Aftermarket grips for new production S&W model 40

[Hawk]

Anybody know offhand if generic "Round butt 'J' frame" will fit on the current production lemon squeezer?

Ajax's site lists specific model numbers for "Round butt J frame" but the 40 is conspicuous by its absence. Makes me wonder if there's something special about the 40 (other than not being able to use grips that cover the backstrap) that'll provide strife and agony.

 

[Oro]

Most aftermarket grips will not fit a Centennial model, that is correct. With the safety in the grip frame, there are small design differences to make it work.

But look, the stock grips are gorgeous and classic like in the pre-68 days. If you find you want to change them because of the lack of "meat" to them, do like the old days and put in a Tyler adapter. Look up "Tyler T grip" and they are about $27 I think. Here is a 19 I hand fit some fake ivory magnas to, then put in a Tyler T grip to make a sweet grip shape. It is very, very effective. The Tyler's work with the centennial grip strap, no problem. they come in multiple finishes to match your gun - this one doesn't match this gun because I had the adapter on a stainless gun before I switched it to this blue one.

Congrats on having a "new" centennial. Those are hot and going to be classics. I don't have one but wish I did.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

Heya Hawk,

I am buying a 40 next week, check out this thread from a week ago:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=368778

Further down he added:

The grips are Ajax Ivory Polymer that I had to trim down on the inside with a dremel to get to fit.

Pretty soon there will be 5 of us S&W 40 owners that I know of...I smell a new "club" forming!

Enjoy!

RFB

 

[Hawk]

A "new 40" club? That'd be a hoot.

I was hoping there wouldn't be any dremel stuff involved but I guess we're stuck with it.

I bought the 40 despite what looked like one of the sorriest examples of grip fitting I'd seen in a spell. But "new 40s" seem to all have that problem - that of having a gap between the upper grip and frame. Maybe it's intentional(?). More likely, I'm just being obsessive - it doesn't seem to bother anyone else so the most straightforward solution is that I get over it.

Anyhow, I think the "slightly aged Tru-Ivory" grips would look good on one of the blued 40s - I guess I'll have to find what I did with the Dremel.

 

[rgs1975]

Yup, you got to trim 'em. I used a dremel and it only took a few minutes. You just have to shave down the the edges of the round protrusion on the inside of each grip.

 

[Hawk]

I suspect dremeling a set of aftermarkets would be easier than sanding down the "lower grip" portion of the factory grips to let the upper portion fit better.

I noticed the gaps well before I bought it so I've forfeited any right to complain. I did assume aftermarket grips would be less of a DIY project.

Oh well, maybe ivory-looking things will make the whole thing worthwhile.