Outlander
Member
Does anyone know WHY S&W went from the square butt to the round butt?
Round Butt
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Tamara
Senior Member
More accurately, they just stopped making square butt frames (they've been making round butt ones since the dawn of time.)
Well, rather than having to tool up to produce each frame size in two variants, now they only have to do one, which helps lower production costs. Since a round butt can be converted to a square butt feel with a set of grips, while converting a square to a round requires grinding, it really made sense to let the square butt fall by the wayside.
Well, rather than having to tool up to produce each frame size in two variants, now they only have to do one, which helps lower production costs. Since a round butt can be converted to a square butt feel with a set of grips, while converting a square to a round requires grinding, it really made sense to let the square butt fall by the wayside.
Preacherman
Member
Actually, they were hoping to make an autosuggestive contribution to the fight against obesity...
Tamara's right. It was a cost-cutting move. They could have a larger inventory of a certain frame, and zero of the other (square butt) kind.
Some years ago I pointed out that one could easly convert a round butt K frame to any number of grip configurations by simply changing the stocks so long as the material covered both the back and front straps. At the time it was a handy option for police departments and/or officers.
Some years ago I pointed out that one could easly convert a round butt K frame to any number of grip configurations by simply changing the stocks so long as the material covered both the back and front straps. At the time it was a handy option for police departments and/or officers.
Outlander
Member
Thanks all, for the replys.
Mike Irwin
Member
Interestingly enough, all of S&W's Hand Ejector revolvers originally started out as round butts.
I don't think it was until around 1905 that the square butt feature was offered.
I don't think it was until around 1905 that the square butt feature was offered.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I didn't care for round butt revolvers at first, but soon had to concede they're more comfortable in my hand. In due time, I had my model 27-2 converted so it can share stocks with my pre-agreement model 629.
Jim March
Member
It was Hogue that really perfected the "square-butt conversion grips" for round-butt guns, and made them look proper in both wood and rubber.
Once that happened, the demise of the square-butt was both inevitable and welcome.
Which raises an interesting question: how soon before we see "plowhandle conversion grips" for the Ruger Bird's-Head SAs? They could be done in either XR3-RED shape or Colt SAA "feel"...and in theory, the XR3-RED could then be killed off entirely.
Once that happened, the demise of the square-butt was both inevitable and welcome.
Which raises an interesting question: how soon before we see "plowhandle conversion grips" for the Ruger Bird's-Head SAs? They could be done in either XR3-RED shape or Colt SAA "feel"...and in theory, the XR3-RED could then be killed off entirely.
bountyhunter
member
Easier to conceal. Period.
Tamara
Senior Member
bountyhunter,
I'm sure that was a big consideration on 8 3/8" N-frames.
I'm sure that was a big consideration on 8 3/8" N-frames.
Mike Irwin
Member
"Easier to conceal. Period."
No.
Cost reductions in the manufacturing process.
No.
Cost reductions in the manufacturing process.
Marshall
Member
Round Butt
Geeze, Whew....I just knew this subject was about my Ex-wife.
Geeze, Whew....I just knew this subject was about my Ex-wife.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
After owning many square butt S&W's and thinking
I could not live with out one; I'm finding the round
butt models quite useful. With Hogue's "Monogrips"
as a conversion, I hardly notice the difference; cuz
in the later stages all of my S&W's wore a nice set
of Pachmayr's anyway.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I could not live with out one; I'm finding the round
butt models quite useful. With Hogue's "Monogrips"
as a conversion, I hardly notice the difference; cuz
in the later stages all of my S&W's wore a nice set
of Pachmayr's anyway.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
FPrice
Member
Preacherman...
"Actually, they were hoping to make an autosuggestive contribution to the fight against obesity..."
Do you mean "semi-auto" suggestive, or does this pertain to revolvers also???
"Actually, they were hoping to make an autosuggestive contribution to the fight against obesity..."
Do you mean "semi-auto" suggestive, or does this pertain to revolvers also???
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