Thought I scored a new set of stocks for my 681

[t4halo]

The darker set was picked up today. Unfortunately it appears they are for a K frame.

 

[413Maxwedge]

L and K frames take the same stocks. If they're a little too big for the frame then they're made for an N frame.

 

[t4halo]

They appear a bit smaller. They dont fit as well as the lighter colored grips.

 

[413Maxwedge]

It may just be a poor fitting set, but K/L grips are the same.

 

[Bald1]

Are they genuine S&W grips? I've had some from overseas that looked very nice but required a little fitting. Dremel tool and sandpaper.

 

[Vtgw938]

They look to be S&W. Show us a pic of the fit, usually the fix is just adjusting the grip pin holes. The set on the gun are pau ferro and the other is goncalo.

 

[t4halo]

I guess they look ok. I'm just a bit picky.

 

[chief38]

The whole allure with the L frame is that they use the same size grip frame as a K. Many find an N frame revolver too large when it comes to grips.

 

[Vtgw938]

They look fine from that angle. Most people like the goncalo better, but those "Morado" ones look very nice with the stainless.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I guess they look ok. I'm just a bit picky.

View attachment 789912

They fit exactly the same in your pictures.

 

[t4halo]

The goncalo grips show a little more back strap. They are growing on me.

 

[Vtgw938]

Take a little wood from the front of the grip pin holes and you should be able to push the panels back to line up the backstrap. Once you get them perfect (hardest part is getting both panels the same) fill the back of the grip pin with some slivers of wood and glue. Put a drill bit or proper size nail in the hole to form the hole. May take a couple tries to get them perfect and than sand the repair smooth. Hardly noticeable if at all if you have some goncalo scraps.

All the repair is on the inside of the grips, nothing exposed.

 

[413Maxwedge]

If you're worried about the area at the top here...


That's just a common thing. I also prefer grips that follow the frame more closely, but there's nothing "defective" about your grips and both sets look the same to me.

As said, K and L frame grips are identically shaped and sold as K/L grips by all manufacturers. N's are slightly bigger and would hang off the back about 1/8". And J's are much smaller... you would never mix them up with K/L.

 

[413Maxwedge]

Nice revolver BTW. A nice 681 or 581 is on my list of "must have" Smiths.

 

[SG-688]

Take a little wood from the front of the grip pin holes and you should be able to push the panels back to line up the backstrap. Once you get them perfect (hardest part is getting both panels the same) fill the back of the grip pin with some slivers of wood and glue. Put a drill bit or proper size nail in the hole to form the hole. May take a couple tries to get them perfect and than sand the repair smooth. Hardly noticeable if at all if you have some goncalo scraps.

I've done a lot with grips but never tried that. I have shaved a SS frame...

One possible hint to test if that will work on a particular set of grips: remove the pin and then install the grips. You can see how much the grips can move back.

Vtgw, would that work - using the empty hole - for marking the new pin location?

 

[Vtgw938]

Yes it will, but your only moving it a tiny bit so I've had better luck just taking a small dremel and removing a bit at a time. Than when shaving very thin wood to glue, the shavings actually have a curl to match the curvature of the hole. With a little glue it will form around the drill bit or nail. Hardest part is matching the second panel perfectly and of course not taking wood off on the wrong side of the hole, which I still do on occasion. I've tried plugging the hole completely and starting from scratch but is far more difficult and time consuming for me to get the second panel exact and of course requires removing and installing the grip pin in the frame several times.

That's how I do it anyway.

 

[DBrainard]

If you need a home for those I'll be happy to assist.

 

[Vtgw938]

Common but with some correctly grained goncalo scraps, you can add some wood here and make them perfect if you want. Also common place to have a small sliver of wood missing. I wouldn't mess with something like those if there is no damage.