Altamont Grips

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I like mine just fine, and they fit my 50 year old Trooper perfectly with almost no fitting.

Eh, what can ya do? All the good hardwoods are losing their habitats thanks to South American farming deforestation or getting shipped to China to pimp out CCP hierarchy luxury condos- just like all the other construction materials.

 

[hemiram]

I have Altamonts on several of my guns. I really don't like the S&W Magna grips at all, and not a fan of the Tyler grip thing in any way.
I don't think these type of Altamonts look bad at all. I don't really like "grippy" grips, but these could use some grooves in them. Nothing really deep, just enough to keep the thing from sliding around with sweaty hands.

I've got a bunch of aftermarket and OEM Dan Wesson grips, but the stock ones keep going back on:

 

[Slamfire]

Eh, what can ya do? All the good hardwoods are losing their habitats thanks to South American farming deforestation or getting shipped to China to pimp out CCP hierarchy luxury condos- just like all the other construction materials.

The Chestnut tree is an endangered species and is highly likely to go extinct. My Canal Street D'holder bowie knife has Chestnut wood handles. The literature with the knife indicates the wood came from one specific barn that was dismantled for the wood.

I remember reading in the Boston Globe about specialty logging firms paying big money to remove centuries old hardwood trees from residential property and parks in the Boston area.

You might be aware of stories of old stumps and logs pulled out of American, and Costa Rican rivers. My Costa Rican coco bolo grips on my 1911's, the maker shows pictures of the trees stumps they had to pull out of the river to find old enough wood to make pretty grips.

Trees that produced beautiful wood have been logged out, and the only available wood is recycled from rivers, old structures, or from residential areas.

 

[Bennj]

I have some inserts from Chigs grips that are solid wood and quite nice. He also makes full panel grips as well. Only issue is they are for Rugers, don't know if he does others but he's easy enough to contact.

 

[CraigC]

They are what they are, a basic run of the mill aftermarket grip manufacturer. Some of them I like, some I don't. I don't care for any laminated wood grips but their walnut Ropers for the GP/SRH are very good.

 

[v8stang289]

They are what they are, a basic run of the mill aftermarket grip manufacturer. Some of them I like, some I don't. I don't care for any laminated wood grips but their walnut Ropers for the GP/SRH are very good.

Now those I like.
If they offered a Smooth Roper or "classic" checkered Roper for a Smith, I'd give them a try.
The checkering/pattern on the Smith Ropers just reminds me of an odd cartoon cloud or something. Something about it just bugs me.

That said, I don't see the Ruger Ropers on their website anymore. Unless I'm overlooking them.

 

[lee n. field]

Not trying to start a flame war, because I believe in individuality and to each their own.
So if you love them and they work for you, that's great.

But IMO nearly every set of Altamonts I've seen look like overpriced stained plasticized plywood.
I just don't get the hype.
They look like fake wood laser engraved oddness that takes away from the lines and greatness of the guns they're installed on.

The real wood ones look almost ok except for the odd lines of the "checkering" and engraved designs

I think the Ropers would be ok if they offered them smooth or with traditional checkering. But the checkering/design they offer on them just looks like crap.

Am I alone in this perception? I may be, but in my opinion they could do some cool stuff, but fall short.

I have 4 sets of Altamont grips.

2 sets of 1911 grips. They're just fine.

2 sets of revolver grips. One came on a revolver. Uncheckered. Fit to the gun was fine, but I needed to round a couple edges to make it comfortable for me, and do a lot of work so a speedloader would clear. No biggie, I knew I wasn't going to stick with that stock set.

The other needed work to fit the gun well, and I still haven't got speedloader clearance where I want it. To be fair, this one came from Altamont's factory outlet store on Gunborker, so was likely a second. (Search on AltamontFactoryOutlet on Gunbroker). It was a Taurus Executive Grade small frame grip that at the time was not yet available separately from the gun. Checkering quality, I honestly didn't pay attention to. Again, knew I wasn't going to stick with that stock set.

Aesthetics of the grips are, by me, "OK".

 

[Rodfac]

Straw....I do like stag grips especially on SA Rugers but have also found that with a good grip adapter (Tyler, or the old Pachmayr's), the old S&W "Magna" shape grips suit me to a "T". And nothing looks better in my view than a bit of "bark" showing for contrast. A good fit, great looks and on a worthy big caliber Smith...hard to beat that combination...and thx for the holster compliment, it's one of my own making.

V8...yep, I getcha....That checkering pattern and the overall shape are Altamont's version of the old Roper target models. It appeals to me, fits me well, and I do like the pattern.

Best regards, and thx for posting. Rod

 

[Jonesy814]

One thing I noticed about Altamonts is that while they often look good, some of the styles are uncomfortable when shooting. They tend to have edges that are too sharp when shooting heavier recoiling revolvers. I have taken a fine file and gently rounded those areas then wipe that area with a little Tung oil finish and you can’t tell anything was done. If you don’t the rounded area will look dull. I had to do that on these. I suppose you could put some polishing compound on those spots and polish with a dremel to make it match too.

 

[Pat Riot]

I like Altamont grips. I like the way they look and how they feel.

 

[v8stang289]

I like Altamont grips. I like the way they look and how they feel.

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On the Rugers they look about right. No big loss there.
And the Roper style on the Smiths are nice grips overall.
But that Model 10 pains me. It deserves so much more. Those type of grips is mainly what this thread is referring to

 

[Pat Riot]

I like them. As you said to each his own…AND it’s my gun, not yours.

I added a BK grip adapter. I just don’t have a snappy posed picture of it so here’s a so-so photo of it. I love the way it feels and handles with this set up.

 

[StrawHat]

Straw....I do like stag grips especially on SA Rugers but have also found that with a good grip adapter (Tyler, or the old Pachmayr's), the old S&W "Magna" shape grips suit me to a "T". And nothing looks better in my view than a bit of "bark" showing for contrast. A good fit, great looks and on a worthy big caliber Smith...hard to beat that combination...and thx for the holster compliment, it's one of my own making.…

Best regards, and thx for posting. Rod

Rod,

Mershon also marketed a grip adapter and S&W actually had two different ones. The proprietary S&W adapter is shown on the Model 1917 Commercial with the Sambar Service stocks.

Currently, Tyler and BK are making adapters, new ones that is.

Indeed, that holster is sublime. When are you going to make one for me?

Kevin

 

[v8stang289]

I like them. As you said to each his own…AND it’s my gun, not yours.

You are correct
As long as you're happy with them, that's all that matters.