What Altamont Grip color would you recommend for a new 686 stainless ?

[2sharp2]

Culina Combats

Almost endless choices. For mine I bought the Culina's Combat in Walnut with Tung oil.

 

[Green Frog]

Arabian, in the end, the only person you have to please is yourself. If those fit your hand comfortably, it looks like you got what you need and kind of what you had envisioned from the start. I like the slight reddish cast that shows up in the pictures... it sets off the stainless quite well.

One question for you; do you feel like the grips are rounded on the sides or do they feel somewhat flat. If I have a complaint about Altamont grips it's that they start with too thin a blank and end up with grips that feel just a little bit flat to me.

Froggie

PS I'd hold off on taking 3rdgeargrndrr's advice until I'd used the grips as is for a while. For many of us, the finger grooves are part of the attraction.

 

[rich5674]

Show off!

My 686-6 came from the factory with Ahrens wood Cocobolo stocks and I think they look great.

I have that exact gun. Bought mine used without the original grips. Ahrens cannot use cocobolo anymore. Your is beautiful.
For Altamont on stainless I like the dark grey

 

[helmsp]

Did someone say Altamont?`


S&W 19 and 66 by Patrick Helms, on Flickr

 

[rich5674]

Altamonts

Good value for the money. I have 2 on my j frames. One on a M27, one one a Buckmark. I also have Ahrends on a 686. The Altamonts fit great, the finish is good. Why wait 6 months and pay 50% more for Ahrends?
Charcoal Ruby or Silver/black look good on stainless

 

[gwpercle]

Any real wood .... those things called laminated wood just can't shake that cheap plywood look .
The model 58 in my avatar wear dark red Cocobolo retro combats from Ahrends . Laminate is a nice word for plywood... aka ugly .
It's a shame Altamont uses so much of the cheap ugly plywood...but you pays for what you get.

 

[Struckat]

They make nice looking grips, that is true.

My first thought was blood stain red/brown. But then I remembered that is only a post installation color that develops over time when I add them to a magnum revolver.

 

[244swoll]

The very first grip in that dark wood looks nice. How are they for comfort? What wood is that and color? I just emailed Culinas. Thanks

If you're referring the 2.5" snubbie, those are original S&W combats. This is the only pair of stocks that I have that I'm not 100% certain of the species. I repaired and refinished these about 3 months ago. I believe they are dark Goncalo Alves.

I purchased them on eBay for $135 dollars because the finish was shot, and there was a pea-sized divot missing from one panel.

 

[Arquebus357]

Just for comparison..

Altamont Super Walnut (laminated, dyed, stabilized)



Altamont Super Cherry (laminated, dyed, stabilized)



I say Super Walnut for that 686.

 

[Arabian]

This is what I decided on. Culina's Cocobolo wood.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Buy anything you like in whatever material you like. Only one who needs to be happy with it is you.