Smith And Wesson Model 29 Grips

[VMC]

I have a Model 29-6 with the round butt. It came with Hogue Rubber Grips. I first got the round butt conversion grips from S&W, but they were a bit too slim for my liking, so I got the Hogue Goncalo Alves Grips and put in a set of S&W medallions. The Hogue Wood grips are great but I would like to know if anyone has tried the Altamont Walnut Coke Bottle Style reproductions that are supposed to be shaped like the old school S&W grips.

 

[Pat Riot]

Your original grips are made by Altamont. I have them on my S&W 25-15. I would call Altamont and ask them if the “coke bottle” grips are dimensionally different from the original grips.
I have purchased their Roper grips for my “K” frames and they have a very slight Coke bottle bulge. Not sure if the N frame grips would be much wider. The Altamont Ropers are trimmer than the factory Target grips.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I tried them. The fit was poor, and they are still much thinner than the real vintage coke bottle grips. They were better than the ergonomic nightmare of the original grips, but still not great.



You can see how thin they are here, and also the big gap where they don't come together.


Eagle Grips makes a pair that is closer to the original coke bottles, that's what I would recommend instead. They are a lot more expensive though, but you get what you pay for in this case.

 

[VMC]

Thanks Guys, that's what I wanted to know. Altamont Coke Bottle Grips are not much better than the newer S&W original slim ones which Altamont supplies to them. I'll spring for the more expensive Eagle Grips as they look much better on their web site. I once had a Model 27 with the old coke bottles and I miss the classic look and feel. The Hogue wood ones shoot great though as I have large hands.

 

[Pat Riot]

Thanks Guys, that's what I wanted to know. Altamont Coke Bottle Grips are not much better than the newer S&W original slim ones which Altamont supplies to them. I'll spring for the more expensive Eagle Grips as they look much better on their web site. I once had a Model 27 with the old coke bottles and I miss the classic look and feel. The Hogue wood ones shoot great though as I have large hands.

I hope you find the right grips.
Personally, I like the Altamont factory grips on my model 25 and my Ropers. It took me a while and a number of grips to find what I liked on my other revolvers. I consider myself lucky that I like the Altamont grips on my 25-15.

 

[Ethan Verity]

I hope you find the right grips.
Personally, I like the Altamont factory grips on my model 25 and my Ropers. It took me a while and a number of grips to find what I liked on my other revolvers. I consider myself lucky that I like the Altamont grips on my 25-15.

The Altamont OEM S&W grips do feel good in the hand, their shortcomings do not become apparent until you start feeling 44 Magnum recoil with them. I can see why you would appreciate them on a Model 25.

But, notice how thin they are on the Model 29 compared to the vintage target grips that used to adorn these guns. Your hand will tire out much faster lighting off 44 Mag with these new grips, compared to the well designed vintage grips. Also, that aggressive smooth taper makes the gun slide down too much in my hand, there is nothing to secure it in the palm during recoil. The coke bottle curves at least resolved that issue, even though Altamont's version was still too thin to be comfortable.

 

[Pat Riot]

@Ethan Verity
Thanks for the comparison photo.
It’s funny, I have big hands, but the Altamont’s work great for me. You are shooting hotter rounds so I can see how thinner may not be better. I shoot .45 Colt within SAAMI specs from my handguns. I don’t shoot hard recoiling handguns any more. About the hottest I go is some spicy .357 Magnums.

Whoops! Sorry. I mixed up 2 posters.

 

[VMC]

That's a great comparison photo. The OEM wood on newer guns does slip around and that is what I miss compared to the old target grip. I mostly shoot 240g simi-wadcutters with 7.5g to 10g of Unique since that is what I have the most of in this time of scarce reloading components. The recoil is not as much as hot loads, but the slim grips still slide a bit too much even after I stripped and oil finished them. They do feel better though. The original finish looked like slick plastic and came off in sheets when sprayed with stripper. Depends on your hand size and shape I guess as to whether or not they suit you.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Ethan, great comparo pic. I can remember taking off the old 'coke bottles' and sticking them in the spares box. Have you priced any of the old ones lately? I generally like Altamont grips, but those squared off edges next to the frame are typical of their grips.
Pat, on advice here, I got the American Eagle grips for my 25-15. Really like the pistol; feed mine Cowboy Trailboss loads that otherwise go into spaghetti single actions or some carbines. The Eagles feel very much like the old cokes.
Like you, my hands don't suffer hard kickers well these days.
VMC, I've the OEM Hogue monogrip on a square butt 629-3 Hunter; don't run that as hot as I once did (there are 3 deer on that revolver); they're not pretty, but they do serve. Current handload is a 200RNFP at about 1200, so the rubber grip is worth keeping.
If I turn the tap down even further, may put on some nice wood.

Moon

 

[CraigC]

I tried a set of Altamont grips and they were too thin. These are Ropers by Culina and they are perfect.

 

[VMC]

Beautiful Roper Culina grips Craig! Thanks for showing them. Now I need to check out Culina as I was not aware of those grips.