Show Your Aftermarket 686 grips...please. :)

[Doug Add]

Not the best photo (taken with my BlackBerry and a bit too bright this morning), but these are cherry grips with S&W medallions made by Ajax. I bought them back in 2004 shortly after acquiring the 686-4:

 

[Doug Add]

Not on my 686, but my 586. Like many others have shown, these are Ahrends cocobolo tactical finger groove grips. Since I just ordered some retro combat grips from Kim for the 586, these are for sale.

Here are the Ahrends on the 586 and the Ajax on the 686 in the same shot:

 

[.357magger]

both are wearing slightly reworked Ahrends

jughed,

What did you do to them?

Looks like aretro bananna on your 3" but what did it start out as on your 2.5". Interesting, very interesting and I'm not a slob with tools so...hmmmmmm.

 

[flgolfer29]

S&W Model 686-6 Plus (3 inch barrel) with Smith & Wesson Magna stocks.

Rio,

Where did you get the shoes for your 686? They look very nice!

 

[raveneap]

Thanks Gents!!!

Anymore pics out there? Getting lots of great ideas on where I'm taking this one. Leaning at the moment toward Ahrends due to pricing but...those Spegel's and Hogue's may prompt a change of heart/mind/wallet. Sure are purdy.

Every once in a while Hogue would run an auction on "cosmetic seconds." (HoghuAuction.com) That's what the one's on my 686P posted earlier are and they were half price which, a little under five years ago was $37.48 plus $6.00 S/H. And I've never been able to see what makes them seconds.

 

[jughed440]

jughed,

What did you do to them?

Looks like aretro bananna on your 3" but what did it start out as on your 2.5". Interesting, very interesting and I'm not a slob with tools so...hmmmmmm.

i shortened them, removed any finger grooves, rounded the sharp edges, and refinished them.

the grips in the 2 1/2" actually started out the same as those on Doug Add's 586. shortened them, rounded the back, etc.. they came with the gun, so rather than spending more to buy new, i made them more comfy.

you're right about the bananas. this is the same pair when i got them...

 

[H Richard]

Hogue Pau Ferro installed in 1988.

 

[.357magger]

Thanks for all the help Folks.

USPS site says the 4" arrives today, and I went with Ahrends RB tacticals with no finger grooves (off GB for under $30 on a "Buy Now" ). If the pics on GB aren't too distorted, they appeared to be super dark Morodillo with a pretty nice, but subtle grain to them. The grips should be here tomorrow so...God willing and the PO not being inefficient...I try and post pics up when both arrive and the new shoes go on.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[.357magger]

Almost ashamed to post my pic now...some of you folks ought to be in the photography business is all I'm saying. But a promise is a promise so...here "she" is in all her Ahrends decked out glory. Also snagged from the forum an express white line rear sight that makes sighting this gun in a dream. VERY fast sight acquisition. Thanks for all the pics and help on this.

 

[SWP357]

686+

Ahrends Retro

 

[mwp4]

Hogue Pau Ferro (19333)

 

[Milo Talon]

I better start shopping around,my factory grips are looking pretty bland after seeing the beautiful guns on this thread!

 

[Maximumbob54]

.357Magger,

I love your final choice. I have almost the same on my 28 and will never part with them.

 

[ladder13]

Rio,

Where did you get the shoes for your 686? They look very nice!

Look like factory stocks to me


Product: K/L Round Dymondwood Checkered Service

 

[.357magger]

.357Magger,

I love your final choice. I have almost the same on my 28 and will never part with them.

Thank you. I'm "diggin" em.

Got these uber cheap on GB, less than half the Ahrends cost, and they were the tung oil finish. VERY dark tone with slight lighter grain. Look like ebony. I like them enough (and I have a couple of other Ahrends stocked Smiths) that I'll never go back to the poly finish. The $20 he charges for the oil is worth it.

Wish I had better pic capability.

Will share something else here I learned in this search. The sights were purchased from a forum member as N frames. Did not know until I tried to install them (and did install them) that N and L/K frame sight (or at least sight screw placement) is identical now on the different frame sizes. I originally put them on a 627, fit there, but I carry this 4" now and obviously they fit here too. Makes sense from a manufacturing standpoint, not sure if this was true previously, but it is now.

 

[LOBO]

Ahrends...

 

[ladder13]

Ahrends Retro

Great lookin' retro combats

 

[flgolfer29]

Look like factory stocks to me


Product: K/L Round Dymondwood Checkered Service

Thanks ladder13, I've just completed an order with S&W!

 

[TAROMAN]

Its just a lowly 681, but another vote for Ahrends:

 

[Maximumbob54]

Stunning looking 681, and another vote for Ahrends:

No dogging of 581's or 681's allowed!!!

(I want one bad...)