Anyone making G-10 Grips for 3rd Gen's?

There's something about G-10 material that makes it grip, yet not stick to clothing on draw like rubber. I have 'em on my SIG P229 LEGION and really like.

Is anyone aware of a supplier of aftermarket G-10 grips for 3rd Gen's?

Smith & Wesson took a massive leap forward in the design with the advent of the 3rd Generation series of pistols, but they dropped the ball with the one-piece grip design. The aftermarket for 3rd Gen grips was limited at the time and will forever be left out of nearly ANY and EVERY new grip maker from here forward since a 3rd Gen grip is entirely different than simply a pair of properly sized screw-on panels. The 3rd Gen incorporates the mainspring housing and only attaches to the sides of the grip frame with tabs. To this day, the one-piece grip on a 3rd Gen is a disappointment to me, and many or most agree that it's the biggest failure that S&W made with the 3rd Gens, a series of guns that are otherwise fantastic.

As the 3rd Gen is long out of production, I don't see many future opportunities for new to market grip options. The somewhat recent appearance of the KSD wood replacement grip was a massive surprise to me. Those are interesting grips and many like them, but they sure don't bring what you are looking for in a G10 material.

I agree with you that the G10 makes for a darn good pistol grip. I put a set of Lok Grips on my CZ and they are just fantastic.

I think the chance that we ever see G10 for a S&W 3rd Gen are between REAL slim and none. I'd be thrilled if someone proved me wrong.

Sevens said:

Smith & Wesson took a massive leap forward in the design with the advent of the 3rd Generation series of pistols, but they dropped the ball with the one-piece grip design. The aftermarket for 3rd Gen grips was limited at the time and will forever be left out of nearly ANY and EVERY new grip maker from here forward since a 3rd Gen grip is entirely different than simply a pair of properly sized screw-on panels. The 3rd Gen incorporates the mainspring housing and only attaches to the sides of the grip frame with tabs. To this day, the one-piece grip on a 3rd Gen is a disappointment to me, and many or most agree that it's the biggest failure that S&W made with the 3rd Gens, a series of guns that are otherwise fantastic.

As the 3rd Gen is long out of production, I don't see many future opportunities for new to market grip options. The somewhat recent appearance of the KSD wood replacement grip was a massive surprise to me. Those are interesting grips and many like them, but they sure don't bring what you are looking for in a G10 material.

I agree with you that the G10 makes for a darn good pistol grip. I put a set of Lok Grips on my CZ and they are just fantastic.

I think the chance that we ever see G10 for a S&W 3rd Gen are between REAL slim and none. I'd be thrilled if someone proved me wrong.

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SEVENS, You're undoubtedly right.
The only way I could imagine G-10 being done would be in three sections, somehow bonded together to form a one piece S&W grip.

I know there's the thick S&W Hogue rubber grips and the Hogue wrap grips; and some folks are wrapping the stock grips with material from bicycle inner tubes, but IMHO that somewhat defeats the benefit of the slim and flat 3rd gen compacts for carry.

Maybe another option would be someone that could stipple the stock Delrin grips. Or maybe even sandblasting to get something like the Shield Gen 2 grips.

I haven't checked with Talon yet to see what they might offer.

Hogue could do it, in the same fashion as their rubber grips, with an adapter. Make them thin too.

Problem is, they don't think there is enough interest. Email them. I did. Regards 18DAI

I use the bicycle tire innertube (as discussed in another active thread) and though it looks like cheap trailer trash, I find it to be a real upgrade and no, I don’t think it makes the slim grip feel too thick. It’s miles better than a Hogue!

As for stippling an OEM 3rd Gen grip, lots of guys have done it to good effect. I believe they use a soldering iron. You have to have the patience to make each divot and I think the look is pretty darn good, but I have never done it myself.

Sevens said:

I use the bicycle tire innertube (as discussed in another active thread) and though it looks like cheap trailer trash, I find it to be a real upgrade and no, I don’t think it makes the slim grip feel too thick. It’s miles better than a Hogue!

As for stippling an OEM 3rd Gen grip, lots of guys have done it to good effect. I believe they use a soldering iron. You have to have the patience to make each divot and I think the look is pretty darn good, but I have never done it myself.

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Not sure I have the patience; but I think a guy at my club does it. Good 'Shelter-in-Place' Project.
I have a brand new S&W Delrin grip for my early production 3913NL that I recently got under S&W's Grip Recall. (Thanks to Forum Members here that made me aware of it!) Nice of S&W to honor n/c after almost 30 years but they only had black which I wanted anyway. Maybe I'll tinker with stippling my original grip, knowing I have a new one for backup.

Ditto on G10 Grips

SWCZSIG-Vinny said:

There's something about G-10 material that makes it grip, yet not stick to clothing on draw like rubber. I have 'em on my SIG P229 LEGION and really like.

Is anyone aware of a supplier of aftermarket G-10 grips for 3rd Gen's?

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I definitely agree with you on the G10 material, my two Springfield Armory EMP4 CCC models came with checkered G10 grips and they have proved to be my favorite grips of any pistols I have had. They provide a very firm and very comfortable grip even when hands are a bit sweaty but do not seem to grab shirt material at all, and from what I have read the material is very tough and holds up extremely well.

I would kill for some g10s. I settled for a home brewed stipple and it turned out alright, you have to go super slow because the plastic will warp as it’s a thin sheet unlike doing it on a polymer pistol.

I think the OEM delrin is a marvelous piece of engineering and
execution, but I'm a "real world use" guy.

Aside from the low market prospect, I think it would be expensive to
tool-up production of a laminate replacement that would have any
durability, compared to the molded composite.

How about another approach--give the existing grip a surface
treatment? Brownells, Rustoleum, etc have epoxy based
spray grits in different colors, for rougher texture. PlastiDip
has spray cans that would give a softer, grippier texture.
All cheap approaches, easy enough to try.

I hate G-10 grips. Hate the feel and think they're ugly. VZ Grips is in my AO and tried to like 'em. But I just couldn't.

I don't view the factory grip module as a disappointment, but a G10 option would be great.

I love the look of the OEM Delrin 3rd Gen grip. I also love that it is thin. I will say with half a snark that it does seem to be durable, HEH.

What’s not great about it: the massive black eye S&W gave themselves with a monstrous roll-out of the fantastic new 3rd Gen pistol with a grip that SHATTERED when dropped, which releases all tension on the mainspring and rendering the pistol unable to fire.

Also not great… 98% of all semiauto pistol grips before, during and after the 3rd Gen are panels on the side of the frame that affix themselves with fasteners. Much like gun sights that are better than the guttersnipe sight on an ASP, some things just work and grips with screws work. Grips with screws give the owner options. The original OEM grip hampered options.

My biggest complaint is the one that affects me most… they are not grippy or tacky. They are smooth and slippery. Some of this is personal preference, sure, but it’s no less real to myself and to many. These attractive OEM Delrin grips are good looking and slippery and do not do well what pistol grips are meant to do.

Sevens said:

I love the look of the OEM Delrin 3rd Gen grip. I also love that it is thin. I will say with half a snark that it does seem to be durable, HEH.

What’s not great about it: the massive black eye S&W gave themselves with a monstrous roll-out of the fantastic new 3rd Gen pistol with a grip that SHATTERED when dropped, which releases all tension on the mainspring and rendering the pistol unable to fire.

Also not great… 98% of all semiauto pistol grips before, during and after the 3rd Gen are panels on the side of the frame that affix themselves with fasteners. Much like gun sights that are better than the guttersnipe sight on an ASP, some things just work and grips with screws work. Grips with screws give the owner options. The original OEM grip hampered options.

My biggest complaint is the one that affects me most… they are not grippy or tacky. They are smooth and slippery. Some of this is personal preference, sure, but it’s no less real to myself and to many. These attractive OEM Delrin grips are good looking and slippery and do not do well what pistol grips are meant to do.

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Once again I must respectfully disagree with my big brother, Sevens.

I'm sure it's at least partly because the 3rd gen grips fit me well.

That is simply serendipity.

I followed the gun press back in the 80s and 90s when the 2nd and 3rd gens were in their salad days, and the grip recall was scarcely mentioned.

Perhaps that was in deference to S&W's advertising budget , but I don't recall it being a "massive black eye".

Some folks lamented the lack of grip panels, but most decried the 2nd gen, double stacks (with grip panels) as feeling like a 2X4 and applauded the new one piece grip.

And seemingly, everyone wanted double stacks.

There were also a fair number of offerings as substitutions for the 3rd gen grip, back in the day.

But I just can't embrace grip screws.

They can come loose.

They can get lost.

Their slots can get boogered up.

They can seize in their bushings.

They can tear up a grip when they seize in their bushings.

They can lose their bushings.

They can cross thread in their bushings.

Their bushings can cross thread in the grip frame.

They can strip the threads in their bushings.

Their bushings can strip the threads in the grip frame.

Show me a gun crank who hasn't experienced most or all of these grip screw "advantages" at one time or another and I'll show you a gun crank who only works on 3rd gen Smith & Wessons.

John

I have a set of the factory stocks on my Model 1006 but they are the optional ones with the arched rear and not the straight back ones that came on the gun. I like them. I thought about the checkered wood Hogue stocks but understand that they are pretty thick compared to the factory stocks. I know I didn't like the Hogue rubber stocks for that reason.

Question: The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson describes the 3rd Gen. stocks as both Xenoy and Delrin. Which were the ones that shattered and is there an easy way to tell which is which ? I'd hate to find out the ones on my gun were the recalled type.

If I remember correctly, it was xenoy then delrin.

On the bottom of the grip, behind the mag well, where the grip pin goes through, there should be a single punch mark to indicate the later, good grip.

If yours doesn't have this, it would be subject to the recall.

John

Besides the dimple on the bottom, the old (recalled) grips appear to have a duller or flat black look while the good grips have a more satin black finish, at least to my eye.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

WTN1271 said:

Besides the dimple on the bottom, the old (recalled) grips appear to have a duller or flat black look while the good grips have a more satin black finish, at least to my eye.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

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I've noticed that, too.

John

John, they punch-dimpled EVERY grip, it’s simply that the new grip shows a punch and the original grips just SHATTERED! okay no, that was absolutely a joke, great post brother John. But you gotta be the older brother.

3rd Gen aftermarket options from “back in the day…”

The huge fat Hogue that we all know about. Not a bad grip if you have big paws. Kind of ugly but really more just “kinda 1980’s” looking. Beware that as these age, many of them dry rot (possibly mixed with gun solvents and oil) and removing a really old one from a 3rd Gen comes off in chunks and pebbles and gritty pieces. Nasty.

The huge Hogue wood which never looked quite right to me and never seemed to be all that popular. They were quite pricey as I recall.

Pachmayr… if we are being honest, I can’t imagine that anyone thinks the Pachmayr 3rd Gen grip looks attractive. These were also not popular. And don’t brand me as a Pachy hater, 3/4 of my S&W revolvers wear the old school Pachmayr! These grips are not easy to find at all.

Butler Creek — which may have been a company related to Uncle Mike’s, but the set I own definitely came branded as Butler Creek. These are good and grabby… also large, pretty homely also. If you have seen a picture of my 4006 Limited, I have a set on that pistol.

At long last! The best after market 3rd Gen grip that was available back inna day! It’s the Farrar grip. Made in California, very thin but extremely durable rubber, a replacement MSH under neath, a little sketchy to install and in my opinion, easily the most attractive aftermarket grip for a S&W 3rd Gen. These were made only for the 5906/4006 series of 3rd Gens.

Interestingly enough, some of the WISCHO Performance Center guns shipped to Europe got nothing less than Nill grips installed as original equipment. — HOW — on earth can you install a famous and scorchingly expensive Nill grip on a 3rd Gen?!

(wait for it big brother…)
Grip screws of course! The PC frames are ever so slightly different and there’s metal where you need it.

Of course, very few folks may be aware of the WISHCO Target Champion guns that wear Nill grips. Maybe it’s due to all the grip screws that got buggered and fell out or maybe the bushings got cross threaded or the grip screws got cross threaded or some foolish gun owner let their motorcycle mechanic wrench on their pistol like he was beating on a Kawasaki Triple, I dunno!

As a recovering motorcycle mechanic, I resemble that remark!

And by the way, I said BIG brother, not older brother...

John

JohnHL said:

Once again I must respectfully disagree with my big brother, Sevens.

I'm sure it's at least partly because the 3rd gen grips fit me well.

That is simply serendipity.

I followed the gun press back in the 80s and 90s when the 2nd and 3rd gens were in their salad days, and the grip recall was scarcely mentioned.

Perhaps that was in deference to S&W's advertising budget , but I don't recall it being a "massive black eye".

Some folks lamented the lack of grip panels, but most decried the 2nd gen, double stacks (with grip panels) as feeling like a 2X4 and applauded the new one piece grip.

And seemingly, everyone wanted double stacks.

There were also a fair number of offerings as substitutions for the 3rd gen grip, back in the day.

But I just can't embrace grip screws.

They can come loose.

They can get lost.

Their slots can get boogered up.

They can seize in their bushings.

They can tear up a grip when they seize in their bushings.

They can lose their bushings.

They can cross thread in their bushings.

Their bushings can cross thread in the grip frame.

They can strip the threads in their bushings.

Their bushings can strip the threads in the grip frame.

Show me a gun crank who hasn't experienced most or all of these grip screw "advantages" at one time or another and I'll show you a gun crank who only works on 3rd gen Smith & Wessons.

John

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I had these grip screw woes with a used P229 I picked up. One of the previous owners clearly had overtightened a couple of the screws a few too many times and I had to get it really in there to hold the grips in. Too tight and the screws would scrape against the magazine body and prevent it from dropping free, too loose and they would just back out under recoil. I messed around with loctite and G10s on the P229 for a little bit but eventually just went with their E2 grips and did away with grip screws altogether. Sig probably took a page from S&W with the E2s since they're basically a more refined version of what S&W was going for with the 3rd Gen plastic grips; a one-piece clamshell that just clips onto the frame, but with the mainspring still retained on the frame itself rather than the grip and with a much grippier texture and ergonomic bumps to fill out your hand than the smoother, flatter texturing on the 3rd Gens. My ideal 3rd Gen grip would really be just a version of this, combined with the mainspring retaining piece that Hogue grips use.