N frame grips for small hands
- Thread starter CWelch58
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That gun most likely shipped with magna stocks with the diamond around the screw hole. They're much smaller than the target stocks it's currently wearing and would retain the original appearance - if that appeals to you. I'm sure you're aware the stocks on it now have been modified.
Assuming it has a square butt which I THINK they all did then your options are limited. The Hogue might be OK or something more esoteric in wood. Or have a decent gun smith roundbutt it. That will help some.
The Kid
Member
I wear a size medium glove and have no practical use for factory target sized stocks. I also don't care for rubber grips aside from a very few instances. The best fit I've found for me with square butt N frames is Magnas and a grip adapter.
I also generally prefer smooth aftermarket Magnas or stags of the same shape. The border around the checkering on factory Magnas digs into my palm after a few rounds of 44.
I also generally prefer smooth aftermarket Magnas or stags of the same shape. The border around the checkering on factory Magnas digs into my palm after a few rounds of 44.
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Altamont "Coke" grips seem to have a smaller profile in the hand. Would be decent for shooting. Their finish is a dead giveaway that they aren't real cokes though
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Not much difference in this view.
Noticeably slimmer in the bottom picture and feel the difference in hand.
( sorry for the bad cell phone images)
Noticeably slimmer in the bottom picture and feel the difference in hand.
( sorry for the bad cell phone images)
StrawHat
Member
As others have mentioned, the Magna stock is a much smaller option for the N frame. The only stock smaller, offered by the factory, was the Service stock found on the 45 HE for example.
I like the Magna stock but add a grip adapter to fill in behind the triggerguard. Here is a set of smooth elk on a S&W Model 1950 Army revolver.
In this group shot, 3 of the four revolvers are shown with Service stocks. Factory Magnas are on the bottom left revolver.
Kevin
I like the Magna stock but add a grip adapter to fill in behind the triggerguard. Here is a set of smooth elk on a S&W Model 1950 Army revolver.
In this group shot, 3 of the four revolvers are shown with Service stocks. Factory Magnas are on the bottom left revolver.
Kevin
I have small hands and absolutely hate Magna grips, even with the grip adapter! I've got a box full of grips I have tried over the years, and the only grips that I have found that help me are the Hogue rubber grip. Lately, I tried their rubber grip without the finger grooves and it feels pretty good. While I like wood better, even the Hogues are not as comfortable as their rubber ones. Just about all I shoot are the N frames and the Hogues!
Fessor
Member
I have small hands also and found the magnas with Tgrip or S&W cokes are comfortable for me.
I wear a size 7 glove, I do like Magnas+Tyler T grip (which seems to be "unabtainium" these days but I hear BK adapters suffice).
I also like the various copies of "coke bottle" stocks from Eagle or Altamount. Hogues seem to be OK as well but I like the non finger grooved ones better than the finger grooves.
Here is my 1950 "pre-27" with worn Magnas and a Tyler:
Here is my 27-2 with Altamont copie of Ropers:
And here is my 3" 624 with some sort of home-made copies of Roper size stocks, but no idea who made them - they are really thin - bought them off eBay :
Riposte
I also like the various copies of "coke bottle" stocks from Eagle or Altamount. Hogues seem to be OK as well but I like the non finger grooved ones better than the finger grooves.
Here is my 1950 "pre-27" with worn Magnas and a Tyler:
Here is my 27-2 with Altamont copie of Ropers:
And here is my 3" 624 with some sort of home-made copies of Roper size stocks, but no idea who made them - they are really thin - bought them off eBay :
Riposte
I have a medium sized hand also. I prefer the Rubber Hogue Mono grip. Not the Prettiest, but comfortable on my 629 and 625. They seem to have somewhat of a "Cokes" profile and additional material in the area that the Tyler fills. For around $25, worth a try.
Also, I have the same grips on my 617, 629, 625, 64, and 686. Model 64 in pics. All have same feel to shoot...
Also, I have the same grips on my 617, 629, 625, 64, and 686. Model 64 in pics. All have same feel to shoot...
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I just picked up some Altamont magnas in black and had them add the medallion. The base grip is $48 and medallions add $10 (you add them in the shopping cart and different styles are available). They are an engineered wood and are available in rose, brown, or black.
I don't think an N frame, no matter what grips, will be comfortable in a small hand, but these would be a lot better than targets. You can also try experimenting with different gripping techniques.
Here's how mine came out with the Altamont's. I think they're pretty comfortable for a magna style.
I don't think an N frame, no matter what grips, will be comfortable in a small hand, but these would be a lot better than targets. You can also try experimenting with different gripping techniques.
Here's how mine came out with the Altamont's. I think they're pretty comfortable for a magna style.
I put a set of these on my Model 24-6. I have large hands and find these to be too small for me, so perhaps they would be a good choice for someone with smaller hands.
The problem with that is that it's usually hard to do it without obliterating the serial number.
Pizza Bob
Member
I'm not a big fan of the factory Magnas, even less so with a T-grip added. I have a number of guns equipped with Ken Driskill's Elk Magna stocks. While appearing the same as a OE Magna, the profile is much different. Fills the hand without being overly large and also is more rounded. Ken makes what he wants, when he wants, so you have to be in the right place at the right time. He sells a lot through the classifieds on this board - his board name is bigmtnman.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
Adios,
Pizza Bob
This is a great pictorial example of why I don't like Altamont grips. Notice how thin the wood is at the back strap compared to the factory S&W grips. Very painful when you shoot the revolver.
These work pretty well. Gun show "Bargain bin" stocks from 20 years ago. Joe
I've posted before about a pair of custom grips I found at a gun show that are pretty perfect for smaller hands. They are grips that S&W should have made, but didn't. Much better than magnas with a grip adapter in function and appearance. Adding a grip adapter looks like what it is, a kludge to fix a situation that shouldn't exist. The bad thing is, is that they are not commercially available. I had several new sets made in both N and K frame size by a gripmaker (Steve Jesse) who has disappeared.
Who made these grips?
Some stocks by schofieldkid81.
Who made these grips?
Some stocks by schofieldkid81.
zodraz
Member
This is the answer,magnas with a grip adapter.I wear a size medium glove and have no practical use for factory target sized stocks. I also don't care for rubber grips aside from a very few instances. The best fit I've found for me with square butt N frames is Magnas and a grip adapter.
I also generally prefer smooth aftermarket Magnas or stags of the same shape. The border around the checkering on factory Magnas digs into my palm after a few rounds of 44.
wileyjackhammer
Member
Try Altamont Grips...they have a pretty big selection or go on line to look for the smaller Magna grip. Don't give yours away, they should pay for your new grips
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If your revolver has a round butt, you have a choice between target/combat grips which cover the rear strap, and those which leave the top half exposed. I recently bought a 610 N-frame with a full grip, which made the trigger too far for my medium hands. I bought replacements which exposed the rear strap, but with a square butt. I eventually settled on VZ grips which had a round butt, for for better conceivability (yeah, I occasionally carry an N-frame).
Rock185
US Veteran
The factory grips have always been too big for me. Not expensive, custom, or exotic, but I have sometimes used the Herretts Grips on my 27-2 and other S&Ws. They are a target type, but considerably smaller than factory N-Frame target grips. Don't know if they are still available new, I found mine at gun shows for around $30.00.
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I have a "pair" of 27s with those Herrett's stocks on them - they are not a real pair, one is a 27-2 and one is a 27-3 - they wear something else now but no dig on the Herrett's - I love their stock work - I just put a set of Herrett's on a 1957 Python 6".
Sorry for the poor picuture it was made before I had an iPhone
Riposte
I've got small hands myself, and there's no revolver grip that works better for me than an N frame with good Magna grips.
That said, I did say "good Magna grips." The vast majority of Magna grips out there are super thin, especially up top where the "ears" overlap the frame. These feel great, until you actually shoot the gun, and then they hurt because there's not enough material up there to distribute the recoil. These grips are fine up to .45 ACP or so, but past that I find them to be torture contraptions.
I have never used a pair of Altamont grips that were thick enough up top. Eagle Grips might be ok, otherwise you may consider buying an original set of Smith & Wesson Magnas off eBay
That said, I did say "good Magna grips." The vast majority of Magna grips out there are super thin, especially up top where the "ears" overlap the frame. These feel great, until you actually shoot the gun, and then they hurt because there's not enough material up there to distribute the recoil. These grips are fine up to .45 ACP or so, but past that I find them to be torture contraptions.
I have never used a pair of Altamont grips that were thick enough up top. Eagle Grips might be ok, otherwise you may consider buying an original set of Smith & Wesson Magnas off eBay
Pizza Bob
Member
The design is reminiscent of Craig Spegel's work...
...but of course these are way too early for them to be his. I think he started around 1980. However, just wondering where he got the inspiration for some of his designs. Is it possible that he may be familiar with this design, know who did it and incorporated it into his work? Might be worth contacting him just to see. I really like them too.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
Revelation
Member
Showgirls on parade!
crasig
Member
Here is a picture of My S&W N FRAME with a pretty set of Magnas I found on Ebay, with fine detail & checkering. They work well for me. I wear a large glove - but have short fingers - but can get a fine grip due to the Magnas shape following the frames contour. For some reason I have better control, & shoot better with rigid grips.
Maybe the same reason I can also walk better in shoes / boots without mushy insoles ?
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I am currently the high bid on a nice 44 special with a factory grip adaptor, nearly identical to the top gun on the right in your picture.. I put in what I hope is a winning bid, LOL.. I think we were bidding against each other on the kool 4" N frame a month or so ago?? anyway, I have several grip adaptors, but don't have them on any of my guns at present... billy
and I'm going to second/third/fourth??? factory diamond Magna's for you, get the proper diamond magna's, and if anybody has a set of high magna's, send me a pm if you would consider selling them...
Diamond magna's are gorgeous, and very comfortable, and I love all the early service grips, they may be the best of all...
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