3rd Gen grips on 2nd Gen Pistols (with pictures)

JohnHL · Sep 10, 2014

A few days back forum member perfectcircle1 (piston rings?) asked if 3rd gen grips will fit 2nd gen pistols, specifically compacts.
I didn't have a 469/669 for testing purposes but I did have a 2nd gen compact backstrap and it did sort of fit on my 6906.
As did a 659 backstrap on a 5906.
Now I was intrigued.
So I pulled out the workhorse franken 659 and tried to force on an old set of curved backstrap 5906 grips.
Nope. They wouldn't quite go. But they were close.
I commenced to whittling and filing with hand tools but the delrin material was just too tough. In my frustration I realized it was time to break out "The Devil's Paintbrush" (No, not Hiram Maxim's machine gun.
Albert Dremel's rotary tool.)
While I know more good works have been undone by a cutting bit chucked up in a Dremel tool in the hands of a well meaning "craftsman" than by all the lead spit from all the Maxim barrels that ever saw action, I knew I had to give it a try.
After about an hour of cutting and fitting I had my result.

Seems like it would work on the compacts, also.

John

gunhobbit · Sep 10, 2014

Looks like the safety lever clears everything?

And the grips are "snap"ping into place, like on a 3rd Gen?

Looks good, though - gonna shoot it for final pudding proof?

JohnHL · Sep 10, 2014

gunhobbit said:
Looks like the safety lever clears everything?

And the grips are "snap"ping into place, like on a 3rd Gen?

Looks good, though - gonna shoot it for final pudding proof?

Everything seems to fit and function OK.
It "feels" like a 5906. Not surprising.
I might run a couple rounds up the pipe but it was mostly just an exercise.

John

scwv67 · Sep 10, 2014

Interesting. I wonder if the non-curved grips would fit the frame better where you notched the curved ones.

JohnHL · Sep 10, 2014

scwv67 said:
Interesting. I wonder if the non-curved grips would fit the frame better where you notched the curved ones.

Yes, I think they probably would.
As you can see in the pictures, I cut away a bit too much in the heel area of the curved grip. It could blend a little better.
That cut away area might fit well in a straight grip.
There were three reasons I didn't try it on a set of straight grips.
1st: I was looking for a different feel than the "2X4" straight back grip of the 659.
2nd: These were the worst beater grips I had so I didn't care if I messed them up.
3rd: I heard curved grips are available but straight grips are still back-ordered.

John

racemi · Sep 10, 2014

Funny

JohnHL,

Calling the Dremel tool, "The Devil's Paintbrush" is the funniest thing I've read in months! I've been looking for a name to call mine, and that is the best. Always seems like I'm taking a chance when I chuck a bit into it. I know something will happen, I just don't know if it's what I want to happen, will actually happen.
The grips look good, you did a nice job of fitting them. And thanks again for the laugh.

Gunhacker · Sep 10, 2014

Well.... ain't that a kick in the head

!!

I have a pair of beater grips that I almost threw out last week, I'm going to give it a try on my 459 just for grins... the ones I'll have on my face the next time I'm at the range, after quietly putting the 459 out on the bench, and stepping back to enjoy the "what-the-...." double takes it's sure to create from my 3rd gen shooting buddies.

Dremel tools of the of world... unite!

Hill_Country · Sep 10, 2014

From the standpoint of ergonomics, I really like what you've done. On the other hand, I can't believe you replaced those beautiful wood stocks with something so utterly devoid of character as delrin. <G>

My question is can the second gen backstrap and stocks be adapted to a 3rd gen?

JohnHL · Sep 10, 2014

Hill_Country said:
From the standpoint of ergonomics, I really like what you've done. On the other hand, I can't believe you replaced those beautiful wood stocks with something so utterly devoid of character as delrin. <G>

My question is can the second gen backstrap and stocks be adapted to a 3rd gen?

Thanks for the compliment.
I've admired your work with the Crimson Trace Grips.
This old workhorse 659 has plastic grips and they do fit the 5906 except for drilling and tapping for grip studs.

5906 on the right.

John

Hill_Country · Sep 10, 2014

Thanks, John, you answered a question I've had for a long time. Not only does this open the possibility of some nice wood grips, but with a CNC router it wouldn't take much to add a laser diode.

Now to sort out which backstraps fit which 3d gens.

JohnHL · Sep 10, 2014

My limited testing has shown me a 659 backstrap will fit a 5906 and a 669 backstrap will fit a 6906.
I infer from this that the 2nd gen full size backstrap will fit all full size, double stack, 9mm and .40s&w, 3rd gen pistols.
And 2nd gen compact backstraps will fit all compact, double stack, 9mm and .40s&w, 3rd gen pistols.
As far as the 439/639 backstrap fitting the 3904/3906, I didn't have one to try, but I suspect it would.

John

Hill_Country · Sep 10, 2014

Thanks. You're really making the wheels turn now.

Doing the laser grips, I learned that all the 3d gens had the same shape on the aft side. All of the 9mm and a couple of the .40's use the same grip size (except for length top to bottom). Most of the .40's and all of the .45's are slightly longer front to rear (maybe 1/16"). I don't remember off hand if the .45 frame was slightly thicker side to side, but I think it is just a hair.

JohnHL · Sep 11, 2014

I've also noticed that Smith & Wesson steepened the grip frame angle on the 3rd gen guns to 74 degrees from 72 degrees on the 2nd gens.
By my crude measurements, that is.
I'd be curious to find out how that change came to be inspired.
More Wayne Novak?

John?

Jaymo · Sep 11, 2014

Now, for the next question/experiment.
Will 3rd gen safeties/decockers fit a 1st or 2nd gen gun?

JohnHL · Sep 12, 2014

Jaymo said:
Now, for the next question/experiment.
Will 3rd gen safeties/decockers fit a 1st or 2nd gen gun?

3rd gen safeties will fit 2nd gen pistols.

John

YoungBuck · Jan 24, 2015

will a 59 backstrap fit on a 5906 or are the only grip options for a 5906 the wrap around rubbers and wood?

YoungBuck · Jan 24, 2015

YoungBuck said:
will a 59 backstrap fit on a 5906 or are the only grip options for a 5906 the wrap around rubbers and wood?

ha...i said rubbers and wood...lol

but for real

3rd Gen grips on 2nd Gen Pistols (with pictures)

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