Henry Rifle Forums

I wanted to add some different grips on a couple of the recently acquired vintage Smith revolvers, but I wanted to stay with actual S&W grips of the correct vintage, not only for the sake of performance, but also to add value. Staying vintage ain't any cheaper than going new, but so far, so good. Yup, always good to share a little DA revolver drooling. Enjoy.

First up is new/old wood for the late 80s Model 36, top gun in this pic.


The bottom gun is the Model 49, also an 80s vintage gun. It came with the vintage correct "banana" grips. I really like the feel of the banana grips. These grips fill the hand much better than the stock Magna grips and though a bit larger/longer are still pretty concealable. I will be carrying both of these, so now I'm set.



Next up is a set of vintage Target grips for the beautiful Model 67 in 38 Special. I expect this Model 67 will be seeing some range time and hubby will appreciate the larger grips, too, so finding a set of Target grips was a must. The standard Combat grips are still very useful, of course.


But, gotta say, the Goncalo Alves hardwood Target grips are also beautiful and utterly vintage S&W. They add a touch of class to an already classy revolver.

Beautiful pistols!

Great looking grips on some very nice classic revolvers. I agree with putting the correct vintage wood on the guns. I have a box of grips and once I purchased a set of round butt J frame grips from S&W when they still sold them. They don't look anything like the vintage grips, but have a character all their own.

Thanks, guys. Yeah, grips on handguns are such personal things. Old traditional me likes to stay vintage, factory grips as long as they still do what I need. When I move up to the hard kickers, though, recoil management and comfort become a priorities and I sometimes go custom.

Even so, when it comes to is single actions, I'm in the minority of shooters who still prefers the old standard plow grips on the hard kickers. Sometimes the old standard stuff works the best for me. Yup, old cowgirl me.

I can appreciate the keeping them stock. As a collector of WWI and WWII military firearms I could go to great lengths to make them period correct. It often even included making sure the screws were correct. I sold most of them before moving to Wisconsin.

I can appreciate what you were collecting, Gene. That took a lot of research to get them right. Good for you.

Some very sharp looking panels you added NCG.
I've never really cared for the snubbies, even though I do like the looks of those new grips, sharp lookin.
About 3", but really a 4" is my real cut off.
Now those that you added to the 67, now those I believe would be nice and easy to hold on to.

RP

Some good looking stocks on those revolvers. And the market for those period correct wood grips is not an inexpensive one, relative to the cost of some of the aftermarket options. Even a bigger bonus if you shoot better with them on.

I have a 642 that I bought a set of the VZ Grips for. Same grips that are on the Lipsey's ultimate carry revolvers. These are the "high horn" grips, and they really are more hand filling, just as the marketing info purports. They look good, feel great, but I don't seem to shoot as well with them as I did with the smaller stock grips. Now I'll agree that not all that many rounds have been fired with them on, and I need to adjust my grip higher to take advantage of what these grips offer, so there's that. Those banana grips look like they'd work well, don't think I've ever seen those, so I'll keep an eye out for them when I rummage through the boxes of grips that some shops have. I also have the Wilson's spring kit to install on my 642, and that may change things too.

From one J frame fan to another, good luck with the new grips on your 642. I still have some of the old standby Hogue rubber grips for my J frames. Stuck the Hogues in a drawer years ago and still have them. They shoot pretty well, but I have a hard time sticking them on vintage blued Smith J frame classics. I think they are a better match for the alloy or stainless J frames and if I carried every day, instead of only rarely, I'd opt for one of the stainless or alloy J frames. Would love to find a pre-lock Model 60, but tough to find just about anywhere.

Really nice grips. I, like you, enjoy a hand filling grip on my revolvers. My Smith M&P 340PD, lovingly called "The Beast" came with small rubber grips. Nowhere near large enough to fit my big hands on. The recoil of full house 357 magnum ammo fired in an 11.5 ounce scandium framed snubby was brutal. I ordered a set of Factory Smith and Wesson oversize boot grips in walnut and added them to the gun. Huge difference in control and reduction in recoil. Still not pleasant, but not so brutal.


This has been my warm weather EDC for over a decade now. One thing about a snubby, If you look into the business end, there is never any doubt that the gun is loaded. **


** The picture was taken using a timed release, and auto focus... a dozen shots were taken to get that shot.
No photographers were harmed to achieve that image.