if not combats, whats a close second

[Bladeswitcher]

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to buy three sets of genuine S&W square butt Combats for $150 total. The seller was a friend who had been in the gun business for more than 30 years (first as a gun shop manager then as a pawnshop owner). He said he didn't like the Combats and seemed happy to sell them.

This is a guy who has a personal collection of more than 60 S&W revolvers. About the same time he sold me the grips, he started thinning the herd. He sold me a high-condition pre-28 Highway Patrolman, a 5-inch Model 27 and . . . . drum roll . . . a 3-inch Model 66 for $600!
I also bought three or four other nice S&W revolvers from him which I resold in the pawnshop I owned/managed at the time.

All of this happened about two years ago. About 15 years ago, I bought my 3-inch CS-1 from the same guy when he owned his pawnshop. I traded him a Remington 03a3 miltiary rifle even up for it at the time (I think the sticker price on the gun was $600).

The funny thing was this guy was always known for pricing stuff for top dollar and not budging much off the tag. I guess he's lost track of the market.

 

[SLT223]

I find the stockers to be a little too small. Call me goldie locks, but the Culina’s fit me just right.

 

[gfors]

Hogue Mono Grip for me

Hogue makes quite a few different wood models.
These single finger groove combats fit my hand perfectly.
They call this wood “Pau Ferro”. Probably lighter than you’re looking for, but they do offer other woods. These are round to square conversion grips, on a 4” 629-6. The gun came with some kind of synthetic factory grips. I found that they really hurt my hand because they allow the backstrap to come right back into the web of my palm. These do a better a much better job of distributing the recoil, than the factory grips, and they look way nicer. I bought them new on a popular auction site, I believe for less than $90 about a year and a half ago.

 

[SW CQB 45]

I need a somewhat of a long grip due to hand size. I like that single finger groove Hogue but might need to look for an end cap model because of these mitts.

586 SB with old Bill Davis rubbers and built up inner tube.

 

[75Vette]

There's no doubt in my mind that Culina combats are the finest to be found and usually less expensive than stock S&W combats off Ebay, etc. But, for the money, now sadly with Ahrends going under I would buy the wood Hogues all day long. I wear an XL glove and they fit my hand well. These are Pao Ferro grips on my 629-3 Classic. I never swap to rubbers when I take it to the range.

 

[rbmac52]

I recommend the Hogue Hardwood Monogrip wholeheartedly! Practically all my revolvers have them on all the time. Lots of wood choices, and fingergrooves or not. Not very expensive compared to S&W originals!

The below-linked outfit doesn't get much attention here, but they have some interesting offerings.

Pistol & Revolver Grips Made by NC Ordnance

 

[LittleCooner]

I have several sets of John Culinas and I love them, but I am slowly adding the Hogue monogrips to my guns for trips to the range and the carry gun. the Hogue monogrip just fits my hands better than any I have tried and I have tried Kim Ahrens and some from the Thailand guy plus the factory stuff. I think the round butted L frame feels best in my hand with those Hogue grips.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Spegel Boot and Extended Boot Grips...................... smooth or Checkered

got them onJ, K,L and N square butt frames.......... from $50-125.

Nuff said.....................

well except he now has a 2 year waiting list. Glad I started in about 1986.

If and when you can find them Smith Factory Target grips.... aka Banana Grips are great for round butts

 

[Redlegvzv]

This is a great thread, folks. Really learning a lot from reading it in terms of other peoples' experiences. I've tried various grips and seem to keep coming back to the Hogue wood monogrips.

 

[mbliss57]

I am very surprised that Keith Brown's stocks are not mentioned. In all of my revolver dealings I have never seen anyone who could make a finer grip for both fit, function and beauty. He makes them custom to fit your hands. His waiting list is long as well. His prices are not going to be low.

I just look under the SW Vendor Sub forum and as of 18 months ago he wasn't taking new orders. He may be again I do not know.

Here is the link: Post # 8 shows a pic of a set of combats:

Assorted grip pics & Update

 

[SW CQB 45]

Goncalco Alves
on the 6 1/2"

[/center]

The handgun (lower right) that color grip really appeals to me. is that a certain wood or is it like a box of chocolates.... all the same wood, ya never know what your gonna get with finish?

unless I am color blind.... its a very dark brown with a hint of red.

 

[andy52]

I have a set of Altamont's on my 24-3 if I'm not mistaken they call these BATELEUR's they are kind of a cross between a target and a combat stock.
They look good and fit the gun and my hand well.

 

[colt_saa]

The handgun (lower right) that color grip really appeals to me. is that a certain wood or is it like a box of chocolates.... all the same wood, ya never know what your gonna get with finish?

unless I am color blind.... its a very dark brown with a hint of red.

Those are a set of standard Smith & Wesson target grips made in the 1970s

Smith & Wesson's woods varied in color and grain structure from batch to batch. All five sets of grips in that image are made from the same wood Goncalco Alves

The only way to get one the way you want it is to keep looking at all the gun shows until you find one or browse through a grip maker's blanks and have a set made with the block of wood that you like

 

[Warren Sear]

I got a pair of beat-up Mustang grips cheap from an auction site. They turned out to be gen-u-wine rosewood. I re-shaped them to what I wanted, slapped on a few coats of tung oil, and put them on my Model 58. I'm very pleased with them.

 

[hittman77]

I just add a Tyler T to mine.
Guess I either have average sized hands or just not too particular.
Works for me on S&Ws or Rugers.