9 1/2 years ago (how time flies), I posted about modifying a 3rd gen 59XX/40XX curved back grip for installation on a 2nd gen model 659:

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

Most of you have seen it by now.

Well, a couple of days ago, Forum friend (and all-around good guy), walter o sent me a PM asking about installing a 6906 grip on a 669.

At the time of the original post, I had a 6906 but no 669.

I had conjectured that they seemed similar and I privately vowed to try it one day.

In the intervening years, I acquired a 669 and with Walter's amicable suggestion, I found some time to try it.

As there are no templates or guides to this mod, it took several hours to accomplish, what with making a few cuts and trying it on, taking it back off, making a few more swipes with the file and trying a fit again.

It reminded me of fitting a new sear release lever, i.e. putting it on, testing, taking it off, filing a few swipes, putting it back on, testing, taking it back off, etc., ad nauseum...

I chose to leave the Dremel (aka, "The Devil's Paintbrush" ) in the toolbox and just go with files and sandpaper.

Here are some pictures with results.

6906 and 669 as original:


669 with 6906 grip installed:


That Brownell's tool in the foreground is a special tool for removing 3rd gen grips.

It works very well.

Although I usually just take them on and off with my fingers, I had to put the 6906 grip on and take it off so many times, I gave my fingers a break.

I also have a yellow handled version for the single stack grips.

Again, I rarely use them but I found them new and only a few dollars each on GB many years ago, so I couldn't pass them up.

Here's a picture of the 6906 and 669 grip frames side-by-side to illustrate the differences in the grip frame profiles of the two:


You'll probably notice the ledge for the mainspring cup mounts protrude more on the 669 and the attachment angles are different, hence all the cutting and trying.

Here's a picture of the modified 6906 grip with the modified 5906 grip:


I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the contours of the mainspring cup mount on the 669 matched perfectly with the contour of the 6906 grip.

Lastly, here's a picture of the inside of the 6906 grip, trying to show some of the modifications:


It was necessary to cut away for the mainspring mount as well as file away some of the two ribs which contact the 669 frame, and also relieve a little on both sides of the grip beneath the beavertail to allow the grip to fit close.

I also needed to open up the radius around the mag release button and cut back a little behind the sideplate where it meets the slide stop.

All modifications were to the 6906 grip and absolutely none to the pistol.

The 669 3-piece grip will not readily attach to the 6906 frame without modification.

In a similar vein, when I built the world's slimmest 3rd gen (or 1st/2nd gen for that matter) I did modify a set of 469/669 grips to fit:

Slenderizing the Slim. A 3914 story (with pictures)

All three mods were fun (yet undeniably tedious) exercises to demonstrate the amazing adaptability of this series.

Hope you enjoyed this and are perhaps incentivized to try something like this yourselves.

John

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Thanks for another informative, thorough and fun, (at least to me,) read.

Definitely not the most interesting thing to me was the Brownell’s grip “expander”. Never ever knew a real one used to be available and I received all the new Brownell’s catalogs. (Pre internet.) Like you, I got sore fingers with repeated grip removal so a long time ago I made my own. Same idea/function not as professional/slick looking.

Maybe in your spare time you could carry on the Big Dog then TercGen torch.

Luckily my 669 came with 6906 grips. 🤡

Jim

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great post JOHNHL is most helpful helping out with problems

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age is just a number

Thanks, Jim!

I always enjoy reading your posts, too.

You're right, they are slick tools.

When I first saw the listing on GB, I thought they were the answer to a question that no one had asked, but they were so cheap, I bought them for a lark.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they worked very well.

I still wonder who came up with the design.

Was it someone at S&W?

Was it some clever private 'smith?

Maybe it was you, and some "industrial spy" took clandestine photos of your tool and surreptitiously sold your design to Brownell's?

I guess we'll never know.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I've built my own for my CS40/45 and have grips to mod for my CS9.

The issue that concerns me the most about doing it professionally is that both Big Dog and TercGen have disappeared from the scene...

Having spent 40 years building and fixing motorcycles and "hand-holding" motorcycle riders, I've had enough of "customers".

Though "gun people" and "motorcycle people" are among the best people I've ever known, as soon as even the suggestion of money changing hands, some folks think that they own you.

Someone very wise once said, "Don't make your avocation your vocation."

That was driven home for me nearly every 75-80 degree summer's day when I would have a constant line of people at my service desk for 10 hours.

Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it at all.

Working for the largest, multi-line dealer in the area, selling and servicing Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bombardier, and Sea-Doo, riding everything from the smallest minis to the largest dressers, motocrossers, crotch rockets, cruisers, 3 and 4 wheelers, traveling around the country to attend seminars, factories, and conventions was a bikers dream job.

But at times, it was still a job.

But now I'm retired and I'm glad to share what little knowledge I've accumulated over this lifetime, I just don't want to do it for money.

Money changes people...

Cool 669!

I don't remember if you said it was a S&W service department frame replacement or a transitional model?

John

Being a slow learner, I made this mistake a few times.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

You think you're a slow learner?

It took me 40 years!

John

I have so far resisted the temptation of looking for work in a gun store.

So far.

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Can open, worms everywhere.