What Is The Big Deal With Uncle Mike's Grips?

[sigp220.45]

I had Pachmayr Compacs on my beater Model 13. I found some Uncle Mikeys and they feel great. The gun lives in my center console so concealability isn't a big deal.

 

[bigjohn4]

On my FEG hi power clone, every now and then I have to pull the Uncle Mike's off and wipe them down as they get a little gummy sitting up against the frame. They do make it feel better when it sits in your hand.

 

[Jaymo]

The Hogue J frame and Taurus 85 grips always had finger grooves that were too small and too close together for my hands.
The UM grips were perfect for me.
My wife likes the pink Hogues on her 85.
My 85CH came with the UM boot grips, as did hers.
I put the rosewood boot grips on her, per her request.
She didn't like them, just like I had told her.
Not that they weren't nice grips. They just don't absorb recoil.
Not what boot grips are designed to do. plus, the whole 2 finger hold thing.
I put black Hogues on it. She liked the feel, but wouldn't be happy until she had the pink (ugh) Hogues on it. So, I put a set of pink Hogues on it for her.
IIRC, my 1994 Taurus M44 came with UM grips. I like them much better than subsequent Taurus rubber grips.

Speaking of not-so-common grips: I found two pairs of Bianchi Lighning grips a year or so ago, at the LGS. The non-negotiable price was right, and I jumped on them.
If 2.5" model 66s hadn't gotten so expensive lately, I'd throw them on it and carry it.
Maybe I still will.

 

[StakeOut]

There's grips for photo taking meant to impress the viewers and then there's grips for shooting at the range that allow for a solid non slippery grip.
For range sessions with the RB K/L frames I like the Hogue Bantum rubber grips.
For photos the factory wood RB Combat Stocks sure do look pretty,don't they.

The Big Deal with the Uncle Mike's is only that they are no longer made and greed has taken over.

 

[silverstateS&W]

Also during the purchase of UM by Hoppes,or Bushnell(can't recall) the grips were moved to the Butler Creek product line, then discontinued.
all UM holster production was moved to China, and some didn't fit.
All in all another great stand-alone company ends up purchased by a big one and get messed up. Sad tale of modern America.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I picked up a pair of Uncle Mikes rubber grips for a K frame Sq. butt (59005). Figured they were a $10 grip, but I see some crazy prices? Did they just not make many or what? What is a reasonable price for these things?

thanks.

Their grips and holsters are now made overseas. Way cheaper(low quaility) product sold by them now..........BTW Prices are high on everything.

 

[stanmerrell]

It used to be against the law for competitors to buy each other and consolidate their competition. Reagan made this legal in the 80s and huge consolidation began hurting employees, consumers, and making companies huge and too powerful. This needs to be reversed.

 

[giants1]

When talking about older UM (Uncle Mike's?) grips, what models/age are desirable for J-frame and K-frame S&W revolvers?

 

[OLDSTER]

Uncle Mikes sold a set ( CA logo) for the Bulldog. Comfortable and great recoil tamer for the beast. I put a set on my Undercover.

 

[Thin Man]

I just lucked into a NIB set of K-Frame Square Butt Uncle Mike's off e-bay for a Buy It Now price of $20!
I was more than happy with that price. They rarely turn up for under $50 these days.
Perfect for a recently purchased 66-1 that needed grips.
Not the prettiest in the world, but very comfortable and eminently practical for an actual "using" revolver.

 

[kbm6893]

I really would not care whether Spegel or Leonardo da Vinci designed them.

But back when they came out, they offered much better ergonomic options for different hand sizes than the then-ruling Pachmayr and Hogue rubber grips, both brands which tended to cater to people with ham-sized hands.

All my Pachmayrs were replaced with UM's in no time. If I were still buying new revolvers as shooters and for carrying, I would be willing to pay quite a bit for UM grips on the used market.

I have one pair of UM rubber grips for a K frame square butt and they are great, but Pachmayr Gripper grips fit my hand like they were made for them. The UM grips sit in a drawer. I won't sell them because I might put them in something else one day and I won't be able to replace them easily.

 

[GypsmJim]

A combination of a great design and the fact that they're no longer in production causes prices to rise.

I have bought numerous "goodyears" for various revolvers. None met my requirements as good as the Uncle Mikes.

If I want or need rubbers, Mikes are the only ones I'll accept.

 

[loeman]

I think the short answer to the OPs original question is...THEY FIT! I only have two guns with OEM UMs. One is a 696, .44 special and my trusty 649-3, .357. They are just perfect for my medium sized hand.

 

[Buford57]

I replaced the factory grips on my 642 with UMs because the originals interfered with speedloaders. Then I bought a BHP with UMs. Tried other grips but not for long. As the Monkees said "I'm a believer".

 

[Grayfox]

Speaking of rare and hard to find.....
Back in 2014 I bought a S&W 696. I love the .44 Special cartridge, but absolutely hated the round butt frame on this gun.
After doing some on-line research, I stumbled across a set of the ultra-rare Uncle Mike's round to square conversion Combat grips. I bought them immediately! IIRC the price was $40. I happily paid it.
This is one of my favorite shooters! And those grips are a big part of the reason why.

 

[Borderboss]

When I got my 940, I went looking for UM Boot Grips but couldn't find any at a reasonable price. I ended up getting a Hogue Ultra Compact Bantum grip that looks to me to be functionally equivalent. They're in current production.

 

[cmansguns]

S&W factory issued Uncle Mikes grips...How late date wise?

This is a very interesting thread to me. I always learn something every time I log on

I have not really been a big fan boy of rubber grips, but with one big time major exception...my Model 66-6. This gun is the only 357 Magnum I kept when selling off my Magnums last year. My daughter LEO has wanted this gun and she shoots it very well.

This gun is all original, in THE box (actually a blue plastic case), all documents and fired case dated May 28, 2002. Per Dr. Roy it shipped June 2002. It is a 4" one piece barrel, product code 162706 on the case. I've shot this gun many times with full house rounds and it does absorb recoil very well with these grips.

Are these factory supplied grips the same Uncle Mikes (Spiegel style) that are being discussed above? When did they stop being issued on S&W wheel guns?

I always thought Uncle Mikes stuff (holsters especially) were Walmart el-cheapo, lowest cost, made in China, junk and avoided them at all costs in lieu of leather or decent made in USA brands.

If these grips on my 66-6 are the real thing I guess I'll have to rethink my opinions cause I do agree that to me and my LEO daughter, they are the only way full house maggies can be handled by our average size hands.

 

[drumminor2nd]

The only Uncle Mike's I have is on my 59, and I'm a big fan -- the beaten-up Pachmayrs that came with it make N Targets feel slim in my hands. Texture is good, and I can shoot it very well.

 

[crotchetyoldman]

Recently bought a used 64-8 that has Uncle Mikes round-to-square grips: I assumed they were aftermarket but this thread has me wondering now. They ARE very comfortable.