N Frame Combats With Football Relief (another set)

[Vtgw938]

I've found a few Threads on these and gather they are rather rare. I much prefer the football relief verses the speedloader cut-out and they really make these combats look good. They are exceptionally comfortable.

Unfortunately there is no date on these. I'm assuming few were made before the speedloader cut-out took over. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[rbmac52]

I agree that the football relief on the earliest square butt combats is much more pleasing aesthetically, than the later speedloader cutout version. I have one set of these football combats, though I've modified them considerably as I found the original shape to be much too large and blocky.

Since these football combats are rarely seen, I doubt many were made before the changeover to the speedloader version.

That is a nice and valuable set you have there.

 

[USBP SW]

I was given a set by the Smith and Wesson rep when I helped out at a special sale in 1985. I also reshaped them because I found them large and awkward, they are now round butt and more like the combat grips.

 

[Nightowl]

Those are pretty neat!! I had never seen, that I can remember, a set like that. I assumed they were all made with the speedloader cutout. I really admire the combat stocks, but they are too large for comfort in my small size hands. I keep looking for a beat up set to work down to fit. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Vtgw938]

Those are pretty neat!! I had never seen, that I can remember, a set like that. I assumed they were all made with the speedloader cutout. I really admire the combat stocks, but they are too large for comfort in my small size hands. I keep looking for a beat up set to work down to fit. Thanks for sharing!

I to assumed they were all speedloader cut-outs. Here they are as I got them, on a pretty much pristine model 28-2. The combination hasn't been shot much, one panel actually pulled the grip pin from the frame when I removed the grips. If you look carefully you will see the filler behind the trigger guard is not as full as the later ones or the targets. This allows your middle middle to grip higher. If you have large hands however, this can pinch the middle finger against the back of the guard.

 

[Vtgw938]

Another Set

Luck shined on me again and I picked up another set. These aren't quite as perfect but very nice. They have a bulkier feel to them and I can see that they are slightly larger in the filler area behind the trigger guard and larger down by the lower finger groove.

It would be interested to know if this is just a difference in hand finishing or if they were changing the dimensions as they went. I do not know the process that S&W used to make grips, I assume that they were machine made to some extent.

Maybe someone hear made grips for S&W?

 

[rbmac52]

That's another fine pair of early combats you have there. The pair I have started out just like yours, with a bulkier feel all around. I modified and refinished them to better fit my hand and the grips now are much easier to hold and conceal in my shoulder holster.

I've always wished that someone with inside knowledge of the original factory wood shop operations would share a detailed history of that part of Smith & Wesson manufacturing. I lamented the closing of the factory wood shop and outsourcing grips to aftermarket vendors. They've never been the same since.

 

[boykinlp]

Two fantastic pairs of combat grips. I especially like the second pair.
Larry