Ahrends grips for my 686

[bsms]

On this thread (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/155886-ahrends-grip-advice.html), I complained that "I received Ahrends grips via Brownells for my 686 this week. The cocobolo wood has the color and figuring of a chocolate bar."

luis suggested, "While Brownells is a very good company, when you are dealing with wood you need to see a picture of what you are getting. I have purchased several grips from ebay dealer gripseller without any problems. The picture you see is what you get. All mine have fit without a problem."

That made good sense, and I order a set of grips that day. Here is a quick picture of the Ahrends grips that just arrived...with the previous 'Hersheywood' grips next to them. The grips fit snug, but I doubt I'll remove them more than once every few years for cleaning. They fit my hand great. I might eventually refinish them with linseed oil, but maybe not. We'll see. However, my Model 60 is now complaining that rubber just won't do!

Thanks again, luis!

 

[Kstoneking]

Those look really good on your 686 Bsms. I think they look much nicer than the chocolate ones. Good choice sir.

Kenny

 

[fyimo]

I've ordered lots of Ahrends grips but have ordered straight through the company and when I placed my order I told them the color and type of grain I wanted in the grips. They always responded to my emails and tried to match me request. If they didn't have what I wanted they discribed my other choices. Of course when you order directly through them it can be 3 or 4 weeks wait before you get the grips.

Model 64 with Colo Bolo finger grips

 

[stu1ritter]

I just received a CocoBollo set for my 686 also. Photo's enclosed.
Stu

 

[Wayne M]

Fantastic looking grips all. Fyimo I don't know which I like the best: that snub 64 or the grips.....wow!

 

[JohnAC]

Love those Ahrends!

 

[gripseller]

Ahrend Grips

Many thanks to all of you who have purchased and those of you who have posted regarding Ahrends grips on our eBay store. Kim Ahrends does such a fantastic job on the grips. And thanks for posting the pictures of your guns - they look great!

~gripseller

 

[luis]

Gripseller,

I would like to welcome you to the forum. I am very pleased with you professionalism. I for one will be purchasing more grips in the future.

Luis

 

[gr7070]

JohnAC and bums, what kind of wood and finish did you get your Ahrends with?

 

[Gunhacker]

I imagine that all Brownell's did when they received their order from Ahrends was dump them into a warehouse bin where they roosted until some order picker unceremoniously plucked them out and tossed them in a shipping box.

My first reaction to Brownell's sending out those "hersheywood" grips was shame on Ahrends, for make such a POS set of grips and letting them see the light of day outside of the factory.

But there is one characteristic about cocobolo I learned about from working with. After it is freshly machined, it's a lighter color until it oxidizes. I bet at Ahrends those grips looked completely different.

Nice replacements, are those retro targets?

 

[bsms]

I imagine that all Brownell's did when they received their order from Ahrends was dump them into a warehouse bin where they roosted until some order picker unceremoniously plucked them out and tossed them in a shipping box...there is one characteristic about cocobolo I learned about from working with. After it is freshly machined, it's a lighter color until it oxidizes. I bet at Ahrends those grips looked completely different.

Nice replacements, are those retro targets?

They are the "Retro Banana Grip". I don't think I'd call them 'banana' myself, since the forward part of the grip isn't curved. The hersheywood grips were the round butt smooth, and my hand doesn't notice much difference in feel...just the looks.

I only own 4 handguns, so it just didn't make sense to me to use grips that were, to me, butt ugly. If I had put them on a blued gun I might have felt a little different because I think dark grips look good with blue...but my gun is SS, and the fact remained that the grips also didn't fit right. I had to sand and file a bit to get them on, and even then there was a gap down the front.

Sometimes it is best to just take a loss and move on, and I'm very happy with the new grips.

 

[Gunhacker]

and the fact remained that the grips also didn't fit right. I had to sand and file a bit to get them on, and even then there was a gap down the front.

That's another irratating characteristic of Cocobolo, it's prone to warpage as it dries. I have a couple of N-Frame Cocobolo target grips that fit perfectly when I first got them, I took them off and stored them when I switched to Hogue finger groove wood grips.

I pulled the Cocobolo's out after about a year to put them on a M27-5 I bought and the same thing happened, they now had a really noticeable gap in the front that I could not close up no mater how much I cranked on the grip screw, while just sitting in my spare grip box the sob's warped.

A sure sign that the wood was a bit green when the grips were made.

So I've sworn off Cocobolo grips, there's other woods that look as good or better that are more stable.

 

[gr7070]

there's other woods that look as good or better that are more stable.

What woods do you like? Curious.

 

[bsms]

That's another irratating characteristic of Cocobolo, it's prone to warpage as it dries...I pulled the Cocobolo's out after about a year to put them on a M27-5 I bought and the same thing happened, they now had a really noticeable gap in the front that I could not close up no mater how much I cranked on the grip screw, while just sitting in my spare grip box the sob's warped...

Thanks for the insight. I didn't know that. I like the looks of some cocobolo, but I'm a bit leery of buying it again. I'm thinking of removing the plastic coating of my new grips and refinishing with light coats of linseed oil...might help prevent future warping. Or not? What I don't know would fill volumes, I fear!

I have walnut service grips on my Model 60 right now - great for carry, but tough to shoot well with anything stronger than 38 specials. I may just go back to Pachmayr grips for it - fills the hand a bit more, and not THAT much worse for carry. Not a lot of point in carrying a gun one doesn't shoot well. I'd like a hand filling walnut, but most makers don't seem to use walnut much.