grips

[hazman]

goodmorning everybody
i am lost in the world of grips, there are so many out there, and so many prices. i have a -3 "686" that i want to put wood on. i have narrowed it down to ahrends or altamont, any and all input is appreciated. "merry christmas" to all, and to all "safe and happy shooting" !!!!!!.

 

[dinooch]

Eagle Secret Service grips are great. I have one on my .357 340sc in smooth rosewood I foolishly gave away as a gift a secret service grip in aged polymer ivory from Eagle to by best friend. It looked great on my black 442 .38 I replaced it with an ajax polymer ivory old style "sliver grip" just for fancy but it wears the Uncle Mikes boot grip 99% of the time. I find the Eagle grips to be outstanding. Google the website and see what they have. They have many choices.

 

[hazman]

thanks brother, my "686" is wearing uncle mikes also. have a great and safe holiday.

 

[novalty]

I just ordered a set of Ahrends Tactical Fingergrooves in cocobolo for my father for Christmas--after doing a lot of researching. I think his 686 with 6" barrel has no dashes, he complains about the factory target grip checkering irritating his hands with magnum loads, hopefully he will like the new Ahrends.

 

[hazman]

thank-you, i've been looking at the same ones "oiled".

 

[gasaman]

I really like these Jerry Miculeks on my 686 no dash....

I see now your looking to put some on a 3", then maybe these Ahrends might be the ticket...

 

[greenmachine]

I hope those feel better than they look. Traditional guy here.

Edit: I was referring to the Muceliks, they look like a club. Ahrends look OK.

 

[gasaman]

I've got the Miculeks on the 686 as you can see and on a 29-4 and I love the feel. They look better on the 29 being blued than the 686 being stainless.

 

[cptdco]

I have a 681 in-bound from a gun-broker auction and ordered a set of Herretts smooth presentation grips for it from CDNN. I like a traditional look and I've bought several of these grips over the years and have been very happy with the fit and finish.
Smith & Wesson K&L Square Butt Coco Bolo Grips w/Medallion New
And I think the price is right also.

 

[Janitor]

Here's a pair of the Ahrand's "Tactical Combat" grips on a -6. Overall, they feel pretty nice, but I wish the finger grooves were a bit more rounded.

 

[Jeff45]

Ahrends Tactical, no grooves, oiled, cocobolo. 686-3.

 

[exfebee]

Heres my 686-4 Snubby with S&W Grips. Fits fine.
Carl

 

[hazman]

very sweet looking piece man, happy holidays!

 

[hazman]

what did you polish that with???.

 

[bassoneer]

I think I may be getting some Ahrends Tactical Finger Groove Cocobola grips for my 686-4(P) with a 4" barrel for Christmas (since I ordered them on behalf of my father-in-law as my gift). I e-mailed Kim Ahrends and asked for an orange/red stripe to sort of blend in with the Oxblood on my Simply Rugged holster...can't wait to try them out when they arrive.

Anyway, don't know if yours is a 3" barrel (I would love to have one of those) but if so, I personally would probably get the same grips, but with a round butt profile. I think the 3" guns look very balanced with a round butt, the 4" and higher with a conversion/or square profile. Whatever the barrel length, I like the looks of the Ahrends...I hope they feel as good when shooting...

Just my input...good luck, B

 

[Sportsterguy]

Here's a pair of the Ahrand's "Tactical Combat" grips on a -6. Overall, they feel pretty nice, but I wish the finger grooves were a bit more rounded.

Nothing that about an hour or two of your time with some 200 grit SP to take care of them finger groves for a perfect fit.

 

[jughed440]

Nothing that about an hour or two of your time with some 200 grit SP to take care of them finger groves for a perfect fit.

Sporsterguy has a good point. The set of Ahrends on the top used to be the exact same as Janitor's. They came with the gun but didn't like the way they felt, so i shortened and reshaped for a much better fit. The bottom set was shortened, and slightly reshaped.

 

[Janitor]

Thanks for the idea Sportsterguy. And jughead440 - couldn't thank you more for posting an example of that kind of work done right after Sportsterguy's post. I was wondering how the finish would look after sanding it - looks like a non-problem. Or did you do something to finish it?

I'm going to have to go after mine - those squared of edges in the finger grooves are my only complaint.

And ... one thing I probably should have mentioned in the original post - the '-6', is a RB grip frame. The grips on mine are the Ahrend's RB->SB conversion.

 

[Green Frog]

The eighties-vintage smooth finger grip combat grips that Smith was furnishing from the factory for K- and L-frame revolvers fit my hand as well as anything ever put on a revolver. They might be a little hard to find now (and maybe somewhat pricey) but if I were outfitting a revolver for myself, that's what I would look for. YMMV

Froggie

 

[jughed440]

Thanks for the idea Sportsterguy. And jughead440 - couldn't thank you more for posting an example of that kind of work done right after Sportsterguy's post. I was wondering how the finish would look after sanding it - looks like a non-problem. Or did you do something to finish it?

I'm going to have to go after mine - those squared of edges in the finger grooves are my only complaint.

And ... one thing I probably should have mentioned in the original post - the '-6', is a RB grip frame. The grips on mine are the Ahrend's RB->SB conversion.

as i said, mine started out like yours...i shortened them first. used an orbital sander with 120 grit to knock down the grooves and back, and round the bottom edges. cleaned it up some with 220 grit, and used 400 grit to finish. one coat of Tru-Oil