J-Frame Wood Boot Grip Options

EricR

EricR

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Was merely hoping this informed group could cull the list of quality wood boot grip options I have for my 442. Just this morning on line I've looked at boot grip options from both Smith and Wesson direct and from Altamont Company. Both looked great but was looking for comments from those of you who may have tried either or another brand.

Funny thing is I love the stock rubber grips on my 442-2. It's simply a stellar handgun and my favorite EDC, followed by the Sheild (feels like an anchor in comparison). But I'm a Smith revolver nut and love the looks of a wood boot grip.

Of course, pictures are welcome.

Thanks!
 
I have Altamont boot grips on my 649. Of course, they aren't as comfy as the rubber grips, but they do conceal better and they do provide a decent grip. They aren't range grips, but they work for their purpose.

Not a good picture but you get the idea...

 
Does anyone know of a boot grip style that covers the back strap?
 
Kansasgunner said:
Craig Spegel makes a great boot grip for J frames. Get on his wait list, they are worth it.
Click to expand...

Oh boy. I looked at the pictures on Craig Spegel's page. Those stocks look GREAT. Besides a boot grip for my 442 I think I'd be very happy to put on a set of his full sized fancy checkered grips on either my five-screw K22 or my 14-4. Thanks for the tip!!
 
Eagle secret service smooth ebony for my carry J-frame. Never drags on clothing or prints.
 
Thank you everybody. Looks like some great choices out there. I'm a sucker for a good looking Smith and Wesson. Those damn rubber stock grips really are great, especially for shooting.
 
I have Altamont boots on my 640-1 in the Fleur-De-Lis design. I can recommend them. They look nice and fill up the palm of my hand. I use them at the range as well.
 
Another vote for Spegel boot grips. They're what I have on my EDC 642-1.

My 642ND had Eagle Secret Service grips, which also work well. I actually swapped them out with the current S&W factory rubber boot grips because the Eagle grips don't work with the Safariland Comp I speedloaders I use. However, the set I have is in the neighborhood of 20 years old so the current design may have changed somewhat.

I've heard good things about Esmeralda grips, but I have no personal experience with them.

murphydog said:
I believe the original was the Eagle Secret Service
Click to expand...

Eagle copied the Spegel boot grip to make the Secret Service grip. I remember when the Secret Service grips were first introduced and the Spegel boot grips had already been fairly well-established by then.

As far as I know, Spegel was the one who originated the "boot grip" concept.
 
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Lots of good choices. I have Eagle's Secret Service grips in ebony on my 340, and wouldn't trade them.
And I'll second that last post; Spegel was first, not Eagle.
 
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Man, it's not getting any easier. If only all my worries were this trivial. Seriously, many different brands of boot stocks look great. I imagine maybe the fit of the Spegel's is superior based on price? Just a guess.
 
EricR said:
Man, it's not getting any easier. If only all my worries were this trivial. Seriously, many different brands of boot stocks look great. I imagine maybe the fit of the Spegel's is superior based on price? Just a guess.
Click to expand...

As far as fit, I bought mine retail. I did have to do a little minor fitting to blend them into the backstrap for a smoother fit, but they do fit very well onto the rest of the frame. Half the time I think I could probably manage without using the grip screw. Another feature I like is that, being a right-handed shooter, the grip screw head is on the right side, so it's not against my body where it has a higher potential for corrosion (I carry IWB on my right hip, FYI).

I know Spegel offers an option to fit his grips to a customer's specific gun, but it is an extra-cost option and I don't have the details on how he does it, as he says it doesn't require the customer to send in the gun for fitting.

One thing Spegel does that the other makers don't do (as far as I know) is make grips where the "ears" at the top of the grip go up the full height on Centennials.

The main reason I like them is because they do a great job of filling my hand without being bulky, which I think helps with felt recoil and recoil control. It's like the recoil forces are spread out over a larger surface area, even though the grips are relatively small, if that makes any sense.

And they don't interfere at all with my speedloaders.

The one thing I don't like is the finger grooves, but that's because I generally don't care for finger grooves on self defense guns. Fortunately, they're not too deep or sharp so it doesn't bother me too much. The other features more than makes up for that.
 
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Craig Spegel grips are a long wait. Took me a year after I was on the call list to get mine. It is worth it though.
 
I love my Spegel boot grips, but I have the Hogue G10 that is pretty nice, and ships quickly. Spegel is definitely worth the wait.
 
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