Who Makes the Current OEM Rubber Grips for S&W?

[HarrishMasher]

Part of the problem may be in how you're talking to people about the grips.

If you're using the word "rubber", then you're hearing responses to the word "rubber".

It's true that ALL of the RUBBER grips S&W uses are made by Hogue.
But the material of the grips under discussion is not considered rubber.

Hogue won't sell you RUBBER grips they do under contract with S&W.
That's also true.

Did you ask specifically about those exact SYNTHETIC grips you want when you talked to Hogue?
Or did you just ask Hogue if you can buy some rubber grips they make for S&W?

My marketing gal was quite clear in saying S&W makes the grips in the photos shown in this thread, and my question to her was quite clear in referring specifically to them, NOT asking about who does their rubber grips.

If Deep River's making them, then as an owned-subsidiary of S&W, by extension that can be said that S&W does make those synthetic grips.

Sometimes it's a matter of asking the right people the right question, and correct terminology does matter.
Denis

I used the SKU of the NEW 360. The SKU is 11749. The S&W REP looked up the SKU and told me the part number for the FDE grip on the 360. He said The FDE grip is part #3007235. He said it says it is made by Houge in his system! That was my conversation. Did I do it right? LOL.

You have the info now, call and do the same. See what they tell you. I bet they say the exact same thing.

 

[GeoJelly]

Actually - no - you didn't do right. It's "Hogue" not "Houge". The S&W Rep gave you bad information ...

 

[Dpris]

There's no point in me calling the S&W customer service line, just to get the same info you did.
I've never denied your statements regarding what they've told you.

What the CS people might tell is of less importance to me than what the marketing gal has told me.
In a very long experience doing what I do, I rarely find a CS rep who knows much beyond his or her small sphere of operation, and even their computer systems are occasionally wrong.

When you communicated with Hogue, did they confirm that they make the exact grips shown in the photos in this thread?

Have you heard back from Deep River?
When I called them today & asked, they would neither confirm nor deny that they make the grips, which is a common reaction with a sub-contracting company making parts on contract.
Denis

 

[TAC]

Synthetic, as I said above, or polymer, or even plastic.
I would not call them rubber.
Denis

The grips I was referring to, and I'm assuming the OP was referring to are a two part grip. There is an internal shell that fits the frame of the revolver, and yes it appears to be made of polymer/plastic. However, the outer shell of the grips are definitely rubber, very similar to Hogue rubber grips. I think they call this process 'over-molded'. They are not all polymer, or plastic.

Have you actually seen a pair of these grips yourself?

 

[Dpris]

I have a new 66 here with those grips.
The first time I asked S&W three years ago who made the same grips on a new 686, the grips on that sample were two-piece & the same material.
In the absence of any confirmation from Hogue that they make them, I'm putting my money on S&W's Marketing division.

If you choose to go with the Hogue theory, have at it.

I've given you my best info, given to me twice in three years by S&W, that the grips are made in the same plant as their polymer frames.

If not good enough, embrace your own pet belief.
Denis

 

[Texas Star]

I must have missed the part where he asked for your opinion.

We've always been free to express opinions here.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

S&W came out with their new style two-piece rubber grip about the same time Uncle Mikes got out of the grip business. The way these two events coincided always make me wonder if S&W and UM cut a deal. Smith bought UM's tooling and injection molding machines, and brought the grips in-house.

 

[s&wchad]

A number of replies here are good examples of unacceptable behavior on this board.

I'll deal with this later... maybe.