S&W 686/+ owners need your help

[wamphyri13]

If you see something you like, you can bypass the wait at Ahrends. Just go to ebay and search Ahrends k/l grips. There is a reseller on there that will pop up. All the shots are on the green background. Same prices as Ahrends, just a bulk supply. Mostly the Moradillo, Cocobolo, Cordia, and some stained or natural Maple are readily available. And what you see is what you get for each auction. I ordered some Cocobolo conversion grips for my 617 from them and have been very happy. I still choose to shop from Kim when I want wood for my 1911s or revos. He's made many a custom pair for me.
Ryan

[wamphyri13]

As an example:
Cocobolo round to square Retro Combat (from ebay)

Custom Retro Combat round butt in stabilized Buckeye Burl

There is also a couple sellers on ebay (jaruwan.p or grandblue) from Thailand
that make very nice Siamese Rosewood grips that are almost identical to Hogues Bantam rubber grips for K/L round butts. I like these very much, too.

Ryan

[UberPatriot]

Ebay

[Barang]

If you see something you like, you can bypass the wait at Ahrends. Just go to ebay and search Ahrends k/l grips. There is a reseller on there that will pop up. All the shots are on the green background. Same prices as Ahrends, just a bulk supply. Mostly the Moradillo, Cocobolo, Cordia, and some stained or natural Maple are readily available. And what you see is what you get for each auction. I ordered some Cocobolo conversion grips for my 617 from them and have been very happy. I still choose to shop from Kim when I want wood for my 1911s or revos. He's made many a custom pair for me.
Ryan

Those pictures ( your revolvers ) are awesome! Went to check ebay and they have some readily available. Thanks

The factory grips' small for my hand. I'm wondering: 1- If the round and square butt are fatter than factory grips? 2 - Are they longer than factory grips? And 3 - Which one is longer, round or square butt?

[wamphyri13]

The factory grip is small? Are you Fezzik or do they have the new rubber grips or the old small stocks? To try and answer your questions:
1)Yes, Ahrends grips (both) fill your hand better.
2)Round butt, not really. Square butt, yes.
3)Square butt are longer grips.

Where in Nor Cal are you? For the price of postage, I have an extra set of round butt grips you can test feel on yours if you'd like to try them before buying from ebay or Kim. Let me know.
Ryan

[Barang]

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/images/firearms/zoom_lg/164194_01_lg.jpg

I don't know what fezzik means but the picture above is the exact representation of mine. The grip's made of rubber and it's small for my hand. Also, my palm overhangs by about 3/8".

Based on the questions you answered, it solidify my gut feeling of getting a square butt.

I live up here in Sacramento. That's very kind of you to offer test feel on the grips. I think I'm settled on square butt otherwise I would've love to try them.

Thank you very much for your help.

[wamphyri13]

Fezzik was the character in The Princess Bride played by Andre the Giant. Think big hands.
Remember, you're not buying square butt grips. You're buying round to square conversion grips. The backstraps are different and not interchangeable. Just don't want you ordering the wrong grips.
Ryan

[Barang]

Oh! Andre the Giant. My hands are between medium to large.

I'm glad that you caught it because I have no idea between "straight square butt" and "round to square conversion grips." Big, big difference. As of now, I'm writing it down to remind me when I order it later.

I almost forgot, when you bought yours from Kim, did you get the extra "stained (polyurethane applied)" for $20 or "tung oil hand rubbed"? I don't know if those are necessary?

[wamphyri13]

I almost forgot, when you bought yours from Kim, did you get the extra "stained (polyurethane applied)" for $20 or "tung oil hand rubbed"? I don't know if those are necessary?

Okay. This is technically a difficult question for me to answer and here's why.
I have only, "purchased" Ahrends revolver grips through ebay. Those have the poly finish. (BTW-the poly is standard. The tung oil finish and the stained Maple is $20 more) The ones I showed earlier were round to square conversion in Cocbolo were bought on ebay. Standard poly finish. My Buckeye Burl grips were stabilized and sent to Kim. Stabilized won't accept an oil finish and don't need a poly finish because they are already plasticized. My only other pair of Ahrends revolver grips are a not shown set of Black & White Ebony on my N frame 25-2.
I opted to leave those unfinished so the wood would age naturally. The creamy color will darken over time and handling.
If memory serves, you cannot use the tung oil finish on cocobolo because it is naturally an oily wood and it never dries. That's why it only comes in the poly. The tung oil finish will also give your grips a bit of a shine. I prefer a satin finish, so I stick with the poly finish. If you like shinier, get the tung oil.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions directly from them. His wife Judy is knowledgeable and can tell you what woods will accept the oil, how they look, etc. Just send them an email and they will respond with answers. They will also tell you how long the wait is currently.
That's about all on the revolver grips. I have purchased many sets of his 1911 grips, (some are viewable in another thread in California Handguns) and have been very happy with him. His website was updated not too long ago because of me. (probably) I was sending him lots of my own wood to be made into 1911 grips. He informed me there would be an extra charge, and since I love his grips, I had no problem. Now the extra charges are shown on the site. I'll still use him for custom panels. I have different tastes and don't want to settle on what's readily available. I want my stuff to be personal/custom.
Anything else? feel free to PM if you want. I don't mind.
Ryan

[Barang]

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions directly from them. His wife Judy is knowledgeable and can tell you what woods will accept the oil, how they look, etc. Just send them an email and they will respond with answers. They will also tell you how long the wait is currently.

Anything else? feel free to PM if you want. I don't mind.
Ryan

Why didn't I think of that? But glad that I get the chance to hear your personal experience of the product and some other details that are pertinent to my case. I think I'm ready to place an order tonight.

Thanks again for all the help and patiently providing all the answers.

[trigger945]

OP... While you are at it, order some 1911 grips, too. I love my 2 sets and will not hesitate to order again. And if you don't have a use for those 1911 grips, get a 1911!

[wamphyri13]

My personal choice...if you want really red without any sort of grain, get the Padauk. If you want some contrasting grain, get the Cocobolo and be sure to request more red than brown. Cocobolo will have varying shades of red to brown. If you want a softer look to the red, get the Moradillo. Image search Ahrends k or l frame grips on google to get an idea of the shades for each of the woods.
Lastly, if you want to go the opposite direction, get the plain Maple. It looks really good with stainless.
And don't forget to post pics. If you're ordering direct from Ahrends, we'll wait.
Ryan

[Barang]

OP... While you are at it, order some 1911 grips, too. I love my 2 sets and will not hesitate to order again. And if you don't have a use for those 1911 grips, get a 1911!

or I could super glue them on my P226 and sell them as 1911.

My personal choice...if you want really red without any sort of grain, get the Padauk. If you want some contrasting grain, get the Cocobolo and be sure to request more red than brown. Cocobolo will have varying shades of red to brown. If you want a softer look to the red, get the Moradillo. Image search Ahrends k or l frame grips on google to get an idea of the shades for each of the woods.
Lastly, if you want to go the opposite direction, get the plain Maple. It looks really good with stainless.
And don't forget to post pics. If you're ordering direct from Ahrends, we'll wait.
Ryan

You're not gonna believe this but those were my exact choices ( in red ) at first, then my eyesight shifted to the plain Maple and this is the one that I'm going to order.

I'm telling you, If I have money to burn I'd get another 686 just to get another grips in red.

Sure thing, I'll post the pictures when I get them from Ahrends so I can show it off.