Are Nill grips especially nice?

[oliveview]

Does anyone here have firsthand experience with Nill grips on their S&W revolvers?

Something like this: Karl Nill GmbH

I'm trying to understand why their products are so extraordinarily expensive. Those grips cost almost twice as much as any of the other wood grips I've seen.

 

[Austerity]

I have owned several sets for semi-auto pistols, and they were hands down the nicest wood grips I have ever seen or handled by far. With that said, I have no experience with their revolver stocks.

 

[snowman]

I have a pair on my 629 DX. I don't know all the factors that go into the extra cost; I'll just offer my opinion:

-They're imported.
-They use state-of-the-art computerized tooling to cut the things; the fit has to be seen to be believed. No gaps or loose spaces anywhere -you couldn't fit a hair between frame and grip(well, that's exaggerating a bit, but not by much)


Other than that I don't know what to say. The finish, while well done, doesn't seem extraordinary; nor does the wood. In fact, the first pair they sent me I had to send back because it was the absolutely worst-looking piece of walnut I've ever seen! It looked like pallet material -I kid you not. The pair they sent to replace it was satisfactory. I wasn't able to get a smooth pair, though; I had to take what they call a "stippled" grip, which serves the same purpose as checkering but is uglier(I don't like checkering -stippling is worse).

You've probably gathered that I don't think I'll be getting another grip from them, but do as you like; many folks really like their Nills.

Andy

 

[505Gibbs]

Does anyone here have firsthand experience with Nill grips on their S&W revolvers?

Something like this: Karl Nill GmbH

I'm trying to understand why their products are so extraordinarily expensive. Those grips cost almost twice as much as any of the other wood grips I've seen.

They're most likely NC machined and the resulting fit is VERY tight. Their woods usually have a lot of color and some grain. I believe their checkering is done by hand AND you're dealing with the Euro which kicks the price up by about 35% over the dollar. I have six sets on S&W's and Rugers.

 

[Austerity]

I have a pair on my 629 DX. I don't know all the factors that go into the extra cost; I'll just offer my opinion:

-They're imported.
-They use state-of-the-art computerized tooling to cut the things; the fit has to be seen to be believed. No gaps or loose spaces anywhere -you couldn't fit a hair between frame and grip(well, that's exaggerating a bit, but not by much)


Other than that I don't know what to say. The finish, while well done, doesn't seem extraordinary; nor does the wood. In fact, the first pair they sent me I had to send back because it was the absolutely worst-looking piece of walnut I've ever seen! It looked like pallet material -I kid you not. The pair they sent to replace it was satisfactory. I wasn't able to get a smooth pair, though; I had to take what they call a "stippled" grip, which serves the same purpose as checkering but is uglier(I don't like checkering -stippling is worse).

You've probably gathered that I don't think I'll be getting another grip from them, but do as you like; many folks really like their Nills.

Andy

I've seen many, many satisfied Nill customers and several hundred examples of their grips, and I must say, what you have to say about them is NOT normal. I have never seen any of their Walnut grips to look like "pallet material".

Good to hear they are not perfect. Part of the price is the importation though..

 

[oliveview]

I suppose that is the most obvious difference - that they are being imported from Germany. They are quite striking, on the revolvers above. My only previous experience with them is seeing them on guns like the HK P7. I like how it seems like they use a very mild oil finish, instead of a strong shiny lacquer. Rather understated.

 

[markush]

I tried to own a pair of Nil's grips but...

When I first got my 617 I wanted a pair of Nil grips for it. I started corresponding with someone from Nil as I had a lot of questions and for the money I needed to be positive of what I was getting. Everything was great through 3-4 emails and then I asked about a combination of wood and pattern that wasn't listed on their site together. He said they don't have that configuration but said he could send a couple pics of what they did have...I said great send pics but is there anyway I could get you to make me pair in this wood and pattern? Then nothing...I wrote back again and still nothing.

The impression that I came away with is they would not a take a wood they had and cut it to a pattern they offered...and that would have been fine, just tell me that! But instead were offended that I asked them to do so, so I wasn't worth their time anymore. I don't own a pair of Nils and highly doubt I ever will.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Check out that web site - they also offer knifes.

 

[trulyapostolic]

Nill grips are fabulous.

 

[505Gibbs]

Check out that web site - they also offer knifes.

Unless something has changed they only offer one knife and, while its beautiful , when I inquired about price about two years ago it was north of $900!! They weren't exactly clear in their response as to how one could be ordered since it wasn't set up so you could add it to your 'cart' and check out and pay.

 

[snowman]

I've seen many, many satisfied Nill customers and several hundred examples of their grips, and I must say, what you have to say about them is NOT normal. I have never seen any of their Walnut grips to look like "pallet material".

Good to hear they are not perfect. Part of the price is the importation though..

Sir,

In reviewing my post, I can see that it sounds a bit more negative than I intended for it to sound. Nevertheless I wouldn't change the content; that first pair of grips did indeed look very, very bad. There was simply no way I was going to keep them, let alone pay their price for them. I wish I had a picture to show you. I'm sure, however, based on the pictures on their site and of other members' examples, that the grip I returned was an anomaly(I certainly hope so!).

The stippling certainly helps with maintaining a positive grip, but it's just not aesthetically pleasing -too utilitarian for my blood.

Blessings on all who love their Nills.
Andy

 

[Doc44]

These Nill grips take the bite out of this 41 Magnum. The amboyna burl grips shown in the second photo were special ordered to replace the Nill grips supplied by S&W on this 629 that were made of walnut. Nill grips are some of the best on the market today.

Bill

 

[Maximumbob54]

The only thing from Nill I have thought about trying is this one:

Karl Nill GmbH

Wonder of wonders, there is no pic...

But it's what is in post #28 in this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/136087-high-backstrap-grip-640-642-a.html

Or at least I think that is the one since there is no pic...

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Unless something has changed they only offer one knife and, while its beautiful , when I inquired about price about two years ago it was north of $900!! They weren't exactly clear in their response as to how one could be ordered since it wasn't set up so you could add it to your 'cart' and check out and pay.

Makes sense to me. For $900, who would want to buy it, anyway? You're right, of course; they offer only one type of knife, but they describe the page on their homepage as offering "knifes." Maybe they meant that the system would would work only if you bought two or more of them - did you try that?

 

[505Gibbs]

Makes sense to me. For $900, who would want to buy it, anyway? You're right, of course; they offer only one type of knife, but they describe the page on their homepage as offering "knifes." Maybe they meant that the system would would work only if you bought two or more of them - did you try that?

Not at that price - I'd buy a Randall instead!

 

[oliveview]

Wow. First, those are fantastic guns. Second, the grips are stunning, especially with the perfectly lighted matte-box photography. Nill would probably sell way more product if they invested in some proper photography...then again, almost ALL gun manufacturers fail to realize the value of lush photography on their websites.

These Nill grips take the bite out of this 41 Magnum. The amboyna burl grips shown in the second photo were special ordered to replace the Nill grips supplied by S&W on this 629 that were made of walnut. Nill grips are some of the best on the market today.

Bill

 

[Shooting4life]

Best made grips on the market today. Definatly deal with the law of diminishing return on them though. I like my two sets, it is a real challenge to get the grips off the gun. I wonder why they even use a screw some times.

 

[Daimler1989]

Hi,

I'm german and I personally don't have good experiences with Nill grips. Not because of their quality, which is not to critisize, but because of the cost-value-ratio. I bought my first Nill grip for my 27-3 in 1988, when they were fresh in business, but I switched back to the standard S&W target after short time, later to a Hogue wood smooth. My wife tried a very nice combat grip on her 696, but immediately took it off in favour for an Ahrends Retro Banana. I tried their Master II on my 1911, just to put it aside and use a rubber Pachmayr. I have one very nice looking Nill grip set for my SIG 210, which I don't use. I had Nill make me an orthopedic grip with finger grooves and all the bells and whistles for my 27-3, only to find out, that this 200 € grip didn't make me shoot tighter groups than rather the opposite (later sold it for 45 €...)

Why all those changes? To me, and in this I might be a special case, Nill grips don't seem to fit my hands. They seem to be a tiny little bit too large for me to call them optimal: My groups with each gun are very tight when I use grips which allow my hand to close more tightly on the grip as the Nills do. I guess 75 % of those people who use Nills won't have those problems, but when you spend 150-200 $ for a grip set, you don't want to be disappointed.

regards
Ulrich

 

[snowman]

Oliveview,

If I can figure out how to post pictures(again), here is the grip I ended up with. It's a nice piece of walnut and nicely finished. Unfortunately the stippled surface totally obscures the grain, and covers much of the grip.

It's been awhile since I got this and don't remember all the details, but I remember that I wanted this one with a smooth surface, but it was only available with the stippled surface.

Thought you might like to see another example.

Andy

 

[oliveview]

Yeah. I see exactly what you mean. The stippling really obscures the grain. I think the way to go with such a high-quality piece of wood, is either totally smooth, or classically checkered in only the center of the panel.