New Karl Nill UIT Grips for my 14-4 (8-3/8”)

6string · #1 03-26-2025, 06:24 AM

Hi,
I thought I’d share something y’all don’t see everyday.
I just got a nice Karl Nill UIT target grip (left hand!), made in Germany. Here’s how it looks on my 14-4 with 8-3/8” barrel.

I think they look and feel great, even if the barrel length exceeds UIT Centerfire Match regulations.

These Nill grips are renowned for their ergonomic design. They really help with a steady hold on these long barrel S&Ws!

(Sorry for the grainy third photo. It was a bit tricky to hold the gun and take the picture at the same time!)

Thanks to my good friend Peter, and fellow forum member, “P.44”,
for facilitating the deal on the grip and getting it across the Atlantic!

Protocall_Design · #2 03-26-2025, 09:16 AM

Nice! that's almost a Hammerli now!

22hipower · #3 03-26-2025, 09:17 AM

Nice, although I'm not familiar with those grips. I'm taking my 8 3/8 14-3 out for some exercise today but I'll have to get along with the S&W target stocks that are on it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

6string · #4 03-26-2025, 09:58 AM

An interesting design feature of the Nill grip is that it gets the web of your hand as high as possible. The bore and line of sight is closer to the top of your hand. This assists balance and recoil control.
Since the hand sits so high, you can see in the attached picture that the top of the grip has a recess cutout to allow for the hammer spur!
The last picture shows the adjustable palm shelf.

6string · #5 03-26-2025, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protocall_Design

Nice! that's almost a Hammerli now!

My Hammerli 160 free pistol also has a Karl Nill grip.

H Richard · #6 03-26-2025, 10:58 AM

These are the type of grips you will find on most all Olympic game handguns.

iPac · #7 03-26-2025, 08:04 PM

Nills are outstanding quality grips, but you pay for it. Not sure I would want to know what those set you back, lol. I have a pair of open back, round butt, combats for my snub Python that I carry on occasion. IIRC, there were like 2 dealers here in the states that could get them, but they don't carry the full inventory. They would take orders I believe though.

I bet those target ones you got give amazing control. I have a similar style Herrett targets for my 17-3 which really gives me good control. I bet those Nills are multiple times better.

6string · #8 03-26-2025, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iPac

Nills are outstanding quality grips, but you pay for it. Not sure I would want to know what those set you back, lol. I have a pair of open back, round butt, combats for my snub Python that I carry on occasion. IIRC, there were like 2 dealers here in the states that could get them, but they don't carry the full inventory. They would take orders I believe though.

I bet those target ones you got give amazing control. I have a similar style Herrett targets for my 17-3 which really gives me good control. I bet those Nills are multiple times better.

Karl Nill, Thomas Rink, and Cesare Morini are the primary makers for the UIT style grips.
Quite a few of them are only by special order. There are so many options: LH/RH, anywhere from 3-8 hand sizes, 7 degree offset if your are cross-eye dominant, not to mention the many different makes and models of target arms.
There are also VIP services where you can get an appointment at the workshop and they will take a 3-D mold of your hand then make a one-of-a-kind fitted grip.

Yet, with all that, many shooters will not hesitate to carve up their grips with a Dremel then add wood putty, or the like, to tweak the fit.
Attached are a couple photos of my Pardini K60 air pistol with heavily reworked grip. Those are both 20 shot 10 meter offhand groups.

413Maxwedge · #9 03-28-2025, 11:25 AM

I don't know about UIT Shooting but I can attest that K-N / Nill Griffe makes some nice grips. While most of my revolvers are K and L frames, I started with J's.

While I like the concealability of magnas w/ a grip adapter, my XL arthritic hand likes a fuller grip that wraps around the backstrap (on J frames only). Otherwise the back corner of my Centennial has too much room to move back and hurt my thumb knuckle.

About a year ago I found N-G and ordered these direct from their German website. Not only do they enclosed the grip frame but the "beaver tail" shape fills my hand similar to a K/L with open-back grips (panels, magna, combats, etc.).

Nill Griffe for the win!

H Richard · #10 03-29-2025, 12:15 PM

These are grips I had made for my IZH35M target pistol.The makers name was Ernie Vitarbo. Not sure if he is still in business or not. He makes them off a xerox of your hand, with measurements at 3 or 4 points of the thickness of the hand. Really do help with, or it did back when I could still hold a gun steady enough.

413Maxwedge · #11 03-29-2025, 04:27 PM

I completely understand the "custom made" aspect of grips like those above, BUT...

Okay I shoot Trap and have had a custom stock made for me by my gun's original manufacturer (Ljutic Shotguns) at a cost around $2k. It was worth it.

But what is with all the chunky chunks of wood on you guy's grips? It looks like they took a 6×6 post and cut out your grips, but left all the extra wood that should have been discarded. Is that for balance or recoil-absorbing weight or what? That would not be acceptable to the $40k trap gun guys I compete with.

Again, I know nothing about competitive handgun shooting. Please educate me.

SS336 · #12 03-29-2025, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6string

Karl Nill, Thomas Rink, and Cesare Morini are the primary makers for the UIT style grips.
Quite a few of them are only by special order. There are so many options: LH/RH, anywhere from 3-8 hand sizes, 7 degree offset if your are cross-eye dominant, not to mention the many different makes and models of target arms.
There are also VIP services where you can get an appointment at the workshop and they will take a 3-D mold of your hand then make a one-of-a-kind fitted grip.

Yet, with all that, many shooters will not hesitate to carve up their grips with a Dremel then add wood putty, or the like, to tweak the fit.

Yes serious target shooters are a strange lot.
As I get older my hands aren’t as “meaty” as they used to be. My 30 year old stocks need an up-grade. Pink Bondo is quite stylish, no? 🙄😁

6string · #13 03-30-2025, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 413Maxwedge

I completely understand the "custom made" aspect of grips like those above, BUT...

Okay I shoot Trap and have had a custom stock made for me by my gun's original manufacturer (Ljutic Shotguns) at a cost around $2k. It was worth it.

But what is with all the chunky chunks of wood on you guy's grips? It looks like they took a 6×6 post and cut out your grips, but left all the extra wood that should have been discarded. Is that for balance or recoil-absorbing weight or what? That would not be acceptable to the $40k trap gun guys I compete with.

Again, I know nothing about competitive handgun shooting. Please educate me.

For many, grip fitting is an ongoing process. Most grip makers, and their customers, understand that grips are delivered in an incomplete state.
I like to use putty, like SS336, and I like non-permanent options like leather strips or Dr. Scholl’s stick-on shoe pads.

If you would like to see a beautiful target pistol grip, please go to posts #2, #21 and #39 in the following thread. There’s pictures of my Hämmerli “Luxus” model 105 with carved grip and forend.

Hammerli Free Pistol model 100

Actually, the whole thread is filled with amazing info!

Quite often, when a used free pistol is offered for sale, there’s hardly any wood left. Just a hacked up skeleton covered in wood putty, epoxy, foam, cloth, etc.
It can really take a neophyte by surprise!

The attached picture will probably make your cringe, (or worse!)

6string · #14 03-30-2025, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Richard

These are grips I had made for my IZH35M target pistol.The makers name was Ernie Vitarbo. Not sure if he is still in business or not. He makes them off a xerox of your hand, with measurements at 3 or 4 points of the thickness of the hand. Really do help with, or it did back when I could still hold a gun steady enough.

Yes, I knew Arnie (Arnold) Vitarbo! He was a legend! He got his start with the Air Force Pistol Team. Soon, he moved on from 2700 Bullseye to the International Pistol events and made the U.S. team. He shot in a few Olympic Games in the 1960s as well as Pan Am Games, World Cup, etc. He was in an elite group that included Joe Benner, Frank Green, Harry Reeve, Bill MacMillan, etc.
This group were the only American pistol shooters who could win Olympic medals in pistol events and not get skunked. This was considered very important at the time because Olympic competition was a vital part of Cold War messaging.
Anyhow, Arnie started his grip business with a fellow team mate. They sold their grips through the usual places: Gil Hebard, Champion’s Choice, etc.
Eventually, Arnie left the company. But, he would still make you a nice grip if you called him.
I got to know him through a mutual friend, Rudy Marent, the former head gunsmith with Hämmerli during the 50s and 60s.

Arnie continued shooting and coaching well into his 80s until he passed away in 2022. He built a great NCAA Pistol Team Program at Southern Utah University, and started a state level program, the Utah Precision Marksmanship Society. Some of the best pistol shooters in the USA regularly shoot in their matches.
If any of you have, or know, kids approaching college age, this is a great opportunity for a scholarship while earning a degree.
They have a website that can be found if you search the organization mentioned above.
If you visit the site, please click “information” then “newsletters”. You’ll learn a lot about the sport!
We need more of this sort of thing in this country!!

6string · #15 03-30-2025, 02:47 AM

PS: If anybody is intrigued by this style of shooting, and/or the grips discussed, there is a set of UIT style grips (Right Hand, N-frame Square Butt) I have for sale in the “classified” section, for much less than 1/2 the cost of a new Nill or Morini grip.

FS: Fitz N-Frame UIT style Target Grip -Reduced

(I hope it’s OK to make a reference to a classified ad that is posted on this forum. I checked the rules and it seems OK. Thanks!)

I can also help advise you with the match format and rules, targets used, etc.
Give it a try! It’s a great sport!

H Richard · #16 03-30-2025, 09:26 AM

I spent a few years at our local club trying to get a "bullseye" match going. Once a month on a Sunday and originally had interest, about 30+ members participating. The 2nd year maybe 20 regulars, and by the third year down to 10 or 15. The "Action Pistol" (USPSA) was drawing all the interest in pistol shooting. After 5 years, I just gave it up.
I did still participate in our winter pistol league (30 shot Gallery round) once a week for 10 weeks in the winter. I started it over 35 years ago, and it's still going. I had tried some interest in International shooting, but couldn't get enough interested shooters.

6string · #17 03-30-2025, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H Richard

I spent a few years at our local club trying to get a "bullseye" match going. Once a month on a Sunday and originally had interest, about 30+ members participating. The 2nd year maybe 20 regulars, and by the third year down to 10 or 15. The "Action Pistol" (USPSA) was drawing all the interest in pistol shooting. After 5 years, I just gave it up.
I did still participate in our winter pistol league (30 shot Gallery round) once a week for 10 weeks in the winter. I started it over 35 years ago, and it's still going. I had tried some interest in International shooting, but couldn't get enough interested shooters.

It can be a LOT of work, often leaving one discouraged.
A few of us got an International program going locally, and it worked out OK for about four years. We had sanctioned matches through USA Shooting that drew participants from other states.
One bonus is, we offered Rapid Fire Pistol! That drew shooters as it is rarely offered at small clubs.
Yes, we had two pneumatic target turners, each with the five target points. 22 Short was still the cartridge for that, and I had a nice Walther OSP with full wraparound Morini grip. (They don’t allow those anymore!)
(See attached for what they can look like after several years of hard use!)
It had the dry fire trigger module that you cock once then can “click” (fire) five times. Dry fire drills are crucial for Rapid Fire.
The gun comes up from 45 Degrees, and you better be on for that first shot or you’ll never catch up!

For fun, look up “Men’s Rapid Fire Pistol” on youtube and add “World Cup finals” or “Olympics finals”. The matches are really set up well for spectator interest. By the way, the Pardini SP-Rapid pistol absolutely rules this event right now!

iPac · #18 03-30-2025, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 413Maxwedge

About a year ago I found N-G and ordered these direct from their German website. Not only do they enclosed the grip frame but the "beaver tail" shape fills my hand similar to a K/L with open-back grips (panels, magna, combats, etc.).

Nill Griffe for the win!

Those are awesome Nills. Bet they make that J frame feel great in the hand. They're identical style to my Colt Python combats.

Nills not mated 1.jpg