Okay, here's the deal. I looked at the pics for my holster post yesterday and realized that, in order to be carried in such a nice looking holster, both the 13 and the 19 need new grips. The 13 is a round butt, so something along the lines of a bantam or combat style grip is needed; the 19 is a square butt so a presentation or target grip will do. I prefer lighter wood with blued revolvers in general, Goncalo alves or ash are preferred. A light rosewood or cocobolo will with if it's got some grain for contrast, but I really like the contrast between light wood and dark gun. Finger grooves are a must, checkering not so much.
Now, here's where the impossible comes in...
I've mentioned before I'm a cheap bastard. I do understand that quality grips will be pricey, and don't mind paying for quality, but I'm not going to spend $150 on grips for a gun that I paid $200 for. Price is fluid depending on how much I like the looks and how available the grips are. Now, Smith & Wesson has been making the K/L frame for many years and continues to do so even today, and revolvers are quite easy to change grips on (even easier than a 1911, since it's one screw vs. 4). The last part of the equation is finding something that's in stock - or at least inexpensive with any sort of lengthy wait...
So who's out there for grip makers that folks like? I'm familiar with Hogue and Ahrends, and I know that there are many smaller manufacturers out there making grips. Anyone interested in a little free exposure? I'm perfectly willing to barter ad space here at MArooned for a custom pair of grips... Specs are S&W K-frame, either round butt combat style or square butt target style, finger grooves and possibly checkering work, in a light-colored wood.
Who should I be looking at for custom grip work?
That is all.
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10 comments:
You could always do them yourself. After doing Pinewood, grips should be a piece of cake.
Heh. That has crossed my mind, actually.
Damn you, Newbius...
I like the looks of a lot of the Eagle Grips, and bought one from my snubbie. $50 for basic stuff, and up.
*for my snubbie
the cheap stuff is here:
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/smithwesson1.html
I got some for my security six.
The wood grip needed to be fitted to the gun, so I went with the rubber grips. I like them better for shooting.
Jay, I'd give Craig Spegel a call. Grips are what he does for a living, and he's the guy who invented the boot grip style that S&W uses on its J-frame revolvers. I had a set once upon a time, they were reasonably priced and high quality.
If you do make them yourself, you'll need a source of hardwoods. For light-colored woods, I'd suggest Zebrawood, Olive wood, Osage Orange or figured maple. You already are aware of Goncalo Alves.
Check http://www.badgercustomgrips.com/. They seem to have some nice stuff - about $75 for K frame grips.
Ooh, somewhere I can ask stupid questions about related topics: K and L grips - are they roughly interchangeable? I occasionally get bored and go looking for grips for that 686 I do not have yet, and am baffled by the flood of K frame grips, but no Ls... and then some of these grip fabricators seem to indicate why :).
Linoge,
I am 99.9% certain that K- and L- frame grips are interchangeable. I think the main differences between the two frames lies in the cylinder area of the frame, not the grip.
Heck, the K-frame grips *almost* fit on an N-frame...
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