K frame round vs square butt clarification

[Brunen]

Hi all, on the K frames, please clarify a few things for me as a newbie. (Yes, I used the search function, but I'm not 100% sure on what I read)

1) Newer S&W's use the square butts?

2) If I read correctly, the grips are interchangeable with the exception that a square grip on a round butt will have a small gap at the bottom of the frame. Yes/no?

3) There is a slight difference in the way the frame was manufactured. Yes/no?

4) What frame is a 1991 Model 10?

Thanks in advance, just tying to learn all I can without getting too much mis-information.

 

[OKFC05]

All current manufacture are ROUND butt.
There are grips to convert round butts to square profile.
Square butt grips will fit round butts and leave a small gap at the bottom.
Round butt grips only fit round butts.

I immediately put square butt Pro-gripper grips on a round-butt 646 when I bought it new, and have used it for years.
Only one person noticed and said anything: he was apparently the "S&W purity police" who went ballistic that anyone DARE put the WRONG grip on a S&W. Yeah, whatever.

 

[rburg]

Wow.

OK, all new guns come with a round butt. That encompasses N, L, K, and J.

There are minor gun to gun variations. In the past it was much worse. Trying to fit grips from different era's to guns is sometimes a problem. The general rule is try before you buy, and that once you get back into the 1960s and earlier, anything goes. All K frame grips aren't the same. Some, like those for M12s, have a thinner grip frame, hence the grips don't fit.

You can generally put square butt grips on a round butt frame, and its ugly but workable. The frame falls away from the wood near the bottom, sometimes leaving a sharp edge on the wood. You can often put round butt grips on a square butt gun, except you've got uncovered steel to bite you, and its still ugly.

You've come to the home of the "purity police". Its what we do for a hobby, so we take it very seriously.

 

[OKFC05]

That's a good caution about putting wood square grips on a round-butt frame. Beware sharp edges!

The Pachmayr SK-GP Gripper Professional square grips I put on all my range revolvers are rubber, with no sharp edges and no danger of breaking off the corner. I wish Pachmayr made them in a round-to-square conversion, but they don't. Oh well, in IDPA and ICORE we go for score, not pretty.
Pachmayr&reg Pachmayr your primary source for quality handgun grips and recoil pads

 

[Brunen]

Thanks for the clarification fellas, I do appreciate the help.

I have a 1991 Model 10-10 coming, and I can now start looking for round butt grips, so I feel better knowing I'm looking for the right thing. Mine will never be a beauty queen gun with it's tons of scratches and holster wear, not to mention the CAI import stamp, but if I fall in love with it, I'll get it re-blued and some nice grips.

Regardless, I plan to shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it. I spent enough years collecting guitars, diecast, etc and no longer have any need for stuff I don't use.

 

[Brunen]

I don't know if these are Pachmayr grips on it already, it was a carry weapon for a security firm overseas, so who knows. Here is a dealer picture, I can't wait to clean it up and see how it looks after some love.

The wood grips are nice, but I'm going for functionality first. I've spent enough time around long guns, but handguns are new territory for me. Besides, if I make it fancy, I'll go truly pimp and get faux pearl. I'm the most sedate guy on the planet, but I always thought pearl grips on a revolver looked so cool, something about the black/white combo and shininess......but I digress.

 

[OKFC05]

I don't know if these are Pachmayr grips on it already

Yes they are. If you have medium sized hands, what you are getting is about as good as it gets for rapid double-action shooting.

Course, if you want to put it in the case with your diecast, the pearl grips would look really....er.... pimp?

 

[MWAG]

Wow.

OK, all new guns come with a round butt. That encompasses N, L, K, and J.

and the X frame too!

 

[Brunen]

OKFC05 - thanks for clarifying. My hands would probably qualify as medium sized, not huge, not tiny. If this performs at the range the way I hope it does, it will probably always remain ugly but clean. I couldn't own a pristine gun I was afraid to scratch. Hopefully it gets to my FFL tomorrow.

 

[s&wchad]

A 4" 1991 vintage 10-10 has a square butt. They didn't switch to round butt until 1995-96. 1991 isn't that new.

Wow.

OK, all new guns come with a round butt. That encompasses N, L, K, and J...

What about the Classics?

Category - Classics

 

[Gilou06]

Wow.

OK, all new guns come with a round butt. That encompasses N, L, K, and J.

Does it mean that new mod. 686 2.5" and 3" are 'true' round butt and 4" or 6" are round butt with square butt style grips ?

 

[Brunen]

So my 1991 should be a square butt?

 

[s&wchad]

edit: Welcome to the forum!

Does it mean that new mod. 686 2.5" and 3" are 'true' round butt and 4" or 6" are round butt with square butt style grips ?

Yes.

So my 1991 should be a square butt?

I've been wrong before, but I'd bet money.

 

[Brunen]

Thank you. Picked up the gun today, much nicer than I expected. The range will have to wait until Monday, but I'm patient.

 

[ShakyJake]

So what is it???

Aw com'on Brunen, you can at least tell us if it is a square butt or round butt!!! Inquiring minds want to Know.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[Brunen]

Hi Ted - it appears to be square, the frame certainly does not look rounded to my untrained eye.

 

[s&wchad]

Check out post #8 in the FAQ's (scroll down). Here's a link.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-amp;w-revolvers-1961-1980/90658-faqs.html

 

[Brunen]

s&wchad - exactly what I needed the whole time. I'll take the grips off tomorrow and double check.

 

[tekarra]

Brunen,
Nice piece of kit! It looks like it has a story or two to tell. Keep it as it is.

 

[Brunen]

tekarra - thanks.

Thanks to all who followed this thread, and especially to those kind enough to get me the information I needed. Here are some pics of the square butt, and hopefully some newbies in the future can refer to the pics for some clarification.