K Square combat grips - modified

[Hoot]

In the interest of not hijacking another thread, here are some photos of a really nice pair of modified K SQ combats, next to a pair of unmodified. As shown in the third photo, these are factory grips that someone (I think) moded to their liking. At least, I've never seen any grips with this profile from the factory.

Both feel pretty good, but I prefer the unmodified. I got big palms and short fingers, so the extra wood in front of the grip works better for me.

 

[Hoot]

In the interest of not hijacking another thread, here are some photos of a really nice pair of modified K SQ combats, next to a pair of unmodified. As shown in the third photo, these are factory grips that someone (I think) moded to their liking. At least, I've never seen any grips with this profile from the factory.

Both feel pretty good, but I prefer the unmodified. I got big palms and short fingers, so the extra wood in front of the grip works better for me.

 

[Stophel]

I stuck these on my old .22 Masterpiece for want of any better grips. I cut back the lower finger groove to fit me better (be careful, as wood is PAPER thin here), and knocked off the sharp corner at the upper rear behind the speedloader cutout (that sharp edge gouges the far out of my thumb). I also relieved that area so it would load/eject easier. I originally had these on a .38. I bought them years ago, I think directly from S&W. I think they were 30 or 40 bucks.

I don't think they really suit the gun, and I need to make something else for it, but I really hate making revolver handles, and I have a couple of others that I want to make, so this gun is not even on the back burner. I made the grips on the .38 Masterpiece in my avatar. Basically copying these.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

What is the white stuff inside the right panel?
It looks like acra-glass that has been installed to reinforce the panel and sanded to shape.

 

[Hoot]

Gun 4 Fun, I'm not sure what it is. It's so thin on the front strap part that you can see through it. From what I can tell, if it weren't there, it wouldn't matter. It's kind of chalky feeling, not like any 'glass bedding stuff I've run across.

 

[Stophel]

Probably just nail hole filling putty.

The wood gets really thin there. I actually broke through in the lower finger groove at the bottom corner of the frame, and it is epoxied up.

 

[Hoot]

Originally posted by Stophel:
Probably just nail hole filling putty.

That's what it looks and feels like. There's no damage that I can find, so I can't figure out why it's there. Maybe a homemade "bedding" compound?

 

[GF]

OK so they're MODIFIED factory grips.

When I posted-up on the other thread I wondered why I'd never seen a set of S&W grips that looked like squeezed putty!

 

[Stophel]

These are late '80's, early '90's S&W factory combat grips. Mine are the "Pau Ferro" wood, which I haven't seen anyone carry in some time. I reshaped the speedloader cutout area and worked on the bottom fingergroove some, but otherwise, they are as I bought them. I got them direct from S&W and I think I paid like $40 for them...

 

[Hoot]

GF, I believe they're modified. At least, I can't find anyone to own up to having a set like them, so I figure that means that they didn't leave the factory this way. "Squeezed Putty" is a good description.

Stophel, those are some pretty grips you got there!

Any ideas about what kind of wood mine are made of? I don't know much about tree species.

 

[Stophel]

The color is messed up on the computer screen I'm using, so I can't tell very well. Looks like they may be Pau Ferro as well.

Mine are a bit more orange-yellow than when I first got them. They have changed color. I have a lousy finish on them too, which don't help. I need to redo them.