BK adapters and Service Panels on J frames.

[Pat Riot]

The search for grip perfection continues.

In addition to my larger revolvers I have a Smith & Wesson 442 and a model 36. Both are round butt frames.
I got my 442 in ‘97 for my birthday. I have had a love hate relationship with the factory Uncle Mike’s boot grip for years.
I bought my model 36 7 years ago from the Gun Library at Cabela’s in Oregon. It was “used” in name only. I have a feeling someone bought it and put it in a drawer without firing it. I was happy to buy and fire it. It came with factory Service Panels. A few years ago I put a black BK grip adapter on it. I really like it that way.
A few years back I bought and tried different grips on both guns but always came back to the factory grips.
This was the set up until recently:


I was fine with this except I got tired of the rubber grip of the 442 catching in my tee shirts whenever I OWB carried and on my pant leg when ankle carrying. I was going to try a set of service panels and a BK adapter but decided to try something with no checkering so I bought some Alatamont Classic Panels and an ivory colored BK.
I think the Ivory colored BK Grip adapter looked more at home on the 36 so I put it there. The black one went to the 442.
I like the outcome. I just hope I like shooting the 442 with a smooth grip. If not, I am on the email list for new Service Panels when Altamont makes them again.

 

[Riomouse911]

Those panels look great on the 442 .

I see why you swapped, rubbery grips will hold shirts/pants to them and make it harder to draw or expose the grips as you move about. As much as I wasn’t a fan of wooden J frame grips when shooting, I kept them on my .38 640 that was my duty backup gun for many years because it drew from my rear pocket easily.

But shooting a 642/442 is never fun for me, no matter the grip. I hope yours shoots well for you with the new grip/grip filler combo.

Stay safe.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Have a smooth, wood 'boot grip' on a 340SC (!); the original soft rubber stuck too well to my hide. This gives me enough grip that the little stinker stays put, but allows it to move a little.
A magnum 640 wears Altamont Combats, but an older 640has a faux ivory BK and smooth grips. That gun has a history, with some snakes and road-hit doe on its resume.
It sounds that Tyler is belatedly getting their drek together as far as online sales; hope it's so. In some cases, I still like the original.

But shooting a 642/442 is never fun for me, no matter the grip. I hope yours shoots well for you with the new grip/grip filler combo.

Yeah, this is generally true. The steel Centennials are better than the alloy versions.
Moon

 

[stonebuster]

I put a BK grip adapter on this 1950 Pre Model 10 I got recently and after a range trip using it, it's here to stay. Today I got the vintage Bucheimer "Concealer" holster that carries it high & tight. $30 on ebay. Perfect now.

 

[Riomouse911]

I put a BK grip adapter on this 1950 Pre Model 10 I got recently and after a range trip using it, it's here to stay. Today I got the vintage Bucheimer "Concealer" holster that carries it high & tight. $30 on ebay. Perfect now.
View attachment 1177003

Very nice!

I bet it shoots as well as it looks.

Stay safe.

 

[Jonesy814]

I put these Thai grips on my 442. No problem with pocket carry and I use them at the range too

 

[Tallball]

Those look great. Nice work!

 

[Pat Riot]

I put these Thai grips on my 442. No problem with pocket carry and I use them at the range too
View attachment 1177083
View attachment 1177084

Nice grips!

Who makes them or where did you get them?

 

[halfmoonclip]

Really wish someone would make 'high horn' grips for Centennials, to better take advantage of a high hold.
Moon

 

[Jonesy814]

Nice grips!

Who makes them or where did you get them?

Got them on Ebay. Made in Thailand. Another set that works well is the Altamont Altai grip which comes standard on the model 60 Pro. They also work well for pocket carry and for practice at the range. Boot grips usually leave my right thumb bleeding due to contact with the cylinder release. I don’t have that problem with these

 

[Pat Riot]

@Jonesy814 Thank You.

I had a model 60 Pro that had the Altai grip. I liked it but I didn’t love it. If that makes any sense. It didn’t have enough texture on the sides. I do like the look of the “snakeskin rosewood” grip.

https://www.altamontco.com/shared/photos/SJR-AL05-SSK.jpg

I have heard lots of people make positive comments on the Thai grips from eBay and Amazon. I may have to break down and try them out.

Thanks again.

 

[Jonesy814]

@Jonesy814 Thank You.

I had a model 60 Pro that had the Altai grip. I liked it but I didn’t love it. If that makes any sense. It didn’t have enough texture on the sides. I do like the look of the “snakeskin rosewood” grip.

https://www.altamontco.com/shared/photos/SJR-AL05-SSK.jpg

I have heard lots of people make positive comments on the Thai grips from eBay and Amazon. I may have to break down and try them out.

Thanks again.

I didn’t care for the Altai grips on the model 60 when shooting magnums but they are pretty good with 38 special.

 

[Pat Riot]

I didn’t care for the Altai grips on the model 60 when shooting magnums but they are pretty good with 38 special.

Yep! That’s exactly why I didn’t care for them. With magnums they just weren’t grippy enough.

 

[Gork10]

I just ordered 2 BK adapters for my models 17 and 18. I'v got one on my model 10 and love it.

 

[BobWright]

These grips, Secret Service from Eagle Grips, in rosewood, have been my favorite for myJ-frame revolvers.



Bob Wright

 

[halfmoonclip]

Pat, I really like the looks and fit of the Altamont grips, and they are OEM on some S&W revos; that is what came on my 25-15. Unhappily, the portion by the hump of the frame is thin and squared off; wider and rounded would be a help.
I've rounded the edges on the ones on my Centennials.
Physics is the real issue; in an alloy J-gun, magnums are just going to be a stinker. A bicycle glove is a help for range duty.
Moon

 

[bannockburn]

With my Model 649 I took the minimalist approach and went with the factory stocks and a Tyler T-Grip adapter. Has worked really well all these years giving me a comfortable grip while barely adding any extra size or weight to the gun.

I kept the factory rubber grips on the Model 638 as they were a good fit for my hand size, gave me just enough grip without being really sticky, and cut down a little bit on felt recoil.

 

[Pat Riot]

Well, today was the first chance I have had to shoot the 442 with the slick new grip panels. They’re pretty, but having to readjust my grip after every shot isn’t optimal.
I did holster carry it OWB and ankle and it’s much better than the rubber grips for not catching my shirt or pants materials. The 36 works similarly with clothing materials and that makes the checkered service panels a positive option in regards to carry.
I shot it, the 442, along with my model 36 and model 10.
I do like the service panels with the BK adapters. I will be looking for another set of service panels to the 442. The checkering on the grip panels of the 36 is just about right. Not overly grippy but enough to keep the gun from dancing in my hands.

 

[Jonesy814]

Nice looking grips on the 442. Too bad they don't work for you. For K,L & N frame I don't care whether they are checkered or not but it's needed on small J frame grip