I ordered a combat grip from them and the fit was great except for this area at the top of the backstrap. It's a sharp section that sticks out on both sides. This is an L frame of mine that's bad but the one for the N frame was worse and I sent them back. Does anyone know if their target or Roper grips are the same way?

Notice how THIN they are in the shoulders? NOT GOOD for magnum shooting. I will not use them.

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S&W Accumulator

I've encountered the same thing; the Altamonts are beautifully fit and finished, but somehow they dropped the ball there at the hump of the backstrap.
Ordered some Eagle grips, much like the old coke-bottles, to replace the Altamonts on a 25-15. I've refinished the sharp edges on J-frame Altamonts for the same reason.
I've used BK adapters with OEM wood grips as an alternative, half a box of Full Charge wadcutters worked well in a 60-3 last evening.
Moon

I have a set of the Alamont "Ropers" and they are about the same as yours. I have said this before - Altamont Company needs to go out and actually shoot magnum loads with their grips to discover how painful that can be because of the thin wood along the rear grip frame.

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Lee Erickson

Same here. Last N frame I purchased came with them. Replaced them with Eagle Heritage grips before I even shot it. Atlimonts went down the road.
Some may like them and that's OK too.

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S&W Accumulator

I ordered some k frame ropers in olive wood. Beautiful grips and fit perfect except for the area you're talking about. They were cut wrong there and had edges that were sharp as a razor. Cut the heck out of the web of my hand so I sent them back, blood and all. They don't start making these until they are ordered so it took awhile when I ordered the first ones and also for the replacements. However, the replacements were perfect, look great on the gun and fit my hand well.

I think a cnc machine cuts these and Altamont is not watching/adjusting their machines properly and is dropping the ball on inspections.

If you ever have a problem with Altamont grips,
they will take care of you.
One time I sent back a set of grips twice,
they still couldn't get them to fit right,
so I asked for and received a refund.

I could sand that off but then I would need to refinish it. Not doing all that being it should be done right before it leaves their shop.

A few years back, I ordered Altamonts for a couple of j-frames I have. One was with S&W "coin" logos, one with laser engraved logos. The logos were not mirrored - left and right sides were off position from each other. I emailed them, with pictures, and they paid my postage to mail both sets back, and replaced them with perfectly mirrored grips.

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Heavily armed old man.

I strongly dislike most Altamont grips; they're too thin, they're oftentimes sharp, and they just look plasticky to me. Examples like the one in the original post turned me off of the brand - I prefer to invest a little more money into some real wood grips from Eagle, Vitoonmakers, Culina, Herrett's, Badger Custom, Hogue, etc.

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AKA SixToEight

And 1/2 in. TOO long on the bottom. Probably designed by some engineer that never fired a big bore handgun.

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S&W Accumulator

I've had great luck using aerosol poly to touch up spots that have been sanded/modified. My trigger finger was encountering some of the fillet behind the trigger guard, so that got the treatment as well.
Finish with fine sandpaper, or even polish it with fine steel wool; then spray it. It's no big trick to blend it, with doing the entire grip.
Altamonts are now OEM on many Smiths.
Moon

"OEM's on S&W's" I know......And it's really sad they do that.

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S&W Accumulator

Altamont grips are nicely finished and checkered, but their contouring needs some work.

If you took Altamont's CNC work and detailing and Vittoonmakers contouring, you would have a world class grip.

I think their grips. They are more durable than 100% wood, they look great, and they are very affordable. IMHO, wood or "super woods" aka laminates are comfortable for full power magnum rounds. I give the comfort category to rubber Hogue and Patchmayr.

As far as the edges are concerned with the OP's grips, that's not how all or most of Altamont grips are designed.

Ordered a set for a 27-2 about 5-6 years ago and fit was poor and screw retainers immediately fell out. I know lots of folks like them but I avoid Altamont.

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Some Might Say.

Same issue with my 637-2 with full grip silver black grips. Funny thing, looking at my 6 other 36 Lady Smiths, all sporting full grip super rosewood altamonts they all fit perfectly

As I've pointed out in the past, the owner of Altamont started out as a jewelry maker. He makes grips that look nice.

Function, not so much. The website talks a good game but it's obvious no one there understands the actual purpose of the classic design features, nor can execute them correctly.

If you return them, they will send you a pair with the identical dimensions and flaws.

Every single set I've owned has had to have end-user modification to make them barely shootable in any significant calibre. Their attractive stabilized plywood is hard as woodpecker lips, you will need a power sanding disk to significantly modify them. After that, careful hand sanding with successive grit paper to give final contour and remove sanding marks. Finish with an appropriate topical for appearance.

It's not a 30 minute job. Good luck.

PS. Any magnum cartridge, don't bother. Get a proper set of hand-filling grips.

I have 4 sets of Altamonts. I guess they are all laminated. Fine wood and awesome checkering. The fit and finish is superb. A .22, a .38, a .41 and a .44.

This thread piqued my interest, so I brought them out to look at them. The contour looks the same as the pic above. I never noticed that it was bad, and never thought it was a problem.

I bought 2 sets of roper style grips from them ,Had to return both with pictures of poor fit on the back of backstrap .They were the same fit on 4 different N frames .They did return the purchase price ,buit i wanted the grips to fit.NO luck

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age is just a number

I believe altimont grips were designed by a NON shooter.

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S&W Accumulator

I looked at Altamont for my model 28, which came with Magna grips, but they didn't look right. Amazingly, I went on Amazon and found a pair for under 60 bucks. I got them today and tried 'em on...perfect fit! They are made in Indonesia out of some specie of hardwood which isn't Goncalo Alves or Cocobolo, but they look and fit great. I am a tightwad and refuse to pay 200+ bucks for "original" used grips since I shoot all my Smith's. I was very surprised and pleased with the grips which are extremely close in appearance to the originals.

Those Indonesia grips are hit or miss. I bought 4 sets over the years. Two were fine and the other 2 were warped on receipt. They replaced them twice with more junk and and then I eventually got a refund.

Being that I have been into revolvers for over 30 years, I have ordered probably 10 sets of their grips. Many years ago their grips were very beautiful in color and fitment was really good, now days they are very dark in color and not very "correct' for the grip area of the frame size I have. I too have sent a couple pairs back for a refund because they were not the brilliant colorful wood they advertise on their website! And most of them will not take a speed loader unless you ask them for this cutting. This should be a given on every grip for any revolver in my opinion.

I see on GB every Sunday, they put on grips to be auctioned and these seem to be seconds or returns they got back or maybe practice grips for new employees. If you pay close attention, you can see the differences in the cutting or laser etching in the grips. This is every week! I think like many other things we buy that the care and craftmanship has just went downhill. Just my .02 cents but its true...

It is hard to say but if you want great quality crips you MUST be willing to PAY UP to good grip makers . Culina., Big mountain man apologize to the other great grip makers
I DON'T INTEND TO MISS NAMES)
THEY EARN EVERY DIME THEY CHARGE

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age is just a number

In the interests of education, illustration and fairness, today I received a set of Altamont "Combat" grips for the J frame (ordered direct from factory). Of course, they look nice.



The fit was actually quite good, and would have been usable for shooting right from the box. The tang corners are not perfect, but not annoying either especially for the price. The rear face of the grips had their characteristic "squarish" profile edges, which in this revolver I'm guessing is not going to be a problem with recoil.



However, speedloaders were a no-go. Although appearing to the relieved for them, it is faux-relief, and various cylindrical loaders (HKS, Safariland and 5-Star) either don't insert at all, or hang up on or after release.



Once again, modification was necessary to make these "Combat" grips suitable. I used a sanding cylinder on a Moto-Tool to start - this requires a light artistic touch to avoid disaster. Be forewarned! After that, various grit paper and emory was used to final surface finish. You could do stainless steel wool afterward if desired. Wood doctor topical seems to be better than Tru-Oil.

Two hours later... All working great now with the three loaders, although the Safariland is first choice.



Altamont - making hobby tinkerers happy since 1989.

I purchased S&W 327 with Altamont grips .The grips stuck out at the top of the grip frame. S&W sent me another set same problem. I read n thread that another 327 owner found that the frame was closer to K frame than N frame.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I had this same problem with my J frame fluer de lis stocks from them. Hurt badly with 158 FMj. I sanded the corners and just went over them with some tung oil “finish”. Not real tung oil product. They look good. My new santos rosewoods on a 67-6 turned out fantastic and made an altamont fan! Perfect in every way. Here they are out of the box and then with one coat of wax

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I tried Altamont grips and I didn’t like how they worked out.