review - Kelly Arms Boot Grips for pocket carry

[cabopc]

I pocket carry a S&W Model 60 and found the standard Uncle Mikes grips too large and sticky for pocket carry. After looking at various makers of wood grips I decided on checkered boot grips by Kelly Arms in the silver-black color. They cost $45 plus $6 shipping.
Kelley Arms Home page
I've used them for about 3 months now so I figured it's time for a review.
Pros: less expensive than most wood grips, attractive, tight fit, good craftsmanship, lightweight, nice and slick on the draw but not too slick.
Cons: more felt recoil, less to hold onto (2 fingers on the grip versus 3 with the Uncle Mikes)
Bottom line: I highly recommend them for POCKET carry but for other styles stick with the standard grips.

 

[flop-shank]

Looks nice. I never understood why S&W puts those big, stupid three finger grips on a J frame.

 

[Erich]

Thanks for the review - I didn't know about them.

 

[photoman]

Looks nice. I never understood why S&W puts those big, stupid three finger grips on a J frame.

I shoot my Airweights ~much~ better with the three finger Uncle Mike's combat grips. They look terrible but get the job done much better and I don't have any problem using them with my Mika pocket holster in cargo shorts.

 

[flop-shank]

I shoot my Airweights ~much~ better with the three finger Uncle Mike's combat grips. They look terrible but get the job done much better and I don't have any problem using them with my Mika pocket holster in cargo shorts.

My thinking is that two finger grips are easier to hide and will work where three finger grips sometimes won't. That's why two fingers makes more sense to me from the factory. While three finger grips make sense for some people, they don't make sense to me as the factory default setting.

 

[photoman]

I like the fact that they put the two finger grips on the Airweights from the factory so that when people shoot them for the first time, they give up and trade it in. Then I get a like new Airweight for a big discount!

 

[-db-]

I like the 2-finger boot grip but recently learned that the finish on these grips is very important. I set the factory rubber that came on my new 442 aside and went shopping for grips a few weeks ago. The first I tried was an Esmeralda boot grip I bought on the forum. Great grip, shape-wise and all, but while running some home defense drills the other day, I quickly realized that as soon as my hand became slightly sweaty, the slick finish on the grips had the gun swimming around in my hand, a big no-no. That bummed me out and while I was trying to think of a remedy, I purchased another boot grip from the forum, a used smooth Spegel. Again, a great grip but when drilling, I encountered the same problem.

What I figured out was that the shiny poly finish found on these grips becomes really slick when wet. A J-frame boot grip is very small to begin with and a bigger guy like me needs all the help I can get maintaining a good hold on the gun- a slippery grip that small isn't going to cut it. In my case, the remedy was stripping the finish on the Spegel grip (it was fairly used and showed some wear, unlike the Esmeralda) and refinishing it with a simple oil rub. Now it's just as pretty but is much more tacky when wet and stays put in my hand. Now I'm actually grasping the wood, not a plastic film on top of wood. Works much better.

Edit to add: a checkered grip is the obvious solution, I know, but I prefer smooth for pocket carry.

 

[cabopc]

I agonized over getting the smooth grips or the checkered. I was pleased to find that the checkering on these grips is quite subtle. It's just enough to add a little bit friction.

 

[MO_mule]

-db-

I really like the matte (natural) look of those grips. I don't have the heart to strip my Spegels but I might ask him if he would make a set with an oil finish (linseed? tung? ??).

Thanks for sharing your experience and the photo.

Chris

 

[H Richard]

These are smooth boot grips from Kelley's on my Mod 19 (with metaloy finish). Agree on the "more felt recoil" statement. Otherwise, great grips.

Mod 60 with Smooth rosewood.

 

[cabopc]

The rosewood grips are pretty. I see you bobbed the hammer on your 60 too.

 

[buckeyefan]

-db-
I agree 100% about the finish being very important. After experiencing the same thing with my new to me 65-5 Ladysmith, I did the same thing to the stocks. I also sanded them some to reduce the overall size to better fit my hand. I used wood conditioner and 3 coats of stain, no finish or topcoat.

BTW- All of those stocks look great.

 

[photoman]

-db-

Nice job on those grips!

 

[-db-]

-db-

Nice job on those grips!

Thanks, Photoman. The matte finish not only works better for me with this gun from a practical standpoint but it also matches the matte finish on the gun, a win-win.

 

[Hunt200]

These are from Kelly arms, work for me, small enough for good concealment and comfortable shooting.