Tyler T grip

[GaryinOKC]

Tyler

Their shop wasnt very big. But the new owners are in Newalla which is a small suburb on SE side of OKC. A more rural area. I gather it is not a full time operation. But I do not know for sure. With a little effort it should be profitable. There is a niche but substantial demand for the product.

Curious as to the size of the original Tyler shop, wondering if the family members operating Tyler now are doing it out of their basement/garage/workshop on weekends? With a modest price increase Tyler could make it a full time business. People are paying a lot more for used examples on Ebay to get a short wait time.

 

[Jack Flash]

We need to be patient with these little "Mom and Pop" businesses. Do we really want to hound them out of business?

There was a guy on this forum who would savagely denounce them in every Tyler thread. Turned out, he didn't like S&W stocks in the first place, and had NEVER EVEN ORDERED ANY OF TYLER'S PRODUCTS! Wow!

 

[Borderboss]

We need to be patient with these little "Mom and Pop" businesses. Do we really want to hound them out of business?

"Mom and Pop" businesses are usually the most responsive and customer-focused business around. That's the exact opposite for the Tyler folks right now. If they can't fulfill products in a timely fashion, they should go out of business instead of taking people's money and disappearing for a year.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I've bought some pretty good copies on Ebay:

Revolver Grip Adapter for S&W K L Smith & Wesson 10 66 686 T-Grip Style | eBay

 

[GaryinOKC]

Tyler

I am pretty patient. But this company has been around since the 40s. They had a sterling reputation. After Melvin passed the company was sold. I have not ordered from them due to their online reputation. Lots of other craftsmen do not have online processing. Craig Spegel, Culina and others. But they manage customer expectation. To not deliver items paid for is beyond my patience limits. I could see if it happened on occasion. But a simple google search will reveal complaints for slow or no delivery of paid for products year after year . Add the online reviews to what members here have reported and it is indicative of an issue. DO a BBB search and you will see 32 complaints in 3 years.

We need to be patient with these little "Mom and Pop" businesses. Do we really want to hound them out of business?

There was a guy on this forum who would savagely denounce them in every Tyler thread. Turned out, he didn't like S&W stocks in the first place, and had NEVER EVEN ORDERED ANY OF TYLER'S PRODUCTS! Wow!

 

[Valmet]

Ordered a T-grip for an N-frame in early summer 2018 and while it allegedly "shipped" at the end of the summer, I never received it. Been an BK adapter fan ever since.

 

[Vtgw938]

More vintage T-Grips might be available on the forum but guys need to be willing to pay more than the cost of a new one to have that happen. Those early Tyler's are jewels after all.

 

[Farmer17]

I've lived in Oklahoma City since 1982 and I remember his little shop on Britton Road that looked like it was about to fall down. The T grips did help the revolver feel a lot, I just never really liked the looks of them or the way they attached but I had a couple. I had heard his kids took over the business and that's when all the poor communication and slow order process took place. Dad had a good thing going but the kids seemed to have little interest.

 

[GaryinOKC]

Tyler

I have been in the OKC area since 1958 (moved here from Tulsa when I was 1). I went into his shop a lot in the 70s. Doing some research in the newspaper archives I found his ad from the late 40's through the 60's. The ad below was in the Oklahoman newspaper in 1949. But I found others back to about 1947. Probably later as well but I wasnt looking later than 60. His business was gun plating. His ads were all "The Gun Plater". When I started on the PD in 1979 the T had fallen out of favor and target grips and pachmayrs were all the rage. I opened a small gun shop in 86. I threw T-grips away. Couldn't give them away then.

I didnt mean for this to turn into an attack on the current manufacturers. But their reputation is what it is. I am sure Melvin is rolling in his grave.

BTW Melvin was police chief and sole officer at Nichols Hills at one time. His father was an Ok county Deputy then OSBI then Ok county "evidence man".

I've lived in Oklahoma City since 1982 and I remember his little shop on Britton Road that looked like it was about to fall down. The T grips did help the revolver feel a lot, I just never really liked the looks of them or the way they attached but I had a couple. I had heard his kids took over the business and that's when all the poor communication and slow order process took place. Dad had a good thing going but the kids seemed to have little interest.

[/IMG]

 

[wrangler5]

< snip >

Also from their website:

ATTENTION CUSTOMERS:

UPDATED: Thursday, 06-08-2023

Coming soon: Updated Website with on-line ordering and credit card processing.
​

So if that may be a game changer. We shall see.

FWIW, their old web site address t-grips dot com now (7/13/23) comes up as expired.

 

[lawman445]

Very interesting. I`ve been collecting and using T-grips (and throwing away trigger shoes) for years and I knew Tyler was out of OKC but I don`t think I`d ever seen a picture of the man himself. I like the picture of him at the buffing wheel with the rack of guns up above but that one in his hands is especially cool. Is it just me or does anyone else think it looks like a customized .44 Triple Lock with the barrel cut down to just under 3 1/4"?

 

[Rodan]

FWIW, their old web site address t-grips dot com now (7/13/23) comes up as expired.

Website is working this morning (8/3/23)...

BK adapters are excellent, but not available in metal. The eBay copies are OK, but don't fit as well as the Tylers.

So, if you want the original, you pay the money for a vintage adapter, or you pay the money and wait for current production. Just like you would for Spiegel, Kramer or any number of custom gunsmith jobs.

Some folks are good at customer service, some aren't. I would prefer that they were all good, but I've dealt with some really good craftsmen that were incredibly surly. If you don't like it, don't buy from them. Simple enough.

 

[lawman445]

Is it just me or does anyone else think it looks like a customized .44 Triple Lock with the barrel cut down to just under 3 1/4"?

Reminds me of this one I picked up several years ago walking around at a show in OKC.

 

[Kansasgunner]

I see the similarities between those two. I like them both!

 

[lawman445]

The seller had said at the time that this Triple Lock had once belonged to Melvin Tyler, but without any documentation I made him throw in the story for free and didn't pay any extra for it.

 

[yanici]

I'd love to try the BK on my J Frame but when I went to their web page it looked like all they have is ivory colored. I want shiny black. If anyone has a pair they want to sell, I'm game.

 

[Sandman4delta]

The listings on the "E" site are running 70-90.
There were two that showed up but are not "Tyler".
Someone appears to be making copies that are going around 20.
However they don't look as finished and the "rivet" holding the brass to the adapter looks a bit rough to put against nice bluing or nickel.
Just my $0.02

 

[PeteC]

The rivets do not actually come in contact with the metal on the gun. The metal strip looks like copper on mine. They will leave marks on the inside of the wood grips, and they may leave rub marks on the wood, if you actually use the gun, because the adapter is only held by the copper strip which is near the top. The bottom can move a little.

The BK adapter has two strips, so it is a little more stable. They fit about the same on a K-frame with factory Magna grips.

 

[.357magger]

I started a thread a couple of years ago (probably not the only one) just seeking information about contacting Tyler.

It turned into a multi page fuss fest...but not without reason.

Irregardless, if imo you want the best, particularly if you're outfitting a vintage wheelgun, you either pay a premium or you wait usually.

There is however one often overlooked resource and that is the WTB Section right here on the S&W Forum. I secured my last two vintage Tyler's right here from members and didn't pay an outrageous premium. One, for the below 2020 Python 3", was literally new in the box with the tissue paper wrap used by Tyler back in the day. The other was for my 66 No Dash 4".

Just saying that our members here can help you out...if you ask them.

(Python Service Stocks are OEM from Colt Custom Shop )

 

[PeteC]

No gripes from me, life's too short - too little time, too much to learn. I'm either looking for more information or sharing what I have learned, like a recent Q about dating the adapters and the engraving, here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...05979-dating-tyler-t-grips.html#post141793113

Not all vintage grip adapters were Tyler's. I've seen guns online with S&W branded plastic adapters that occasionally show up on Ebay or on GB, Mershon, Pachmayr etc. For all I know, they may be more period-authentic on some guns, but date/model information is hard to come by for many of them.