Ropers, Ahrends, Culina? non-fingergroove grips

[westernrover]

I need some stocks for an L frame. It has some Altamont wood stocks with finger-grooves on it now and they don't fit my fingers. My hands fit large "L" size work gloves and my fingers are thin. So if I grip it high, my ring-finger rests right on the first finger knob. It seems grooved grips are made for people with fatter fingers, so I'm looking for smooth.

It's a round-butt frame, but I'd consider round or some degree of "conversion." I don't care about concealment, and I don't care for short, two-finger boot grips.

I'm looking at Ahrends retro "banana" grips. Hogue "no finger groove" grips. Altamont "Altai" conversions. Herrett's Roper-style or Shooting Masters. Eagle Classics. Spegel. Culina conversion smooth target. I'm only interested in "service-grade" for now. I'd have to shoot it a while and know it's what I want before I spent on expensive figure or fit. Budget is <$150

Any suggestions?

 

[Cokeman]

What do the grips on it now look like?

 

[drband]

I use Hogue's no finger groove monogrip on my SW625 for the same reason. I have been very pleased.
Hope you find nice wood grips that do the same for you.

 

[NoirFan]

My preference for a revolver is a smooth wood grip with no grooves. I have the Ahrends combat stocks on my square butt S&W 19 and I’m a big fan. They are not too fat in the middle making them a great fit for my medium sized hands. Good control even with hot loaded magnums.

 

[CraigC]

Bear in mind that grips are extremely subjective. As you're about to see, I've spent a lot of time, effort and money on finding the right grips and my DA grip journey is only a fraction of what I've done with SA's. I've tried most of what you listed but the Spegels. Those I've seen were fantastic but I've never handled one. His wait is 2yrs or more on revolver grips though. The Hogue's are too thin and the exaggerated ambidextrous palm swell rubs me the wrong way. I haven't tried the retro banana from Ahrends but I have tried the retro target and tactical. The target grips come close but they're a bit too thin and the area around the backstrap is squared off, which is odd. I have Eagle Classics on a GP100 and they're too short, leaving my pinky to hang halfway off the bottom. I have an older set on an N-frame and they're not bad but too thin at the top. The Altamont Coke bottles are too thin. Haven't tried their S&W Ropers but the Ruger version is pretty good.

The first set of Ropers I got from Culina were too thick, like the checkered targets on S&W's from the `70's and `80's. The rest I had him make to a thickness of 1.2" at the middle and they are perfect. I honestly do not know how thick he's making them now, you'd have to ask. Likewise, Herrett's Roper is also perfection in my hands. Lone Star Custom Grips is another option. He's just started making DA grips and his presentation style is excellent. You might want to give him a try before he gets famous. There are other options like Tedd Adamovich and Rob Rowen but they're way out of your price range. If you want the absolute best and a sixgun that looks like it grew out of wood sculpted by Michelangelo, Rowen is your man.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=272181

Culina:







Herretts:





Eagle on a Highway Patrolman:



Ahrends:



My LSCG Ruger grips:

 

[RugRev]

Note that some makers will also make a grip to fit your hand. I am not fond of Hogue but they and Herrett's will size them based upon a hand tracing that you send. Probably others will also do this. I also agree with Craig regarding the palm swell on the Hogues as have a set without the finger grooves on a GP100 (for now). In the past had a Redhawk with Herrett Ropers and was quite content with them as the fit was ideal for my purposes.

 

[Eddietruett]

I have a bunch of different grips. While I think Culina may have the best quality out there, they are extremely pricey. I did own a set of Fuzzy Farrant way back and never saw the reason they bring the kind of money they do. I'm a huge fan of Altamont. For the money, I think they are the best thing out there. Customer Service is second to none and sometimes they can modify grips listed on website. There was one set I liked a lot, and forget the model, but it was only listed with the checkered sides. I got a couple of sets that were same grip but they did not checker them. Took a few weeks instead of shipping off shelf, but whats 2 weeks? I've heard people say different, but I've never had a set of Altamonts that did not fit well.

 

[CraigC]

I've spent a lot of money on what must be dozens and dozens of custom grips for revolvers to the tune of thousands of dollars spent. In my opinion, Culina is a downright bargain for the quality received. As is Herrett's. The quality is very high for the modest price. However, Culina is not the best. Tedd Adamovich, Craig Spegel, Keith Brown, Rob Rowen, etc., are all a tier or two above as well they should be with prices starting at $300-$400 and going up from there. Adamovich and Rowen at the very least require your gun for fitting. Altamont is good for what they are but you're comparing mass production aftermarket grips (Altamont) to true custom offerings. Big difference.

 

[mope540]

I'd go with Ahrends for the fit and the price (compared to other brands mentioned). I'm not a fan of their sharp edges, but they can easily be rounded/smoothed, and the stocks can be re-contoured to fit your hand.
These are both Ahrends that were 'worked on'. I could never do that to the pricey brand stocks.

 

[Jonesy814]

You can find some very nice grips on Ebay. There are a good many vendors out of Thailand making well fitting and comfortable hardwood grips in the $40-55 range. All of the grips pictured are made in Thailand, ebay purchases. The ones on the model 15 are extremely nice for shooting. I had them on the 4 inch 686 and they were nice even with full magnums. (M15 is middle/right)

 

[Eddietruett]

When I posted above about Altamont, I had forgotten about the Thailand Grips on Ebay. I have 5-6 sets and they are a great bargain and actually fit as good if not better than any of the mass produced grips out there. The wood and quality is 1st rate as well. The only hold back to these is the shipping time. I have had them take as long as 2 months to come in. There was a guy here in SC who had some sort of deal with the Thailand group and he was stocking a fair amount of their grips and selling on Armslist. His price was about the same as buying direct, so obviously he was buying in bulk and getting a discount, but he has gone away. Haven't seen one of his ads in a while. I thought about contacting them about doing the same and taking a supply to the Local Guns Shows., but with cost of tables and fact that I would have to stand around a table for 2 days with the profit I figured I would make, the idea never went anywhere. I am not sure what kind of volume you would have to purchase to get a decent discount, but I'm sure it would probably be at least 100 sets.

 

[Graywolf686]

Bear in mind that grips are extremely subjective. As you're about to see, I've spent a lot of time, effort and money on finding the right grips and my DA grip journey is only a fraction of what I've done with SA's. I've tried most of what you listed but the Spegels. Those I've seen were fantastic but I've never handled one. His wait is 2yrs or more on revolver grips though. The Hogue's are too thin and the exaggerated ambidextrous palm swell rubs me the wrong way. I haven't tried the retro banana from Ahrends but I have tried the retro target and tactical. The target grips come close but they're a bit too thin and the area around the backstrap is squared off, which is odd. I have Eagle Classics on a GP100 and they're too short, leaving my pinky to hang halfway off the bottom. I have an older set on an N-frame and they're not bad but too thin at the top. The Altamont Coke bottles are too thin. Haven't tried their S&W Ropers but the Ruger version is pretty good.

The first set of Ropers I got from Culina were too thick, like the checkered targets on S&W's from the `70's and `80's. The rest I had him make to a thickness of 1.2" at the middle and they are perfect. I honestly do not know how thick he's making them now, you'd have to ask. Likewise, Herrett's Roper is also perfection in my hands. Lone Star Custom Grips is another option. He's just started making DA grips and his presentation style is excellent. You might want to give him a try before he gets famous. There are other options like Tedd Adamovich and Rob Rowen but they're way out of your price range. If you want the absolute best and a sixgun that looks like it grew out of wood sculpted by Michelangelo, Rowen is your man.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=272181

Culina:

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Herretts:

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Eagle on a Highway Patrolman:

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Ahrends:

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My LSCG Ruger grips:

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You have some great looking grips

 

[CraigC]

Thanks!

 

[Graywolf686]

Thanks!

Your guns aren’t too shabby either. The Ruger grips who is LSCG? What are they made of? I really like the color and grain pattern!

 

[CraigC]

Thanks! Lone Star Custom Grips, English walnut.

 

[Graywolf686]

Thanks! Lone Star Custom Grips, English walnut.

They’re awesome looking.

 

[Graywolf686]

I just received a set of Altamont Coke Bottle walnut grips today for my 686 I had Sile modified combat grips on it before and they were a little too thin the Altamont’s feel a lot better. Range time in the morning