Melvin Tyler former Nichols Hills Police Chief and founder of Tyler T-grips. I used to visit his shop in the 70s.
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Tyler T grip
- Thread starter GaryinOKC
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He'd probably arrest the current operators of Tyler Mfg
UNCLE PAULY
Member
His grip adapters are great and I have more than few.
The current owner makes them as a part time gig.
I don't have a problem knowing the wait time might be longer than expected.
Wait a year or more for Spegel grips; 9-12 months for custom boots.
Just send them money and when you have forgotten about the order they show up.
The current owner makes them as a part time gig.
I don't have a problem knowing the wait time might be longer than expected.
Wait a year or more for Spegel grips; 9-12 months for custom boots.
Just send them money and when you have forgotten about the order they show up.
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Same here Uncle Pauly.
I have several and have always got what I paid for and never had to contact the operator/owner.
Great product and if you order and don't know by now how long it may take then that is on you.
But it wouldn't be a Tyler thread without several negative comments.
Great pics OP. Appreciate some of the history.
I have several and have always got what I paid for and never had to contact the operator/owner.
Great product and if you order and don't know by now how long it may take then that is on you.
But it wouldn't be a Tyler thread without several negative comments.
Great pics OP. Appreciate some of the history.
I would be happier if their web site didn't continue to say expected wait time 5-6 weeks. Five to six months if more realistic.
Therein lies the rub. It's the lying that causes the trouble, not the product or its quality. Although I would say 12-18 months is a more realistic delivery time. Give folks full disclosure and let them decide if they are going to order. I would bet it wouldn't reduce orders enough to matter.
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sipowicz
Member
My tipacanoe took the same amount of time.
8 months for my last order. Basic black square butt k frame. Lack of communication is the problem. And based on my last purchase, quality is slipping too.
Jack Flash
Member
I got my order last year after about an 18 month wait.
(Ordered 4/21, arrived 11/22)
They say they have recovered from Covid, etc., and now are caught back up. Can anyone confirm current shipping time?
If I ordered any more, I would probably assume the worst, 18 months +.
I see the website still says 4 to 6 weeks, with the caveat that they really don't know how long it will take.
Also from their website:
(Ordered 4/21, arrived 11/22)
They say they have recovered from Covid, etc., and now are caught back up. Can anyone confirm current shipping time?
If I ordered any more, I would probably assume the worst, 18 months +.
I see the website still says 4 to 6 weeks, with the caveat that they really don't know how long it will take.
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.UPDATED: Thursday, 06-08-2023
Coming soon: Updated Website with on-line ordering and credit card processing.
It certainly will change things. They can't charge you until they fulfill the order. And if they do charge you, you can also get your money back quickly when the "5-6 weeks" turns into as many months, or longer.
OP
Hey Tony aka lawandorder I tried PMing you but you are over limit. I got this from a retired major who started OCPD in 1957. He is a history buff and has access to the OPUBCO archives.
"Claude McDermon Tyler born 1 Sep 1882 is listed in the 40's as an Investigator but it doesn't say where. He is credited with solving at least two major homicides and he died on 21 Dec 1951. His son, Melvin Claude Tyler was born on 8 Dec 1909. Melvin was the Chief of Police in Nichols Hills when his picture was taken on May 21, 1936. He was the only one on the Nichols Hills Police Department at that time. He was still employed by the City of Nichols Hills in 1940. I lived in Britton in 1950 and Melvin had a gun plating shop there. He died in 2001."
Havent heard back from my OSBI connects.
"Claude McDermon Tyler born 1 Sep 1882 is listed in the 40's as an Investigator but it doesn't say where. He is credited with solving at least two major homicides and he died on 21 Dec 1951. His son, Melvin Claude Tyler was born on 8 Dec 1909. Melvin was the Chief of Police in Nichols Hills when his picture was taken on May 21, 1936. He was the only one on the Nichols Hills Police Department at that time. He was still employed by the City of Nichols Hills in 1940. I lived in Britton in 1950 and Melvin had a gun plating shop there. He died in 2001."
Havent heard back from my OSBI connects.
My first department did not allow us to replace the factory grip on the issued Colt or S&W & I have XLG hands. It was 1968 when I learned about the Tyler T Grip and have used them, or something similar, ever since on my EDC snub.
OFT II
US Veteran
OP
Tyler
I know he was at a couple different locations over the years. As far as I know he was always on Britton road. That is the only one I visited. Wilshire is only a mile south of Britton so it is possible he was there earlier.
I know he was at a couple different locations over the years. As far as I know he was always on Britton road. That is the only one I visited. Wilshire is only a mile south of Britton so it is possible he was there earlier.
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.
mckenney99
Member
Unfortunately that would lead to a catch 22 situation. If Tylers produced more the prices on the secondary market would drop but I don't know how much of a price increase the retail market would bear before retail direct sales dropped off. It is a very small niche market. They do have competition though from one of our own members here, BK Grips.
27 Man
Member
Was in his Britton Road store several times back in the late 70s. Real friendly guy who always gave me one of his catalogs before leaving. I think I still have it.
OP
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.
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.
Jack Flash
Member
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!
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!
"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
US Veteran
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
Revolver Grip Adapter for S&W K L Smith & Wesson 10 66 686 T-Grip Style | eBay
OP
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.
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!
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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.
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.
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.
OP
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".
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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".
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FWIW, their old web site address t-grips dot com now (7/13/23) comes up as expired.
