Grip adapters

[snw19_357]

Looking to be educated on grip adapters. Even on the ones that came with service or magna stocks, I prefer target stocks so know nothing about these.
Are these plentiful so have little value or uncommon and worth more?

I am somewhat familiar with the Tyler “T” adapter. I do have a black one with “3R” in it. The black one in the picture is a “1” and the box is for a “polished” #3, which didn’t make it into the picture. Then there are two #1, a #4 and a #7.

I’ve heard of Pachmayr grips but was not aware they made grip adapters.

 

[snw19_357]

Then there’s the Mershon. I’m not familiar with them at all, or the company.

 

[MelvinWalker]

To be honest with you, until recently, I was new to these for my own guns too. Years ago, I used to see them at pawn shops and gun shows for a few dollars and never bought any of them because I thought they looked a little odd to me.

Now however, I recently bought a decent repro from Ebay to go on a K Frame, simply because I didn't want to spend that much for an original. Just like everything else with a finite supply, these have went through the roof in price.

I expect nearly any original now will bring $100+ each on Ebay and possibly more for N frames and the like. I had to google codes to follow a few auctions to see which adapter fit which gun. It seems like Tyler et al, used codes just like holster manufacturers instead of stamping the model it fit.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Pachmayr purchased Mershon…changing the name.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have a handful of Mershon and Pachmayr ones. And a couple N frame S&W ones too. I don't know much about them or what the number system means with the first two companies as far as what pistols they work with.

 

[StrawHat]

There have been a couple threads on grip adapters. Fray-Mershon made one style. They sold to Pachmyar in the 1950s(?). Tyler has been around for a while.

S&W made two styles, one like the Mershon/Pachmyar and one that sandwiched a bit of rubber between two metal plates.

B K makes a nice one also. And he is a forum member, wrangler5.

Anti-Clockwise from upper left,

B K, Tyler Pachmyar, Mershon, one type of S&W adapter looks like Pachmyar.

Here is the other S&W version,

And how it looks on a revolver,

Kevin

 

[HOGSTR]

This might be useful for the Pachmayrs. The Tyler adapters are still sized as currently shown on their website, to my knowledge that hasn't changed in decades.

 

[arjay]

I have a pach (L) and a bk (R) on a pair of k frames.They’re a bit small for my hand while I find k frame targets a bit too “blocky”..I do like the looks of them on a 4” or shorter barreled gun.

 

[offrdmania]

I have tried the Mershon, Pachmayr and the BK and the BK locks up the best on the frame with the dual clips IMO.

 

[Golddollar]

I have a grip adaptor that I have no idea where I got it or what it fits. It says "F.I.E. - Japan Model GA." Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[StrawHat]

This is a response from member -db-, copied from another thread.

To the best of my knowledge is the following.

Fray-Mershon grip adapters: 1930s-1950s

...became Pachmayr grip adapters: 1950s-1970s

...who made the S&W logo'd grip adapters in the 1960s.

Tyler: 1950s (?) - present

BK: a couple years ago - present

In the 1960s/1970s, importers like FIE, Pacific and Supreme were bringing in grip adapters from Japan, modeled after the aluminum Tyler adapter.

Here's a scarce one from Supreme (we see that BK wasn't the first to think of dual mounting tabs):

Kevin

 

[lestert357]

Looking to be educated on grip adapters. Even on the ones that came with service or magna stocks

Here’s a few pictures including the factory flyer on the Wesson Grip Adapter…..

The original Wesson Grip Adapters sell for $500+ in nice and complete condition.

 

[StrawHat]

Here’s a few pictures including the factory flyer on the Wesson Grip Adapter…..

The original Wesson Grip Adapters sell for $500+ in nice and complete condition.

In another thread, it was opined that these should be relatively easy to replicate with modern technology. I am not that mechanical in nature but would like to see this option again. I believe it was something about a 3D printer for the rubber block and a water jet to cut the metal?

It would be nice!

Kevin

 

[crows]

I have a grip adaptor that I have no idea where I got it or what it fits. It says "F.I.E. - Japan Model GA." Does anyone know anything about this?

They are sized GA-1 through GA-6.It looks like Tyler T grip to me.

 

[Golddollar]

They are sized GA-1 through GA-6.It looks like Tyler T grip to me.

And idea what a GA-5 fits?

 

[BC38]

I have tried the Mershon, Pachmayr and the BK and the BK locks up the best on the frame with the dual clips IMO.

I haven't tried a BK adapter, but I have a couple of the older Pachmyr version with only one clip. I never liked them that much - because the single clip doesn't seem to do a good job of keeping the adapter aligned with the grip frame.

The BK design with the dual clips always looked like a better design to me.

 

[biku324]

I installed a set of cheap Tyler T-grips on my M49 in 1982. Carried it daily for decades as a backup - those grips are as good as they were when new.

 

[boykinlp]

In another thread, it was opined that these should be relatively easy to replicate with modern technology. I am not that mechanical in nature but would like to see this option again. I believe it was something about a 3D printer for the rubber block and a water jet to cut the metal?

It would be nice!

Kevin

As I get older, my memory does funny things, but IIRC, I think I remember someone did replicate them. I think I remember a few being offered here.
Larry

 

[jeffrefrig]

I've never seen one or used one, but they seem to be pretty common and well-liked. Some in pictures look okay as they don't take away the good looks of the guns, others look like those clompy shoes that some women wear. You know, those black ones. Some nurses had the same only in white. So, do they keep the gun's trigger guard from beating on the middle finger on magnum loads, or is it for better control, which that S&W ad seemed to say?

 

[StrawHat]

As I get older, my memory does funny things, but IIRC, I think I remember someone did replicate them. I think I remember a few being offered here.
Larry

Larry,

You are recalling correctly. At one point a replica product was produced, in limited quantity. Finding one today is pricey. Not as pricey as the S&W product but still up there.

What I would like to see, is a reasonably priced copy, different enough to be easily told it is a copy.

Kevin