[Moon]

I just inherited a Smith & Wesson Model 36. It has a blued finish, and appears to be in mint condition. I would like to add a Tyler grip adapter to the wood stocks to improve the ergonomics without having to add a gaudy rubber grip.

I see that the adapters come in both a shiny black version and a non-reflective black version. For those of you who have experience with Tyler grips and Chief's Specials, what is the more traditional finish to get for a grip adapter? My guess is that most people in the past were probably getting the shiny black one. Your thoughts on the most attractive/most traditional finish to get are greatly appreciated.

[ugaarguy]

Moon, I'm not sure what the traditional choice is, but I think much of it is personal preference. I've seen some blued guns with plain polished aluminium T-Grip that look really nice with the two-tone accent it gives. Look at as many pics as you can to see what looks best to you. Depending on the day I think any of the the T-Grip colors look good.

[tantrix]

From what I've seen, most people go with the polished mirror finish.

[Ala Dan]

I use too have the polished aluminum Tyler T on a '79 vintage S&W
model 60. Now, it wears a set of Pachmayr "Professional" grips~!;)

[Iggy]

I have had both and prefer the polished aluminum. It seemed to be the most popular with the guys who packed back when they were about the only option.



The black doesn't match the blue, so the silver contrast seems to have more eye appeal.. at least to me.

If the black ones get scuffed, you can't polish it out like you can with the brushed aluminums.

[bubbygator]

I used my T-grips with a Barami Hip-Grip. The Barami had a slick plastic surface, so I wrapped the whole thing with gauze-like tennis grip-tape (just happened to be a playah at the time). See here:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageACUNIQUE-UGT.html

It worked so good, I've been using it ever since on all sorts of grips.

[Moon]

Wow; not the responses that I expected. Iggy, I must say that your comments and pic have me thinking that the regular aluminum look is the way to go - thanks.

[jondar]

My trooper MK III is nickelled and with faux ivory grips the polished aluminum T-Grip looks very well indeed.

[JNewell]

Someone's gotta vote the other way :D I have a few on some Smiths and both the blued and stainless ones have the black T-grips. I liked the way they looked better than the polished (or the pimp-me gold ano finish)...YMMV...

[Iggy]

Yup, nothin' wrong with the black ones.. I carried one with black ones for years.

Back in the J. Edgar days, it seems as if the majority that I knew had the silver ones. That was about as much individuality as anyone was allowed in handgun carry. I think they went for all the "pizazz" they could get away with.

[bakert]

Here's the black one on a well worn older S&W model 10.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/brumanj/Picture354.jpg

[aaronrkelly]

Heres a flat black (and beat to hell) Tyler on my old Model 10.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/All%20Guns/smithmodel10.jpg

[XavierBreath]

I was going to say matte black, but searching back through my boyhood memory, it seems as if Iggy is right. I recall seeing silver Tyler Ts, but not any black ones.

Perhaps the silver ones were just more apparent.