Pachmayr K/L Presentation Grips Value or Desirability?

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Thinking of shooting my safe queen but want to keep the original grips in their "new" condition. I was going to use these Pachmayr "K" & "L" Presentation Grips but didn't want to use them if they're too valuable. What is the value or desirability of the Pachmayr "K" & "L" Presentation Grips? Condition is fairly good. What do the you think?
 

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They are roughly $15 stocks, very common and trying to preserve them for value appreciation is pointless because Pachmyrs harden as they age. Judging by the age of the box they probably already have hardened significantly.

The original Target Stocks will stay in excellent condition if you avoid a few things. Do not rest the butt on anything while firing, don't carry the revolver in a holster that holds the butt out where it will bang into things and don't over oil and allow the oil to run down out of the frame onto the wood. However, to keep them in new condition use the old Goodyears or whatever after market stocks fit you best.
 
The packs with out the medallions are the original versions and far better then the later versions.I just bought two set of new old stock from the 70’s in perfect condition.Around $30.00 a piece plus shipping.I never had a set go hard or dry up on me yet.Maybe I have just been lucky.
 
The packs with out the medallions are the original versions and far better then the later versions.I just bought two set of new old stock from the 70’s in perfect condition.Around $30.00 a piece plus shipping.I never had a set go hard or dry up on me yet.Maybe I have just been lucky.

Have a used N frame grips w\o medallions and in the original box that came in a box of used grips i bought at recent auction. Still feel good! Don't have an N frame to use them on. Never used Pachs so guess I will just hang on to them.
 
I've paid five bucks when a dealer had a bin of them at a show. About $15 max. if new in box.

Those on my M-66-3 have been there for about 30 years and haven't hardened, and I wore that gun at work almost daily for at least 20 years.

Also have Compacs on my M-60-4 and Grippers on my Ruger GP-100. No hardening, and they offer superb control.

I bought my guns new and the Smiths that I've had with wooden grips have had them replaced with Pachmayr or Uncle Mike's rubber grips because they fit my hand better and are less subject to damage from banging into things and handle recoil better.

Ignore the snobs here who disparage rubber grips. I love good wood as much as anyone and have worn guns with S&W's presentation smooth rosewood on my service guns and like them. But for day-in and day-out performance in all sorts of weather, Pachmayrs are the most sensible choice, I think..

But the old two-piece ones are far superior to the new ones.

You asked about K/L stocks. Of course, you need the size to fit your gun. And if it's an N frame, better buy the Small size unless you have huge hands.

K and L frames use the same size grips. J and N frames need different sizes.
 
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I like Pachmayr Presentation grips on my Smith K, L, and N frames (prefer "small" Presentation grips for N frames, not "Large".) They fit my hand well. They are thinner than the Smith factory mag grips, and the Presention grips have material in the upper rear part of the backstrap (in the web part of your hand between thumb and index finger). This feature is a benefit to me for pointability/sight alignment. The shape/design brings the front sight down for a natural alignment of sight "pointability".

What can I say? Pachmayr Presentation grips do a better job for me than the factory S&W grips. I like my shoes and pants to fit me well, why not my pistol grips?
 
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I'm also in the camp that gets FANTASTIC use from the big gangly Pachmayr grips, typically I use the Gripper version rather than the Presentation, but they all work.

They scream "1980's!" in look and when shopping for used guns, anything wearing a Pachmayr gives you first shot in talking down the price. ;)

Pachmayr grips will likely never be collectible or valuable on the market, because they made a GUJILLION and as stated, they do have a service life before they dry and start to look worse and feel lousy.

But that doesn't change how well they work for many of us, and in years gone by, they were so much the standard that you could spot the guys who didn't shoot much, because their revolvers wore OEM Smith & Wesson wood stocks.

The S&W Magna stock in particular, original stocks to most K-38's and K-22's before the larger target grips... well these stocks are simply awful for normal folks. Because these stocks are so uncomfortable, accessories such as the Tyler T-grip, Pachmayr, Herrett, Sile, and Hogue were born and built in to extremely successful businesses.

It's fashionable these days to slag Pachmayr grips in every discussion, but my safe has probably two dozen guns wearing them and they work for me.
 

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