Subject line says about all! As soon as my new/old model 58 is back from the factory, I plan on ordering some wood for it from Herrett's. I'd like your opinion on whether or not a Jordan style grip would be too big for my hand.

(The Jordan style covers the backstrap, increasing palm-to-trigger distance. The Roper style leaves backstrap exposed.)

Glove makers seem to believe my hand is somewhere between size L and XL... neither fits well. L is a bit too small and XL usually too big.

I've included a pic of me holding my Lew Horton 3" 624 (it's the house gun, so it's loaded). This is a round butt and the 58 is square, which makes them hard to compare, I know; sorry about that. The 624 here fills my hand quite well. Note that it's wearing the factory combat stocks, which leave the backstrap exposed. I guess that should bias me towards the Roper style for the 58, but I just don't know.

Can someone with experience with both styles enlighten me as to how each feels in the hand?

Thanks!

Subject line says about all! As soon as my new/old model 58 is back from the factory, I plan on ordering some wood for it from Herrett's. I'd like your opinion on whether or not a Jordan style grip would be too big for my hand.

(The Jordan style covers the backstrap, increasing palm-to-trigger distance. The Roper style leaves backstrap exposed.)

Glove makers seem to believe my hand is somewhere between size L and XL... neither fits well. L is a bit too small and XL usually too big.

I've included a pic of me holding my Lew Horton 3" 624 (it's the house gun, so it's loaded). This is a round butt and the 58 is square, which makes them hard to compare, I know; sorry about that. The 624 here fills my hand quite well. Note that it's wearing the factory combat stocks, which leave the backstrap exposed. I guess that should bias me towards the Roper style for the 58, but I just don't know.

Can someone with experience with both styles enlighten me as to how each feels in the hand?

Thanks!

Dunno...its really a matter of what works for you. I like everything about Jordon Troopers. The way they look, the history of them etc. But, they don't work for me when I actually shoot the gun. My hand has to rotate further around (counterclockwise) to reach the trigger and the top of the grip smacks me right on the top edge of my thumb bone where it connects to my hand.

Theres no answer...A size 9 1/2 boot fits me fine, may not work as well for you.

I'm pretty sure Herretts takes a handprint, an outline you provide of your hand, so seems to me that either style would fit you as either would be made for your hand. I'd call up Herretts and talk to them tho -- nice folks, and, as you'd expect, they know grips.

Joni_Lynn is our resident expert on Herrett grips, as SmithNut is on Spegel. I think they own stock in the companies!

I realize you were showing your grip and trigger reach, but ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until you're on target and ready to shoot. An AD can ruin your <STRIKE>day</STRIKE> <STRIKE>week</STRIKE> life.

http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

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"I also cook."

I have fairly large hands also and prefer the Roper style. Bill Jordan had HUGE hands, putting a quarter in his hand looked like a dime in mine. I have never found a grip, that covers the backstrap, that was comfortable for me.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

I suspect that the Roper grips are a safer bet. But I knew Jordan slightly and handled a number of his guns. I could use his grips, and a friend with smaller hands had a set of Jordans on a M-29.

They really cut recoil from full magnum loads.

I do not care for the target style S&W grips past the early ones. They are too thick.

I really think the Jordan grips on N-frame guns are too large for most people. But do call Herrett's. I'm guessing that Joni Lynn's hands aren't huge, and I think she uses them.

T-Star

I love the Jordan Trooper grips, and have them on all my magnum caliber S&W's. Since Herrett's is going to make them to fit your hand, they should work fine. Give them a call if you have any questions.

I like Ropers on any N frame gun with a barrel of 5" or less, no barrel lug. Anything over 5" or with a lug, I prefer the Jordan Trooper. The Ropers on a heavy N frame with a longer barrel gives it a too muzzle heavy feel. So on a Model 58 I'd go with the Ropers.

Bill Jordan had hands the size of badminton rackets and the grip that Herrett's makes maintains the philosophy of lots of wood to wrap your hand around.

Judging from your picture I would try the Ropers that's what Skeeter Skelton used on his N and K frames.

I've got Ropers on most of my n-frames. I love them. Haven't tried the Jordans because I think they'd be too big for my hands. But definitely call Herrett's. Good folks, a pleasure to deal with.

I have fairly large hands and had Herrett's make a set of Jordan Troopers to my hand tracing for an N Frame. They never did feel right, the covered back strap on an N Frame increased the reach too much. I'd go with Ropers on an N Frame. I do have a set of Jordan Troopers for a K Frame and will put them on a 4" Model 19 when I find one. They seem to make the gun handle better with the short, heavy barrels, they feel awkward with the pencil barrels of any length, at least to me.

My hands are large, about the same as a man my height would be. (5' 14")
If you have Herrett's and they don't feel right call and talk to Dee, the grips can be made smaller. I've sent grips back before to be reduced and been very happy with the result.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Off topic, but Joni, is 5' 14" the same as 6' 2"?

Peace,

I have medium sized hands.

I have Jordan Troopers with covered backstrap on a 586. They feel great.

Most of my N frames have open-back Jordan Troopers. Herrett's will make them that way if you ask.

I need to order some Ropers to find out how different they are. I think the Jordan Troopers are wider than the Ropers.

Herretts will make Jordan without covering the backstrap, which is the way to go if you have an average hand. Jordan's hands were very large, thus stocks made for him just will not work for the rest of us. Just have them made with the backstrap exposed.

The stanndard "Trooper" stocks are really nice- a little smaller than the Jordans, but still covering the backstrap. I also like the checkering. These Troopers are on a 15-6.
Bob

My vote is for the Jordan Trooper although the Roper is a great grip too. The Jordan (at least mine is) is not as large as you would think. It's actually slimmer and better proportioned than factory targets. Chack out the photos below showing the grips from the bottom.
This is my 25-5

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

Nice looking wood ya got there, Sceva!

I see from your images' URLs that these are Herrett's work. Are these the standard walnut, or did you pony up the $ for something fancy? Just wondering what to expect....

These are the fancy walnut Herrett's. They have the oil finish which I recommend over the gloss finish that Herrett also offers. I snagged these off of Eb#y several years ago. For about $85.00 if I remember correctly.
They must have been made for someone with a hand similar to mine as they fit me great and my revolver points better with them than any others I have tried.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I ordered a pair of detective grips from Herrett's about a year ago. As required I sent in the outline drawing of my hand. The grips I got back were gigantic. They totally overwhelmed the little M-36. They would have overwhelmed an M-500. Of course they fixed everything for me but the point is, hand drawings as a template for gun grips is a BAD idea that has way outlasted its shelf life. I think it's time to dump it and come up with something better.

I don't think I have terribly large hands - size Extra Large gloves almost always fit. But there is something about that hand drawing that just doesn't get er done for me.

Back in the 80's when Mr. Roper was still working, I ordered two pair of his grips for the K-frame. I was so leery of that drawing thing (based on previous experience) that I sent him a drawing of my girl friend's hand instead of my own. Voila! I got 2 pair of perfectly proportioned grips. Still have them.