I would love to have a few sets of factory Combats but don't want to pay the price. Why cant a company that makes grips make perfect copies of them? Would Smith and Wesson not allow it?

Am i recalling correctly a rack with all the different grips hanging on it in gunstores when I was younger with less money? I'm thinking they were carded with clear plastic covering them. I regret not getting any then.

How much did a pair of factory combats go for in the eighties?

A Haverford Twp PA cop had them on his K Frame Smith when I was a kid. They just screamed cool.

I guess its because they are so specific in they way they fit the hand because of the deep finger grooves. They either fit you or they don't and that alienates a large portion of the market.

Because they weren't universally popular, they got the hook (among other factors like cost to make). Because they got the hook, they became popular.

Smith followers are the darned'st bunch.

I'll probably get flamed here, but I for one think they are ugly as sin. so many of them looked like a kid whittled them or they were sculpted out of a lump of clay that someone squeezed into finger grooves. (zips up flame retardant suit - LOL)

__________________
God Bless Our Troops.

YUP down right UGLY...... I'd say.. Sorta..Kinda LOL

__________________
SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I'd kill for a set for my 629 also. Why DOESN'T a company copy the design? The patent/copyright/whatever should be expired by now, right?

Dang it. Now, I'm mad again.

Exactly.
Even if they're reproduced and sold at a low cost i would bet that factory original Combats will still get the same amount of money because collectors would want factory pieces

Ugly is as ugly does. Or something to that effect.

__________________
Sure you did

Pote I am with you on that, I have never liked the combat grips I was always a fan of the target grips on the square butts and the service grips on the round butts..

__________________
M.J.Hanna

Besides ugly they are a piss poor design when it comes to shooting magnum loads .

Just what does a set of these for a N frame round butt go for ? I have a set that I took off a new N frame round butt back in 89 . Both halves had a small chip at the very bottom where they come together . I didn't like them so I never got around to calling S&W about the chips .
Good for a shooter, not for a serious collector .

I agree with you, they are ugly as sin.

Two things I dislike on handgun grips:
Rubber and finger groves.

I have no use for either one.

They don't fit my hand and I have sold off every pair that was on a revolver that I have purchased. They are VERY tacticool, however....

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I love combat grips!!! They fit my hand great. The problem is most of them were fitted by chimps so they always have gaps and overlaps. I asked Kurac to copy my favorite set of combats.

I bought a few sets at a gunshow on the card in the plastic for 20 bucks. I should have bought them all. But this was 15 or so years ago. Hindsight is 20-20.

Badger and Ahrends both make combats that seem to have found that sweet spot where they fit most hands. Pretty good looking, too. Here's some Badgers on a couple of PC guns:

__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I've seen them go for between $75 and $200 plus. They're definitely not worth that except for the collect-ability. I have some Ahrends on my 610 that are close, but not quite there. Combats have a little more beef in the back.

I agree the original smith combats are ugly and do not know why guys spend stupid money on them, I would rather buy a killer set from Jim badger for lot less or ahrends or altamont. I have a set of original combat stocks for k/l frame and dont care for them one bit.
Eric

Now those are gorgeous.What did they cost?
Eric

No flaming here. I agree, they look horrible and feel even worse.....to me. I guess some people like them and are willing to pay big bucks to get them.

I can't be copied because I'm a one of a kind....even though I heard that at one time you could buy cheap chinese knock-offs of me on flea-bay. OH, this thread is about grips...... SORRY.

Badgers??? Sorry, cheap looking, imo. And talk about ugly? Look like plastic.

__________________
Sure you did

Badgers, we don't need no stinkin' Badgers.

Sent from this thimgy using tapawhatzit

IMO the combats aren't ideal for heavy recoil. I do like the feel but for the crazy prices they bring these days the Ahrends will have to suffice.

What Pote said sums it up very well.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I never even knew what "combat grips" were until I bought this pair just the other day. Paid $10 from a local guy that replaces all his wood grips with rubber ones. I almost passed on these(bought the ones on the left as well for $10). These are perfect, not a flaw that I can see on them. I don't even really like them, I prefer the target grips.

__________________
Mike C

Admittedly, I have never fired and don't remember even holding a gun with the Combats on it. I do like the looks of the square butt ones. I like the round butt ones less.

$10, what a deal. You could be well on your way to a new gun if you sell both of those.

I have been through all this as well...
My first experience with combats was with the .32 Model 16-4, a revolver I love. They were so unflattering that I replaced them with Hogues, but then found Kim Ahrends, a masterful grip maker. I put on a set of retro combats and the "feel" was perfect. These are really gorgeous grips , although not as beautiful as Keith Brown's, but they fit right, look great, and help me shoot well.





This is the model 16.....



and even his Boot grips fit perfectly..



Terry

I concur with Terry. Ahrend's makes the best finger grooved combat grips I've ever used. As far as wood goes, all you have to do is ask.

Yep, there were racks of them.

This may make me a "one-of-a-kind" but I like the older Combat stocks that are kind of flat on the sides. The finger grooves aren't as deep an they fit my hand well.



These are on a custom, blue steel 45 ACP Mountain Gun.

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

+1 M2Mike. I own both S&W Combat grips and Ahrend's version. Ahrend's fits my hand much better. I still like having the S&W grips simply because I can say I have them.
Steve

__________________
Steve

I agree that the flat sided grips feel better I the hand, they are just ugly and poorly fitted most of the time.
This set on my 629 carry comp the fit was pretty good and grips were left alone.

This set on my 610 were horrible. Big gaps and seems. I then fit and refinished them.

Not going to throw flames at all, but I've had two revolvers with original square butt combats on them and liked them very much. Still own one of them and wish I still owned the other.

Love mine on the 686...

I picked up this cocobolo set from that Thailand guy on Ebay.

I agree, heck, I even like my magnas on my old 547. My 619 came with Goodyears, can't stand rubber on a revolver though, recoil means nothing to me. I tried about two sets of grips on that 619 before I tried those Ahrend's and I've been sold on them ever since; I think any RB K/L frame I get from now one I'll get those finger groove combats from them. Of course, everyone's hands are different, but I have to say that those Ahrend's fit my hand so well, it's as though they were measured for me. They improved the control I have even over full house magnums and also improved my shooting skills.

I couldn't agree more. Horrible looking. They look to me like a child took a 2x4 and a used a brick to grind out the finger grooves.

Should I ever get a pair on a used gun I will happily spin them for a huge discount on the gun I just bought. I just wish my used 627-PC had had The Combat Grips instead of the Altamonts I sold for a modest, but reasonable, amount.

To each his own, of course. Y'all enjoy them. I'll buy the "old" rubber factory grips so many others dislike. I may very well be the crazy one, but I'll happily shoot those.

check these out....almost identical to factory targets....just now washers inside..

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

__________________
Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Last fall I bought a new pair of Danner Acadia boots, size 10-1/2 EE. Loved them from the first time I put them on. Even more comfortable than the pair before that.

I spoke so highly of them, a coworker bought the exact same boots in the exact same size. He hated them, they hurt when he stood, let alone walked. He normally takes a size 14.

Another coworker also bought a pair, and she got blisters from her feet sliding around inside. She normally wears a women's size 8.

I think finger groove stocks are about the same thing. They fit you or they don't.

There are many better fitting and nicer made stocks. My vote goes to Hogue Monogrips

Sent from my Ally

__________________
Support your Police, & NRA

Yep, I can't stand them either. They are uuuuggglllyy!! I will never buy another pair so long as I live and I suggest you ALL do the same......


[/QUOTE]

Hogue's wood monogrips are the only finger grooved stocks that fit my fairly large hands well. Quite a few of my S&W's wear them, including a 29-3 and 629-6. I also love Ahrend's Tactical grips which are their retro combat grips without the finger grooves.

I have a few sets of S&W grooved combat stocks and most have beautiful wood and work well on 4 to 6 inch revolvers. Agree that they bite for magnum loads.

The SQ butt Combats fit me well enough for lighter recoil, but simply do not work for me on heavier recoiling guns. And the Round Butt Combats are even worse.

Then again I have large hands.

Several years back I was talking to the folks at Herretts in Twin Falls, idaho about this very subject. Asked him WHY they didn't faithfully reproduce Target style K.L and N frame grips. Part of the issue they stated would be to procure the S&W medallions for the grips.

We talked about the Combats and the Owner mentioned he had always wondered WHAT they used for cutting machinery to yield such a primitive, unfinished "look" to the grips. I had to laugh at that one.

I have a few pairs as thats what came on the gun. but other than K frame squares on .22's. I simply don't like them.

FN in MT

I've been looking for a pair of combats for awhile now to fit my M58.

CD

__________________
De Oppresso Liber

My 624 came with smooth combats on it. I found it to be an issue because if there is any moisture on your hand the gun tends to really slip around in your grip during firing. Not so great for a carry gun, which it is. I changed over to these grips with some checking and it made a huge difference.

__________________
~ S&WCA No.2159 ~

I'm one of the few I guess that actually likes the S&W combat grips in every way except for the cost element. It has nothing to do with them being discontinued or rare I just have liked them from the first day I bought a pair for my Model 17-4. So have 5 or 6 S&W K frame revolvers with them on them because I like the fit and feel of them.

My first set on a 17-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel

Well from the looks of it, I am in the minority. I love the older factory round butt combats. They fit my hands perfectly, and I actually like the way they look. The square butts, not so much. I took a pair of chipped N frame SB targets and widdled them down to RB combats. They came out alright except towards the top where I had to sand down pretty far to get rid of the checkering.

I recently found a 629 no dash 4 inch (sq bt) and I'm looking for a set of these ugly suckers for it. PM if you have some. Thanks, Flapjack.

[/QUOTE]

Rollin Hot, That is the MOST BEAUTIFUL collection of factory Combats that I have ever seen ! ! While I like Combats for their tacticool look, they DO NOT fit my hand at all. I have sold off every pair that I have ever come by as part of a gun purchase. In fact, I have never found a finger groove grip by any manufacturer that fits my hand. As a result, I use Ahrends smooth tactical conversion grips.........

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.