If you could produce a pair of lightly figured walnut or Goncalo Alves grips for a square butt K-frame, with medallions and "Coke" profile and checkering with the classic large diamond and still stay under $100, I believe you could sell all you could make. Is that in the range of what you are considering?

Froggie

I would be interested in a set or two.

A Roper design would be welcome, but maybe not quite as wide. I love the Pachmayr Compact idea, all my students seem to like that grip, but I'd like it in wood, with a thicker front portion to fill in under the trigger guard bow, then taper down to the front corner of the grip frame. Deacon Deason also made some awesome grips that would be worth imitating/duplicating.

It Would be hard to get cut checkering and medallions on a set of grips for under a $100
Eagle's Heritage is cut checkered without medallions, for $99.95
Medallions cost me $20 with limited supply
Maybe if they were made in china...LOL

All of your grips look great! I'd like a set in N round to square butt, and done in the style of Bear Hug grips.

Hoping that you succeed with all your endeavors....Please let us know if we can be of any help to you.......Zebulon

I lke the looks of your j-frame grips, except for the "skull-cracker"-shaped extension. For a RB j I like a 2-finger-sized boot grip, anything bigger makes it just that much tougher to conceal. A set of those in rosewood or coco would be sweet, no medallions needed. I have a set of Ahrend j-frame boots, they're nice but a ittle too flat. I like some palm swell like my badgers have.
For those who like a larger grip for the j-frame, a good grip shape to emulate would be the old Fitz "gunfigher" grips. I just bought a pair off gunbroker in genuine duramite stag & they fit the hand nicely, although they're a bit large for concealed carry. The Siles #711 grips are similarly shaped, but with a closed backstrap.

A few grips ready to sell. This is a pic in the morning light. I will post better soon. I am able to sand out 1 set Every day after work. While the finishing takes 3-4 days to achieve a consistent thickness.. I am able to sand on another set... of these j fame I have 10 more sets ready to sand. I have 5 k- frame that I will be roughing out this weekend also... I look to be about 2 weeks(or less) out on posting pics for the k-frame...

The gunfighter idea is a good one... I have been looking at franzite and Fitz on eBay. I have a n -frame franzite nothumbrest set that is very slim...like cokes with no palmswell... the shipped to me last week. I really can't wait to try those in wood.
I will buy a set of j gunfighters too. I have read several articles praising the design.

Really nice. I like that you are plugging the screw hole on one side. This thread is great timing. I'm looking for some custom wood open back, covered front, covered bottom round-butt concealed combat grips. I've owned and liked the offerings from Spegel, Ahrends and Collins (the later not making grips anymore apparently), and was thinking about trying Nill or Keith Brown for my 66 f-comp, which is next in line to get new custom wood grips. However they are significantly more $$$ (with the Browns absolutely out of range, although they are beautiful). If the quality and design are excellent, then I have no problem paying $100 or a bit more.

I prefer symmetrical, bookmarked grain if quartersawn, and of course marbled grains like ironwood are amazing to look at. I also prefer woods with SD near or above 1 (ironwood, cocobolo, ebony, etc.).

Stippling or checkering is a nice option to have, and I really like how Spegel and Hakan Pek are able to stipple over really nice grain and yet still have that nice grain show through.

One concept that is not addressed by any stock maker unless I have missed it, is inletting.

This might make you a unique niche in the world of grips already available out there.

Small pieces of beautiful wood could be inlet into otherwise boring looking grips, resulting in a ultra-unique product.

This would work especially well with highly contrasting colors or grain directions.

Your equipment looks suitable for that type of product offering.

Before you buy another gun to enhance your product offering, buy a great camera!!

Get a SLR with a macro (closeup) lens. The great photo will do more to sell your grip sets than any other possible wood or design concept.

On Craigs List there are always $300 DSLR cameras that can do the job. You do not need to spend $2000 for just one type of photograph.

Google "light box". You can build one for $10 that will make your product photos stand out from the crowd!!



I love unique offerings, a great photo of a unique item will open my wallet faster than anything!!

Another concept would be uniquely grained matched sets of grips.

Many customers have matched guns and would appreciate matched grips.



This would get $ out of the sequential serial number owners TWICE as fast!! Maybe even with a premium price!!

My matching grips just happened to come that way, I am sure you could do better!!

I would replace these if I found a pair of sets of grips that were an even better match. These were purchased as a future gift to my two daughters. Everything has to be identical if given to siblings!!

Don't try to find the method to offer the lowest cost grips, go against the tide and offer a great product at a slightly higher price.

Ebay is loaded with $40 grips, but, nothing is offered high end!

Show us what you can really do!!

All I want is a good low price

Hmmm and light wood colors like holly?

Maybe some N frame boot grips?

With the same profile as those, just somewhere between the bulk of target grips and the super thin Classic Line.
My '76 model 27-2 with the checkered target grips fits my hand just about perfect, but with less width would be ideal for handgun hunting.
I would jump at the chance to buy a pair.
Are the k's you are finishing up SB or RB?

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27-2, 66-1, 640 Pro, 10-5

Definately agree that a light box and the right photographic equipment (DSLR and macro lens) will be hugely important in how you visually communicate the quality of your product.

I took these two:



Haken Pek takes pictures of his grips on a marbe countertop:

Here's a shot of my Fitz stag Gunfighters on my 3" HB model 36-1, just so's people can see the shape I was talking about. They feel good, and are a good visual match for the longer 3" barrel on this gun but maybe a bit too much for a 2".

Attached Images

36-1 with Fitz gunfighter stags.jpg (204.9 KB, 136 views)

I'd like to see something in a birch wood or something with a nice grain

I've never seen grips that recreate the size and dimension of a magna/T-grip combo; seems a natural.

How much for a set of those N frame target grips that don't stick down super far made with nice walnut. Not looking for anything super figured in terms of wood but I do appreciate fine figuring as much as the next guy. Just ask my fiance

Much better looking photos!!

Now with a little tinkering in Photo Gallery (it should be pre-loaded on your computer) ;



That is your real light photo!!

If you do not like the pic, I will delete it.

After handling my 3" 36-1 with the Fitz grips, I can see why some people like a longer 3-finger sized grip on a j-frame revolver. The Fitz is a nice handful with a place for my pinkie to go, but I think maybe you're onto something good after all with your j-frame "skullcracker" grips-- I think that pinkie-notch probably makes for a better more comfortable grip than with the Fitz.

White K frame round butt with checkering with rubber covering the backstrap. I'd go $75.00 for them. Need white to eliminate printing under light summer shirts. Need the rubber backstrap for recoil. Let me know.

The K frame Pro compac is looking great so far. Keep up the good work!

YEAH IT LOOKS BETTER. I need to learn more about my photo editing program. I tried to retouch the pic you did... but I couldn't get it to come out right. That pic is an exactly what the grip looks like in person... but with more depth in the figure. Something a photo can't capture

Man they are really looking good under the high lights.
What are you calling your line of grips?

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27-2, 66-1, 640 Pro, 10-5

I guess that the J Frame is a "Skullcracker Combat" ...I am not sure what to call the k frame.

Any more progress on the K frame Pro Compac?

Yep I got 5 sets roughed out. I will start finish sanding today.

Received these grips from Steven today. Put them on my Model 60.

Fit my small hands just right.

Please excuse poor picture quality taken with my phone of revolver on my patio chair seat cushion.

Are the N-frames in the original post RB, or SB?

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27-2, 66-1, 640 Pro, 10-5

I am looking for the following:

1) Herrett's Jordan Trooper style with varying thickness of wood on the backstrap
2) Cut to "boot" length -- no longer than the bottom of the frame if it has one.
3) In a J-Frame, I want a regular J-Frame boot grip, but with filler on the back strap. The filler on a 442/642 needs to go all the way to the top and over. This filler should be only as wide as the metal part to improve concealability.

The first set of pics , with the skull cracker are a roindbutt. They are on my 610. I have also done target type square for N frame. I will probably do a few sets of boot grips for n square on the next batch.

I've got a set on the accesories-for-sale forum. I'm selling my 3" Chief & they're bigger than I care for on a 2" gun.

I must confess.....These are getting me pretty excited! I can see these in Exotic Woods (EBay is full of the right sized scales), Desert Ironwood, Spalted Maple, there are so many....I love what I see so far.....Be sure to stick to the pattern....the Collins grips went a little too thick under the trigger guard.......I'm a serious fan! Your work is beautiful! Keep it up...you have much to be encoutaged about.....Zeb

My personal want would be for someone to make J-frame grips like come on the Model 60 Pro. They fit the hand well and make the J-frame very controllable. Just my thoughts.............

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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

I am with Zebulon. Can't wait to see the Pro Compac done. As a matter of fact, where do I send payment?

FINISH IS DRYING ON THE COMPAC PRO... BUT THIS SET FOR GRUMPYS IS DONE...

NEW frame size for SKULLCRAKR. I adapted design to K-frame

Looking very pretty!

FINISHED a set Of THE COMPAC PRO.

Looking great!

I bought these from Grand Blue because they mimic the rubber Hogue Bantam grip. I like the three finger grip on the rubber version but the only wood version of the Bantam they offer is a two finger boot.





The fit is not very good and the screw doesn't seem to line up just right. They were cheap and looked good enough so I didn't complain much. But if they could be done right I would love a set.

Just thought I would share a photo of what inspired my choice of speed load cutout. You should be able to recognize the grip maker...
.

How about desert ironwood? I would be looking for two sets, one for a S&W J frame and one for a GP-100.

The J frame, I would like something that matched the newer (642-2) stock grips, but good clearance for speedloaders. Smooth finish on those.

The GP, I would like something that matched the smaller, older Ruger stock grips, with the thumb (football) cutout. I would like checkering on those, in the center where the "insert" would normally be, but it's not a dealbreaker if you can't do that.

If you could do this in ironwood, I'd be one very happy guy, and would be more than willing to pay a fair price... I really like the look of that desert ironwood .

I am having a problem finding suitable lumber on eBay of desert ironwood. It needs to be 2.5" wide by 7" long and 5/8" thick minimum for J frame. Also I only do S&W revolvers. But I could do an insert for the gp100 in ironwood. If you can find something that meets those minimum dimensions anywhere... the send me a pm

I have some ironwood that I got for knife handle scales. They measure:
5 1/8th inches long X 1 5/8th inches wide X 3/8 inch thick. Could you use these for inserts? I would think you could get several sets out of them if you can use them. If you would like them, I would send mail them to you.
Ron

Got the grips for my model 64 today that you made and I am tickled. What a nice job you have done. I don't have the smarts or the equipment to post a picture, but they really look nice{and feel great} on my 3 inch K frame. Recommend this mans work to everyone.

I also received a set of grips from Steven today. I couldn't be more pleased. They fit both the revolver and my small hand very well.

Like jinx, I'd recommend him to anyone.

A couple of pictures I snapped with my phone after work today. Sorry about the lock.

The grain of these dark grips looks phenomenal.
Any E.T.A. on some N-frame SB's?
I've got a jar on my dresser collecting dollar bills in anticipation.

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27-2, 66-1, 640 Pro, 10-5

Beautiful work! Certainly worth the wait! Zebulon