Custom Grip Adaptor Question (Tyler T-Grip Style)

[mm6mm6]

The T-Grip has been around for about, what? A bit over four or five decades? The only competition for them was the Pachmayr grip adaptor made of plastic and they're not in production anymore.

I really like my factory S&W, Colt, and Ruger wood grips and the T-Grip makes them fit my hands much better without having to buy custom grips that change the appearance of the gun. I guess that's why millions of others buy T-Grips too.

Tyler's is a bit of a challenge to order from. In this day of "click and pay" on the internet, it is a bit of a bother to print out their order form and mail in a check. I understand that they're a very small, family run business and that health issues have caused delays in orders. Currently their website says 8+ weeks to produce T-Grips (that doesn't include shipping time either).

With the prices of used T-Grips becoming astronomical, how come someone doesn't create their own version of a grip adaptor? Would their be interest in a more reasonably priced version? Would their be interest in a custom made grip adaptor?

I have a S&W Model 40-1 in nickel. I really like the factory walnut grips with the factory medallions. Because the Centennial has the grip safety, boot style grips are not an option. The Tyler T-Grip works great. But it's not very well contoured at the bottom. That doesn't matter much from a practical standpoint but it sure looks lousy under close inspection.

I was wondering how a walnut version of a grip adaptor would look? I don't need the finger groove that the Tyler T-Grip has and actually it doesn't fit my big hands very well.

If the wood grip adaptor matched the factory walnut grips (actually pressed and laser checkered walnut from Altamont), I think it might look pretty neat.

I'm going to see about making a prototype out of walnut. If it works out well, I'll post pics....

 

[bamabiker]

I've been wondering the same thing. Thought about trying to make one but just have not had the time. I'll be interested in what you do.

 

[Onomea]

A friend of mine had a K-22 with a custom attachment that looked like, was the same principle as, a Tyler-T. It was of ivory, if I recall correctly, and had a screw through it to attach it to the front strap (which had a hole in it, presumably threaded). I thought it looked very nice, and have thought about having something like that made up.

 

[sheriffoconee]

I really like Tylers product, but for the life of me I can't imagine why some high speed outfit ain't makin' a product that does the same thing, and can produce them in a reasonable amount of time.
It isn't like engineering a Mars rover, it is a piece of aluminum or plastic with a copper clip for Crissakes...

 

[medxam]

AMEN!,AMEN!, AMEN!.

medxam

 

[Black_Sheep]

I've pondered the same thing myself, obviously there's a market for grip adapters and presumably it's a fairly simple item to make. I have some friends in the machine shop business that could crank them out for a reasonable price per unit. The questions that really need to be asked relate to the legality of reproducing them. Would there be copyright infringement or patent issues? If a person was making them for resale would it create legal problems?

 

[jw mathews]

Other makes of grip adapters

Tyler T-grips were made of aluminum--I guess by casting. They had a finger groove near the bottom, so they were described as "contour."

Mershon and Pachmayr were two other companies that made grip adapters. I believe their material was hard rubber or composition of some type. They had a bronze spring clip screwed to their back, with two prongs that slipped over the front strap, one on each side. The regular wooden stock screw clamped the adapter in place. These grips had no finger grooves; just a smooth curve to fill in the space behind the trigger guard, curving down to the bottom of the front strap.

These were made to fit different makes & models of revolver frame sizes. Also, there were different sizes on at least one, if not both brands, designated small, medium & large, based on the amount of depth behind the trigger guard. These sold for approx $2 during the 1950s. I don't know if Pachmayr still makes them; I think Mershon is no longer in business. Old issues of Stoeger "Shooters Bible" show The Pachmayrs.

I hope the above info may be helpful.