pachmayr grip was that it had a tendency to cause "sweating" on the grip frame which caused rust. The wood grips never had any problems in this regard. I always liked the wood grips and never got rid of them when I used my old revolvers. But usually when I went shooting, the Pachs were on the gun....
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A good friend of mine loves Pachmayr's grips. Every handgun he owns has a pair on them. He has two dresser drawers filled with loose S&W, Colt and Ruger grips. Has given me several pairs of K & N frame grips for my guns. Gave me a set of S&W K frame Combat Grips for my PPC revolver. Won't take a cent for them either......Great Friend!!
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09-04-2021, 06:42 PM
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I bought my first S&W revolver, Model 67, at Forrest Kruse gun shop in Austin, Tx in 1973. Mr Kruse offered a set of smooth rosewood targets for $10 extra, installed. I took him up on his offer and foolishly left the original magnas. Never thought about changing to pacs.
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09-04-2021, 08:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lrb1200
Back in the days of the 70's. The aftermarket "Goodyear" grips hit
the marketplace.
......
Had numerous customers back then, that dumped the original
grips, that were subsequently discarded, before they even
fired the gun.
Just a little something you wouldn't know, unless you were there.
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Yeah, I remember the days when I was such a rube who bought guns just to shoot them ...
I think I've told this story here before. I had acquired a used Model 66. I found the original target stocks too big, so I took a hacksaw and chopped the bottoms off level with the steel grip frame. That ended up not feeling great and looking worse, so I threw them away and bought rubber grips.
Ah, those innocent days of my youth ...
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09-04-2021, 08:56 PM
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^^^^^^
Heck, whittling grips to make them fit my hand was a pastime of mine. Why else would S&W put all that extra wood in there if they did not want you to thin it down to fit your hand?
Kevin
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09-04-2021, 10:43 PM
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I really liked the two piece S&W boxes. You could use them to sort your brass while you reload.
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09-04-2021, 10:54 PM
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HA!!!
You brought back some fun memories. I went through various stocks for many guns. I basically don't do that anymore but sometimes I do.
However, I have some unusual ones that have always generated amusement. A few decades back I was given a Colt Cobra. I did not like those Colt grips so I replaced them - but, even after many years, several marriages, and a big fire I still have them stored away - the gun still wears these:
Also, way back around the same time, I bought a snub nosed Ruger Security Six. I didn't like its grips either, and some folks think I got a little extreme with the replacements, but that gun is accurate and fun to shoot - and I am pretty sure I still have its original grips, too:
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09-04-2021, 11:00 PM
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To avoid clutter, I'll add some other pictures in a separate post:
Guns whose stocks I replaced with elk made by our bgmntmn:
M27 Classic - had gorgeous rosewood magnas that never fit it properly:
I'm not sure why I replaced the original stocks on the M10 .357 Magnum but they might have been water and heat damaged - or maybe just because :
I replaced the original stocks on this M25-5 "just because":
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09-05-2021, 08:10 AM
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In the mid 1980s Keisler Police Supply in Jeffersonville IN had a bunch of S&W mod 66 Indiana State Police trade ins.
They went to a Beretta 92G and the stainless Smiths were $250 apiece if you took two or more.
I only found 3 or 4 with wood stocks in a pile of 20 or more revolvers.
I asked Doug Keisler where all the factory stock were, he said thrown away, gave away. He had a box in the back and said you can pick out a set for each gun you buy, on the house.
I got 2 target stocks and two 4 inch revolvers that day.
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09-05-2021, 08:20 AM
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I have my service revolver from my first LEO job. A Smith & Wesson Model 66-2 4". It was brand new when it was issued to me. I didn't get the box. It came with Goncalo Alves Checkered Target Stocks. About a month later, I won $75 on a Missouri Lottery scratch off ticket, and used $50 to buy a set of K Frame Combat Stocks, which are still on the pistol. I tossed the targets. In the early 90's, we switched to Glock 22's and 23's, and we got the opportunity to buy our revolvers from the distributor handling the trade. I bought mine for $175, asked the Captain about the box, and was told the department always tossed it after issue.
Oh well . . .
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09-05-2021, 08:48 AM
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I worked part time for a large police S&W distributor in the 70’s and 80’s as an armorer. My job was to inspect and ensure that outgoing department purchases of anywhere from a dozen to several thousand S&W revolvers were functional/complete and ready to go out in a cop’s holster.
Many departments wanted Pach’s on their issue weapons. SOP was to remove/replace the factory grips/stocks and discard the wooden ones and slap a set of rubber grips on the new outgoing revolver. Over the years I saw thousands of S&w factory grips get tossed and this was just one distributor in the S/W.
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09-05-2021, 09:39 AM
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I have fond memories of the grip/holster box at my LGS back in the 70's & 80's. I still have a couple items i scavenged from that big old box of "junk" that people had pitched factory grips and then holsters when trading in a gun and the new one wouldn't fit their old one. Anything in the box $5.
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09-05-2021, 10:11 AM
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My late father bought a 686 in 1981. I now have it including everything it came with and his receipt. On the receipt it notes Pachmayr grips, thankfully he put the wood targets in the box which it wears today.
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09-05-2021, 10:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kmyers
That one plus how many tossed the box, manuals, any tools that came with it and all accessories and now when they learn what the original grips and the above may add to the value especially if the pistol is in great shape some are shocked.
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Exactly. A friend of mine has a 4" Model 19-5 that he bought new. He has never fired it. He doesn't have the box or papers. I don't think he even remembers if he got them with the gun.
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09-05-2021, 11:09 AM
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A shooting partner of mine who is in his 80’s remarked a couple of weeks ago that he had some S&W stocks/grips that had come off from combat magnums back in the 70’s and he was going to give them away.
He was shocked and not quite believing me when I told him he could sell them for $100 plus depending on the condition and wood. He was even more shocked when he learned that the box full of S A T’s and unopened bags of cleaning rods, mops and brushes were going for $25 and up.
He turned all of them over to his SIL who has been selling the stuff onEbay for what I told them they would bring. They were both shocked at what they went for and how fast they went.
Last edited by loc n load; 09-05-2021 at 11:11 AM.
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09-05-2021, 11:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loc n load
A shooting partner of mine who is in his 80’s remarked a couple of weeks ago that he had some S&W stocks/grips that had come off from combat magnums back in the 70’s and he was going to give them away.
He was shocked and not quite believing me when I told him he could sell them for $100 plus depending on the condition and wood. He was even more shocked when he learned that the box full of S A T’s and unopened bags of cleaning rods, mops and brushes were going for $25 and up.
He turned all of them over to his SIL who has been selling the stuff onEbay for what I told them they would bring. They were both shocked at what they went for and how fast they went.
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I have two rooms of "stuff" that is gun related. Have been trying to educate my Daughter and the Grandkids that not to sell it at a yard sale or to the local gun shop for pennies. Sell it on ebay or gunbroker or the like.
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09-05-2021, 02:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AJ
I have two rooms of "stuff" that is gun related. Have been trying to educate my Daughter and the Grandkids that not to sell it at a yard sale or to the local gun shop for pennies. Sell it on ebay or gunbroker or the like.
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Better plan, do it yourself and give the envelope of cash to whomever you want.
Otherwise, probably going to be sold cheap.
Kevin
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09-05-2021, 02:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StrawHat
Better plan, do it yourself and give the envelope of cash to whomever you want.
Otherwise, probably going to be sold cheap.
Kevin
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May do just that.
AJ
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09-05-2021, 02:41 PM
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I have started thinning my gun related “stuff” out. I sold three shoe boxes of “take off” Smith grips several years ago, my wife was flabbergasted. She admitted that she would have just tossed those boxes in the trash.
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09-05-2021, 03:39 PM
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I always liked Smith & Wesson checkered target stocks and never changed them out for anything else. Today, I collect them and am amazed how their values rise and fall. The only "handgun" on which I ever changed grips prior to even leaving the gun shop was a T/C Contender Super 14. The shop owner told me I wouldn't like shooting it with the wood grip and forend so I took his word for it and bought the Pachmayr set.
Ed
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09-05-2021, 09:37 PM
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I like wood stocks and almost all of my smiths have them. I have never put a pair of rubber grips on my Smiths.
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09-05-2021, 09:52 PM
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Grips! ?
Way back when on the original Smith & Wesson forum on Yahoo Groups, I sold 2 sets of Combat N frame grips for $90.00. I thought I made a killing! Doubled my money! And then I got educated!
jcelect
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09-05-2021, 10:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcelect
Way back when on the original Smith & Wesson forum on Yahoo Groups, I sold 2 sets of Combat N frame grips for $90.00. I thought I made a killing! Doubled my money! And then I got educated!
jcelect
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A couple of years ago a friend gave me a set of K frame combats for one of my revolvers. I was informed at the time that they were worth about $250. Tried to pay him for them and he said no. What are they worth nowadays?
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09-05-2021, 11:08 PM
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I always put rubber grips on my revolvers which were all used for duty or BU/OD. For duty use the wood grips just get all beat up. The rubbers just work better in diverse weather conditions. However, when I initially got my new 60 no dash I didn't get rubber right away. I don't remember why. Probably too fat for the guns purpose. I did get speedloaders for it but the grips weren't designed for it. A file and sandpaper fixed that.
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09-05-2021, 11:25 PM
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Picked these up at a show in Jacksonville a month or so ago for $80 for the pair. One K one N frame
Robert
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09-06-2021, 07:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayfox
I remember those days. Many customers bought gun and rubber at the same time. Swapped 'em out right then and there, then just left them for the dealer to do whatever he wanted. Most every gun shop had a big box of factory stocks for sale dirt cheap.
This is also the reason you find many old revolvers without factory grips, but some aftermarket junk. I miss those days.
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The odd one still does.
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09-06-2021, 08:43 PM
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Yep, remember buying my first duty gun in 1984, a 4” 686 with combats, which were quickly replaced with Pachmayr Grippers. It was the first of many. Still scratching my head.
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09-08-2021, 06:38 PM
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Don't understand the comments by some about the nasty rubber grips being better for recoil.....the wide cross section of the k and n frame targets divided the recoil over a larger area, making it more comfortable to shoot. My girlfriend in the late 70s preferred to shoot a friend's 4" m29 with his stout handloads over my 1911. All due to the wide target grips on the Smith
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09-08-2021, 08:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogerwnuss
Don't understand the comments by some about the nasty rubber grips being better for recoil.....the wide cross section of the k and n frame targets divided the recoil over a larger area, making it more comfortable to shoot. My girlfriend in the late 70s preferred to shoot a friend's 4" m29 with his stout handloads over my 1911. All due to the wide target grips on the Smith
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Roger,
Some think the rubber “cushions” the recoil. My objection to rubber grips was they could not be snugged to the frame to prevent shifting while firing. On my competition revolvers, I would get two separate but overlapping groups. Enough dispersion to keep me out of the top tier. Once I understood the problem, I switched back to wood!
Kevin
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09-08-2021, 09:41 PM
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I remember those days well; I dumped a lot of magnas over the years and never missed them a bit, except when I consider how much I could sell them for today on eBay. My only S&W revolver that I don’t enjoy shooting is a Model 10 that still wears its magnas for sentimental reasons. More recently, I acquired a LNIB Ruger Security Six with beautiful walnut factory target grips. They looked so pretty that I took them to the range. I shot it once and remembered how much I dislike shooting a .357 revolver with wooden grips. I ordered Pachmayrs the next day with no regrets.
Last edited by eclayton; 09-08-2021 at 10:34 PM.
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09-09-2021, 10:03 AM
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Back in ‘78 I was issued a brand new M19 while in the Academy and I hated the stock target grips. So after graduation I bought a set of Pachmayr Presentation grips which I still have. Eventually I was able to trade in the 19 to the Armorer for a M 28 that I added a Tyler T to. When I moved on to another department I was issued a 686 that I added Pachmayr Grippers to and bought Presentations for my new 65-1. Been retired since 2006 but I still have all the Pachs as well as several sets of Magnas and targets. I never threw away anything!
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09-09-2021, 10:53 AM
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Common practice in my early days of law Enforcement. Had a brand new 66-2 and a 60. Took them home went to a local retailer and bought pachmayr grips for both of them. Luckily I put my factory grips in the Pachmayr box and held onto them for years. Unluckily I decided I don't need these old grips anymore, because I was very involved in 1911's at the time. Sold a few sets on the 1911 forum for a lot less than they were worth I'm sure. Since then I have checked with friends to see if they had their Original S&W grips. Many did and were willing to part with them. I offered to pay them and they turned the money down. Got 4 or 5 nice sets of grips that way. I now have extras in case somebody wants to unload that old S&W wearing pachmayr grips.
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09-09-2021, 11:30 AM
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I do remember when gun stores and pawn shops had a box of assorted s&w and colt revolver grips for cheap and I do have several different s&w stocks in bags of other gun accessories...
It's funny I remember seeing the s&w round butt banana grips and finger groove combat grips for cheap too, sometimes in unopened plastic/cardboard packs and never cared to buy them even when seen cheap because they are not attractive to me then or now, just not to my liking at all but, they are the bee's knees to so many folks these days at a premium lol! To each his own.
Back in 1987, I bought my 1st new s&w, a 4" 686 with target stocks for a then new cost of $287 after boot camp graduation. I loved the grip of the k/L frame targets and shot it very well with that setup....my good friend was with me at a gun store browsing and it was my b-day, so he sneakily with good intentions, bought a pair of hogue finger grip very rubbery grips for my 686 thinking I would be super happy, I graciously put them on and they felt good shooting with them but, I soon swapped them out and he noticed right away and I told him I just liked to swap them back and forth, trying not to bruise his feelings of good intention or show lack of gratuitude but I just never warmed up to them and have always loved the classic look of the factory targets and of course the great grip...many years later, I have purchased a new 29 mtn gun that came with two sets of stocks, a crummy pair of digital cnc cut pair in wood with a crummily placed set of logos, and a set of hogues with s&w logos embossed or stamped in them-barf, I bought a couple different sets to fill my needs but the new gun stocks leave a lot to be desired! Cheers for vintage s&w stocks though!
Last edited by mikeruns; 09-09-2021 at 04:31 PM.
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09-10-2021, 01:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StrawHat
Roger,
Some think the rubber “cushions” the recoil. My objection to rubber grips was they could not be snugged to the frame to prevent shifting while firing. On my competition revolvers, I would get two separate but overlapping groups. Enough dispersion to keep me out of the top tier. Once I understood the problem, I switched back to wood!
Kevin
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Kevin, yeah. I don't understand it. If folks want to make the argument that rubber is eaaier to grip with sweaty hands, that's an argument we could have but I don't for one moment buy the idea that narrow assed rubber grips soften recoil. if anything they make it worse because they focus it on a narrow strip in one's palm plus they ugly as Eleanor Roosevelt
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09-10-2021, 01:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogerwnuss
I don't for one moment buy the idea that narrow assed rubber grips soften recoil. if anything they make it worse because they focus it on a narrow strip in one's palm
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The grips that came on my new 629 Classic are so sharp at the back, they're uncomfortable to hold. I can't imagine what shooting full power loads would feel like. Luckily, people like Curt Harlow exist. He's made me a set of, as I asked for, Rd to Sq conversion smooth cokes with a speedloader cutout. Should be here today or tomorrow. As is usual for Curt, he marries function and beauty seamlessly. Here's a teaser pic he sent me before shipping. That ain't Eleanor Roosevelt. That's Maureen O'Hara.
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09-10-2021, 07:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StrawHat
Roger,
Some think the rubber “cushions” the recoil. My objection to rubber grips was they could not be snugged to the frame to prevent shifting while firing. On my competition revolvers, I would get two separate but overlapping groups. Enough dispersion to keep me out of the top tier. Once I understood the problem, I switched back to wood!
Kevin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogerwnuss
Kevin, yeah. I don't understand it. If folks want to make the argument that rubber is eaaier to grip with sweaty hands, that's an argument we could have but I don't for one moment buy the idea that narrow assed rubber grips soften recoil. if anything they make it worse because they focus it on a narrow strip in one's palm plus they ugly as Eleanor Roosevelt
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I did not use "Goodyear" grips on my 29-2 4 inch. But I did pull off the factory target grips and put on Herret Shooting Stars on it. Why you ask? The checkering was eating my hand, the high checkering was rubbing me raw.
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09-10-2021, 02:04 PM
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Over the years, I've given a good bit of thought to softening recoil (or not) with rubber grips. I've had Pachmyars on several handguns - the only one I felt they benefited was a Sig Sauer P6 - possibly because of it's alloy frame.
My conclusion is strictly personal & may sound nutty - but I've been comparing hand GRIP aspects - to SHOES. I have proved (to myself at least) that hard SOLES without soft insoles - are easier to walk in & less fatiguing over distance. Unfortunately, Shoes matching this description are hard to find these days & more Expensive.
I recently picked up an older steel Taurus .357 magnum snub nose revolver. After trying it with a pair of nicely contoured rosewood grips - compared to Rubber Hogue type - I found I preferred the slick & pretty Rosewood Grips - my hand absorbed the recoil - it didn't hurt - & I think I had a more positive hold - which is important for controlling a short barrel handgun.
So for me its hard grips/stocks - of which, I'm most partial to Horn & Bone, but do have a few milsurps with plastic/bakelite, + a few in wood.
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09-10-2021, 02:41 PM
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We had to buy our own revolvers, most of the department carried SWs. I had a Model 15 used it during firearms training, was later able to buy a Model 66 4" through the department which then I carried. This was in 1976.
The seat belts in those PD Novas we drove really rubbed the wood stocks, it was noticeable on several of the older guys sidearms. I replaced wood grips (which were stored in my 2 piece SW blue box) with Pacs. right off the bat.
Last edited by webley green; 09-10-2021 at 02:44 PM.
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09-10-2021, 03:16 PM
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It amazes me that there are so many buyers out there that do not care if a nice, vintage, revolver is wearing original, or at least period-correct, grips. I cannot, will not, pay what amounts to "full price" for something wearing plastic or neoprene after-market grips and it baffles me sellers don't understand this. Perhaps they just don't care about my gripes (that's not uncommon) because they generally sell for the asking price to someone else who doesn't mind an "altered" firearm without some discount.
I have acquired many that no longer sport original grips but do make some attempt to find decent-fitting "replicas" of some sort. The pre-Model 15 looks better without neoprene I think and so does the 10.
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09-10-2021, 05:18 PM
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I wrote and posted this back in 2016,
I bought a 19-5 today.
All the memories of my past sins came rushing back.
I have to make this confession to y'all, I have engaged in torture, mutilation and yes even MURDER.
As with all serial sadists, I started at a young age, and was brought into it by a older man.
I was in 7th grade, junior high in AZ in the 70's, my best friends dad worked vice for Pima County SO.
Even at that young an age, I was ate up with guns, I would do anything to shoot, hold or even look at different ones.
I had a J C Higgins double nine and 22 shells cost money, so my buddy's dad knew he could hook me.
He started me off small, loading 38's for his deputies to practice with.
A penny a round he paid me to load wadcutters with a Lee die set, a powder scoop and a mallet.
Then the horror started.
Remember, this was another age, one where Bill Jordan was the Jerry Miculek of the time.
Everyone on the dept wanted to be like Bill, and to be like Bill you need Jordan grips.
He started me off with murder right away, I killed two or three sets of beautiful Goncalo Alves just to practice my wicked ways.
I moved from destruction to mere mutilation, sanding down the checkering, rounding the beautifully cut butts, even....carving in finger grooves on some ( I shudder as I type this)
I was paid 5.00 a set,yes, it was a pittance for the butchery I visited upon them, but he would bring boxes home from the sheriffs office for me to work my sadistic magic on.
I mutalated more magnas in my life than I ever want to remember.
Please forgive me, I was young and stupid.
I have tried to atone for my sins, I readily give a home to any wayward S&W that is unloved, or unwanted. I have even worked for S&W, 1st as a manager of one of their ill fated retail stores ( believe me, that was torture), then as a RSM until the great purge in 2001.
I know no matter what I do, I will never wash away the sins I committed.
Most of those grips were probably thrown away during the great migration move to Pachmyers in the early 80's, but if you ever run across a set in southern AZ, tell them I am sorry for what I did.
Now that I have made my confession, maybe I can sleep at night.
I have been plagued for years with nightmares of all those wonderful silver or brass S&W grip medallions, sanded to smooth polished discs, chasing me down the street screaming "WHY"
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09-10-2021, 05:32 PM
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Those of us who grew up in hot, humid weather (Miami for me) resorted to stainless steel as a matter of necessity.
Rubber grips just rounded out the "sweat-proof" package, plus they were resistant to nicks and scratches on a working gun.
That being said, I was a huge fan of Mustang combat grips, including the pair I put on my 6" nickel Python.
Those were indeed the days...
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09-10-2021, 06:50 PM
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Back in The Day
When I started my PD career, it was with a Model 28 with Pachmayrs. All the academy instructors recommended them. So did the gun rags of the time. When Hogue's came along I tried them on a Model 65 and was satisfied until the night I dropped my gun belt and the grips popped part way off.(Anybody remember the original plastic clip Hogue used?) So I used a set of modified Herrett Shooting Stars until the department went semi-auto. I recently mentioned modifying the Herrett's on another board, and was taken to task by some fellow as I if I had defaced the Mona Lisa. Herrett's are on a Model 10 these days.
Last edited by Drago17; 09-10-2021 at 06:52 PM.
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09-10-2021, 08:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AJ
I did not use "Goodyear" grips on my 29-2 4 inch. But I did pull off the factory target grips and put on Herret Shooting Stars on it. Why you ask? The checkering was eating my hand, the high checkering was rubbing me raw.
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I can understand that. My brother-ex-law was a Colt junkie. He had a python, I shot it once. 6 rounds and my hand let me know I did not like that set of grips. Checkered Colt grips = cheese graters as far as I am concerned.
Kevin
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09-10-2021, 09:35 PM
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I have small hands and like the round butt guns. The K frames with the magna grips and the T-grips do well for me, like the 66-1 in the below picture.
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Last edited by reccpd101; 09-10-2021 at 09:38 PM.
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