342 AirLite Ti original grip question...

[f2]

For the original owners of stock 342 AirLite Titanium j frames, what were the original grips that came with the gun?

 

[lacerda023]

Grips

Hogue Bantams

 

[elkhunt]

I have read that early ones came with wood... mine came with Uncle Mikes two finger boot grips.

 

[f2]

Hogue Bantams

That's what I thought, and what came with mine, purchased used. That's the one piece Hogue bantam that comes with the tool. Called S&W customer service and the guy asked for my 342 AirLite Ti serial number, looks it up, and says it came with red laminate wood grips! I didn't want to argue, and the question came up because I wanted to order another Hogue set for my 642, but they sent me the wrong one, twice. Long story, but the first one got lost, and arrived at the same time as the replacement order he shipped to me.

found them:

Hogue Bantam Grips with Top Finger Groove S&W J-Frame Round Butt Rubber Black

 

[SWAT Lt.]

I think grips on the 342 were an option. Mine came with the Dymondwood laminate grips. Some came with the UM Boot grips also.

 

[JNewell]

Hogue Bantams

Only true for the 342 PD.

The regular 342 came with either Uncle Mike's rubber bootgrips or S&W Dymondwood grips that were similar.

 

[doublesharp]

Here's my 337 and i think the early 342s had the same grips.

 

[f2]

Only true for the 342 PD.

The regular 342 came with either Uncle Mike's rubber bootgrips or S&W Dymondwood grips that were similar.

Thanks!

Here's my non-PD 342 Ti refinished in PD black...

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Here's a few pics of exactly what the Factory 342Ti Wood Grips look like..
I later sold the 342Ti & traded the extra set of factory wood grips back to the original owner Dan to keep with his 342Ti...
These are Altamont Grips, I don't think they regualarly make this pattern but have many similar at this link.. http://altamontco.com/products/pistol/smith_and_wesson/J-Frame/index.php
I've seen the 342s with both Uncle Mikes boot grips & the Hogue Bantams as well..
Gary/Hk
342Ti in Middle + Extra Set of those grips from DC7

Extra Set on 442-2

 

[DC7]

For the original owners of stock 342 AirLite Titanium j frames, what were the original grips that came with the gun?

If the 342 had a product code of 103813, the original grips were Dymondwood, as shown in Gary's photos above. I believe they only sold the wood-gripped 342 for about a year. Here's a similar set on another early 342:

If the product code was 103814, the original grips were Uncle Mike's boot grips:

As mentioned already, the 342PD came standard with Hogue Bantams.

Gary, thanks for trading back those wood grips! I stopped carrying the 342Ti (been using mostly the 342PD or 442 no-dash lately), so if I ever decide to part with the gun, it will be great to have the original grips back with it again. If you ever need more Nyclads (.38 or 9mm) let me know--I've still got some of both!

 

[The Highlander]

Yep, as mentioned above, the grips were your choice for about a year.

The original gun was introduced, and weighed, based on the laminate grips, which actually weigh less than the rubber ones. If I recall correctly, they had the gun floating around tied to a helium balloon at the SHOT Show.

My favorite carry revolver. Mine is far from a safe queen, it has been treated as intended and carried and beat and banged since bought new. I do kind of wish I could find a NIB version to put away!

The Highlander

 

[f2]

...
If the product code was 103814, the original grips were Uncle Mike's boot grips...

Don't have the cardboard box with the product code, but the case is like the blue velvet one.

 

[JNewell]

Good pics and good information.

If the 342 had a product code of 103813, the original grips were Dymondwood, as shown in Gary's photos above. I believe they only sold the wood-gripped 342 for about a year. Here's a similar set on another early 342:

If the product code was 103814, the original grips were Uncle Mike's boot grips:

As mentioned already, the 342PD came standard with Hogue Bantams.

Gary, thanks for trading back those wood grips! I stopped carrying the 342Ti (been using mostly the 342PD or 442 no-dash lately), so if I ever decide to part with the gun, it will be great to have the original grips back with it again. If you ever need more Nyclads (.38 or 9mm) let me know--I've still got some of both!

 

[JNewell]

I thought it was the 317 that floated around on the balloon? I could be misremembering, it was more than a decade ago!!!

Yep, as mentioned above, the grips were your choice for about a year.

The original gun was introduced, and weighed, based on the laminate grips, which actually weigh less than the rubber ones. If I recall correctly, they had the gun floating around tied to a helium balloon at the SHOT Show.

My favorite carry revolver. Mine is far from a safe queen, it has been treated as intended and carried and beat and banged since bought new. I do kind of wish I could find a NIB version to put away!

The Highlander

 

[DC7]

Don't have the cardboard box with the product code, but the case is like the blue velvet one.

Unfortunately the case color was not associated with any specific product code. I purchased two NIB wood-gripped 342's; one came in the black case with light gray interior pictured in my earlier post, while the other came in a gray case (probably with blue interior--I don't have it nearby to check). The factory seems to have used the various color cases at random.

But you mentioned above that the factory told you yours shipped with red laminate wood grips, so that would have been product code 103813.

 

[DC7]

Some 342Ti's may have shipped with Bantams after all

Just to confuse things further, I checked a still-NIB rubber-gripped 342Ti that I bought from an ex-dealer/S&W collector several years ago, and discovered that the gun is wearing Hogue Bantams instead of Uncle Mike's boot grips! I can't guarantee that he didn't change out the grips before selling the gun, but he wouldn't have had any reason to. Everything in the box appears to be untouched, including all the correct paperwork, protective foam sheet, Master Lock, jewel box key, etc., so it looks like the gun may well have shipped from the factory with Bantam grips.