Recently I bought a new S&W 617-6 with the standard Hogue rubbers and I’m considering fitting a new set of wooden grips.
I’m leaning towards the Ahrends Retro Targets but these are only offered with a smooth finish, (nothing on their website about checkering).
I have shot a few different revolvers but I think they were all either, checkered or wearing Hogue / Pachmayr’s, don’t recall using any with smooth grips except for a couple of Rugers; Single Six or Blackhawk some time back.
I always liked the S&W target grips on my old 586 square butt; unfortunately S&W no longer supply targets for the new round butt guns which is a pity because I think they would be quite popular.
My concern is whether the smooth grips can be slippery little buggers to handle compared to checkered grips or is there no noticeable difference worth worrying about; (the retro targets don’t have any finger grooves).
I would like to hear thoughts or opinions any of you may have about smooth versus checkered grips.
Campfire

I have the 8 3/8ths inch barrel 617 no dash which was delivered with the S&W finger grooved smooth finish combat grips. I found those to be slippery on such a heavy revolver. It has since worn Ahrends retro combat grips, Altamont checkered super walnut combat grips, S&W checkered goncalo alves target stocks from the mid 1980'2 and now, finally Hogue finger grooved smooth goncalo alves wood monogrip.

The Ahrends retro target grips and the Hogue fit my hand the best.

The finger grooves on the Ahrends retro target grips are a bit sharp edged on a super heavy gun like my 617. I moved them to my model 64-1 .38 and they feel great. The Altamont checkered super walnut combat grips are now on my wife's 10-5 4 incher and if your 617 is a 4 incher I think you might like them.

I like the Ahrends retro combat. The finger grooves give me good purchase. I like the feel of the smooth. These are moradillo.

I kept the S&W finger-grove combats on mine. There is a thread on here just below this one (617 Envy) that has lots of pictures of 617's on there with various grips.

I have the Ahrends Retro Targets on my 6" and the Combats on the 4". Both are oil finish Cocobolo and they are not slippery in the hand.

You might take a look at Eagle's website. They make a grip that is a lot like the old coke bottle target grips. Caveat - I am going off what I have seen on the site and been told. Haven't actually wrapped my fingers around a set yet.

The nice thing with a 617 is you can use wood grips that feel "right" and there's no need to factor "how's it gonna feel with recoil" into the equation

I have had plenty of wood grips that feel great on some of my .44's, but then when I fired them, I knew the grips had to go.......a .22 will never have that problem.

My 4" 617 no dash came with the smooth finger groove combats mentioned above, as did my two model 16-4's. While recoil is not an issue with either the .22 or the .32, comfort is important, and the grooves aren't exactly in the right place for me. So, while the guns wear their original combats for photos, I have a few sets of older K frame checkered target stocks I use when shooting. They just fit my hand better.

Look thru the site and check out the stocks by "Kurac". Very nice.
Bob