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

[muddocktor]

I'd like to see Altamont or some other company produce a true, honest-to-goodness, experts can't tell'em apart copies of S&W Combats and Targets.

Not referring to 'sorta good for the money', nor laminated examples.
Yeah, I know there are some small custom makers turning out truly stellar examples.....guess I'm referring to a mass-production example.

The problem with that is that the big companies like Altamont can't take the time to choose the wood when making commercial quantities of grips, so you end up with grips that look very ordinary. Look at their "Coke" grips for example. I've heard they feel good in hand, but to me they look so ordinary, with wood choice limited to American Walnut only, and plain looking Walnut at that. I would much rather spend the extra bucks from a smaller maker of stocks and eat the extra cost, plus the wait to get them finished because I know someone like John Culina picks some fine looking wood and his fit and finish is impeccable. For mass produced stocks, I find that Ahrends makes some nice offerings with some finely figured woods, but again if you order directly from him you will have a few months wait minimum.

I presently have John finishing out 2 different sets of N frame stocks to choose between them for my new-to-me 29-2, but I might end up buying both sets from him. One is Cocobolo and the other set is Lignum Vitae.

 

[Narragansett]

These are on an N frame, but with Pete showing off his black and white Ebony stocks I figured I would show you what Italian Olive wood looks on a stainless steel gun. These are on my 629-3 Classic and are round to square target conversions made by John Culina.






And last, a dirty pic at the range. This gun looks good and shoots good too.

I got the black and white ebony, because i saw them on another gun. The olive wood on the 15-2 below, are because I saw them on your 629. Yes I bought them in advance of getting a M66. How sick is that, get the grips before the gun?

 

[Green Frog]

The problem with that is that the big companies like Altamont can't take the time to choose the wood when making commercial quantities of grips, so you end up with grips that look very ordinary. Look at their "Coke" grips for example. I've heard they feel good in hand, but to me they look so ordinary, with wood choice limited to American Walnut only, and plain looking Walnut at that. I would much rather spend the extra bucks from a smaller maker of stocks and eat the extra cost, plus the wait to get them finished because I know someone like John Culina picks some fine looking wood and his fit and finish is impeccable. For mass produced stocks, I find that Ahrends makes some nice offerings with some finely figured woods, but again if you order directly from him you will have a few months wait minimum.

I presently have John finishing out 2 different sets of N frame stocks to choose between them for my new-to-me 29-2, but I might end up buying both sets from him. One is Cocobolo and the other set is Lignum Vitae.

Muddoktor, I think what Old Corp is suggesting is that mass producing grips that have the proper, original shape and profile of the grips could be done about as easily as the shape and profile they do make... it might require a little thicker blank and a few extra seconds of sanding time when shaping, but S&W mass produced them, so I would think that Altamont, with modern machinery, could easily do the same. I was somewhat disappointed when I got my attractive looking Altamont Roper clones that look great from the side, but feel thin and "flat" when actually held... they are definitely worth their minimal price, but could be so much better with so little adjustment. OTOH, the Thai-made FGSC grips I have gotten have enough wood to give them the proper heft so I really think Altamont could economically accomplish the same.

Yes, handmade individually fitted grips with select wood, made by expert craftsmen will always be better and command both higher prices and more respect among aficionados, but there is definitely a good niche for quality, well thought out, mass produced grips with good but not super grade wood.

JMHO, and of course YMMV, but I would certainly be a customer if Altamont offered a line at about 25-50% more than their baseline and just made a slight upgrade. In fact, I even wrote to them asking whether they would make a set of Coke profile grips with Roper style checkering, but they don't depart from their standard set ups.

Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

I got the black and white ebony, because i saw them on another gun. The olive wood on the 15-2 below, are because I saw them on your 629. Yes I bought them in advance of getting a M66. How sick is that, get the grips before the gun?

Heck Narragansett, that's not so strange. I've seen people buy a gun case then go looking for a good gun to go in it! Sounds to me like you're pretty close to normal.

Froggie

 

[muddocktor]

Heck Narragansett, that's not so strange. I've seen people buy a gun case then go looking for a good gun to go in it! Sounds to me like you're pretty close to normal.

Froggie

Froggie, I just did exactly that! I bought a presentation case to fit a 6 1/2" model 29, then went out and bought me a nickel 29-2 to put in it!

Like I said previously, I haven't handled Altamont's Cokes, but have read here they feel good. But to me they are plain Jane looking and I for one am not going to spend $80-90 for something so plain looking. And I am not a big fan of checkered stocks in hard recoiling N frames such as my 44 Mag guns as it's rough on my older hands.While I don't know how well they compare to the original Cokes that S&W did back in the day, I know the Coke style targets that John Culina makes fit my hands very well. So I go with what I like and know. Why someone like Altamont doesn't take a set of original cokes and laser measure them and feed that into a CNC machine I don't know. To me, it sounds like a business opportunity for someone to exploit and sell some Coke reproductions.

 

[Mr.Harry]

I think ends of the spectrum in light or dark woods/stains set off SS the best. I like red hues too. I gravitate towards the dark end. Here's an N frame in Ahrends Black/Silver stained maple -

 

[75Vette]

I'm with Mudd, Altamont grips just don't have any character. Sorry guys but the laminate look is just...blah. Ahrends makes such a better product and for just a few bucks more. REAL wood and they fit tight. I've bought Altamont magnas in the past that I either had to sand down sharp edges or fill in gaps for the slop to fit the frame proper. I have a few sets of Ahrends, some in goncalo alves that get darker the more you handle them. Here's a pair on my 629-3 Scope Gun and 686-6.

 

[Bill In Texas]

I think the Altamont silver/black look quite snazzy on silver revolvers.

I second this!

 

[Old Corp]

Muddoktor, I think what Old Corp is suggesting is that mass producing grips that have the proper, original shape and profile of the grips could be done about as easily as the shape and profile they do make... it might require a little thicker blank and a few extra seconds of sanding time when shaping, but S&W mass produced them, so I would think that Altamont, with modern machinery, could easily do the same. I was somewhat disappointed when I got my attractive looking Altamont Roper clones that look great from the side, but feel thin and "flat" when actually held... they are definitely worth their minimal price, but could be so much better with so little adjustment. OTOH, the Thai-made FGSC grips I have gotten have enough wood to give them the proper heft so I really think Altamont could economically accomplish the same. :confused

Yes, handmade individually fitted grips with select wood, made by expert craftsmen will always be better and command both higher prices and more respect among aficionados, but there is definitely a good niche for quality, well thought out, mass produced grips with good but not super grade wood.

JMHO, and of course YMMV, but I would certainly be a customer if Altamont offered a line at about 25-50% more than their baseline and just made a slight upgrade. In fact, I even wrote to them asking whether they would make a set of Coke profile grips with Roper style checkering, but they don't depart from their standard set ups.

Froggie

Froggie - thanks. You nailed the intent of my post.
Way back in the last century, S&W (or their assignees) certainly mass produced the grips so many of us still love - surely someone could pick that ball up and run with it.

 

[244swoll]

Altamonts are very well made and fit great, and at a very affordable price. But they just don't quite "do it" for the S&W revolvers, especially those with 4" or longer barrels. I personally prefer the Super Walnut over the other finishes.

Ahrends are fantastic too, and are very affordable as well, but take away from the revolvers because they have no medallions (IMHO).

I'd rather spend more for some Culina's in French Walnut, Bubinga or Goncalo Alves; or find a pair of old S&W Goncalo Alves. Unfortunately either one of these will set you back $180 - $250, but the look, fit and feel will help ease your pain.

 

[Arabian]

I just found these Eagle Grips and like them however does anyone have any experience with these grips? I also like the ones from Altamont. Which do you think are more comfortable and look the best? Thanks



https://www.eaglegrips.com/3695-tm_...-rosewood-finger-position-grips-checkered.jpg

http://smith-wessonforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=https://postimg.cc/TyBHKvPD

 

[Old Corp]

I just found these Eagle Grips and like them however does anyone have any experience with these grips? I also like the ones from Altamont. Which do you think are more comfortable and look the best? Thanks



https://www.eaglegrips.com/3695-tm_...-rosewood-finger-position-grips-checkered.jpg

http://smith-wessonforum.com/redirect-to/?redirect=https://postimg.cc/TyBHKvPD

This past year I bought some Eagle 'Repro Cokes' in Walnut for an N frame.
Slightly used, were for sale on a S&W FB page I frequent, good price.

They're OK, but still not what I was referring to in my posts above. Dimensionally, they're off compared to original N frame Cokes.
....Just don't know why this seems an impossible task for manufacturers.

 

[Arabian]

Altamonts are very well made and fit great, and at a very affordable price. But they just don't quite "do it" for the S&W revolvers, especially those with 4" or longer barrels. I personally prefer the Super Walnut over the other finishes.

Ahrends are fantastic too, and are very affordable as well, but take away from the revolvers because they have no medallions (IMHO).

I'd rather spend more for some Culina's in French Walnut, Bubinga or Goncalo Alves; or find a pair of old S&W Goncalo Alves. Unfortunately either one of these will set you back $180 - $250, but the look, fit and feel will help ease your pain.

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

 

[Arabian]

So I am ordering Culinas combat grips in Dark Cocobola. They are beautiful grips however is this practical for carry. How durable are they from scratches, wear and tear and will they look worn and beat up in a year? Any experience with them would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[muddocktor]

I don't carry mine in daily use, but Cocobolo is a hard wood so it should be scratch and dent resistant. As for the finishes resistance to wear I also can't say, but I do know that with Cocobolo and other oily woods John doesn't finish with Tru Oil because of the oily wood. But so far it is holding up well on my Cocobolo grips.

 

[Squall]

Wow, some really nice guns/grips on this thread!

I put walnut Altamont grips on my polished Model 64

 

[neorebel]

Rosewood, cocobolo or African ebony would be B E A utiful.

I have rosewood grips on my blued model 29 from Altamont...they are very nice looking. Altamont does a fantastic job making grips. I highly recommend them to everyone.

 

[Green Frog]

Well Arabian, you went onto the lot planning to buy a Chevrolet and walked off with a Cadillac. I think you will be pleased with anything from Culina, but they certainly aren't the utility grade you were talking about at first. One nice thing about the Cocobola is that the oils naturally in the wood make adding a finish unnecessary. That way you don't have to worry about the finish wearing off as you carry it, a problem with many other woods.

I like the reddish shade of the grips that came on my stainless Ruger Blackhawk and when I had Project 616 built, I initially used a set of S&Ws factory smooth finger groove combats that came close to matching them, but now the Smith has the ebony combats I mentioned, which also don't need added finish.

Froggie

 

[WPWarhawk]

This is a set of Altamont Ropers in Rosewood on a K38. I think these roper grips will be a big seller for Altamont. They are "meatier" than Altamont targets.

 

[saemetric]

Ahrends Retro Combat in Goncalo Alves on my 629-1. Best N frame grips I've ever had..

 

[Mr.Harry]

^^^ that's a really nice looking piece of wood. Love the contrast.

Maybe i'm weird, I kind of prefer the no medallion look on the grips. The gun speaks for itself. We all know what we're looking at. The wood, is just that. And when it's nice enough, like that, needs no further adornment.

 

[gfors]

These are the Altamonts that came on my 686-6+. This gun was advertised as a TALO edition, when I bought it, then changed to Deluxe, in later advertising. I love the look, just wish the stock grips were bigger, to fit my hand.

 

[Jon651]

Although this is a 629 and not a 686, the grips are Altamont rosewood with spanish diamond checkering (which i like better than the traditional style) and a silver medallion. The pistol came with the factory rubber grips but the ergonomics of them caused the knuckle on my middle finger to hit the trigger guard when firing. These Altamont grips set my hand back about a quarter inch so that knuckle doesn't hit the trigger guard any more - so not only do they look good, they feel better even though they are wood.

Just my two cents.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Culina grips are the best I've found. Although I've not tried the kieth brown ropers. They look nice. As for the altamonts. I like the silver black. But way too thin for my liking.

 

[Birdgun]

Altamont grips on stainless steel S&W???

Rosewood for me.

S&W Model 625-9 "Mountain Gun" in 45 Colt with Altamont Rosewood grips.

Thanks for looking at my Altamont rosewood grips.

God bless,
Birdgun

 

[Arabian]

So I just bought these grips for my stainless 686. What's do you think? Thank you for everyone's help.

 

[Birdgun]

So I just bought these grips for my stainless 686. What's do you think? Thank you for everyone's help.

Those are exquisite, Arabian.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

So I just bought these grips for my stainless 686. What's do you think? Thank you for everyone's help.

File off the finger nubs and refinish it. Repost with pics on the gun.
Then you will get the Likes

 

[muddocktor]

The wood in them looks fantastic, Arabian! Very nice.

 

[RGVshooter]

I like SilverBlack. These are the Bateleur conversion grips on my 617 which is very similar to the 686. I do have a 4" 686 however at this moment Altamont is sold out on these in this color.