Large frame to medium frame grip conversion?

[marvin knox]

Some time ago I was looking at different custom gunsmithing sites. I seem to remember a smith (maybe more) who converted the butts on large frame Smith and Wessons to accept grips that are manufactured for medium frame Smiths.

The idea was to make an N frame more carry concealable than it would be with larger grips made for N frames.

I'm contemplating customizing a short barreled N frame .45 acp for carry. I'm looking to put Crimson Trace laser grips on it. The ones made for K & L frames are more compact than the ones for N frames, at least in the style and comfortable covering that I want. Specifically I'm talking about the 306 grips if someone wants to see the idea I have here.

Is there a conversion that they can do for this - or am I mistaken? If so - who does it and how much?

Links to their sites???

Thanks!
MARV

 

[marvin knox]

Some time ago I was looking at different custom gunsmithing sites. I seem to remember a smith (maybe more) who converted the butts on large frame Smith and Wessons to accept grips that are manufactured for medium frame Smiths.

The idea was to make an N frame more carry concealable than it would be with larger grips made for N frames.

I'm contemplating customizing a short barreled N frame .45 acp for carry. I'm looking to put Crimson Trace laser grips on it. The ones made for K & L frames are more compact than the ones for N frames, at least in the style and comfortable covering that I want. Specifically I'm talking about the 306 grips if someone wants to see the idea I have here.

Is there a conversion that they can do for this - or am I mistaken? If so - who does it and how much?

Links to their sites???

Thanks!
MARV

 

[tomcatt51]

With the round butt N frames the only area of the grip that's different from the round K is at the very "top". The top of the back strap and just behind the trigger guard. There's not much difference anymore.

 

[marvin knox]

It sounds like I was mistaken about this. Maybe I read it wrong and they were just talking about converting a square but L or K to as round butt. I know they can do that.

Thanks anyway for the help, guys!

 

[Duke426]

My understanding is that was part of the "Jovino" treatment. In addition to shortening the barrel of the big N-frame guns the grip was reduced to the K-frame size to aid in concealment. I have been known to be wrong before but I believe this was the case with Jovino guns.

 

[Muley Gil]

A major consideration of the conversion is the serial number on the butt. Unless it is centered, part of the SN can be ground away, which is a big no-no.

Years ago, BATF regs said if the SN was restamped on the frame by the gunsmith BEFORE the original is ground on, then everything is OK. Not sure if that is still the case.

 

[ddixie884]

Magnaport and several other custom smiths offered the K rnd butt conversion for the pachmeyer compact grip. I have one. I beleive the Jovino conversion also had this grip. The frame is thicker at the top, and there is a slight gap between the two halves on top and underneath, behind the trigger guard. Some one on the forum has a jovino. I have seen pictures of it