Eagle Heritage series grips - Gunnysack

Even though the economic reasons were probably sound, I hated it when S&W closed their wood shop and began using grips from outside vendors. I know somebody will yell at me for not using the factory-approved word "stocks," but I've called them grips all my life and am too old to change now.

Besides, that's what Eagle Grips calls them and they have come to the rescue with their "Heritage" series for S&W K- and N-frames and some Colt revolvers. Eagle Grips specializes in Indian rosewood grips for a zillion different pistols and revolvers. They also have available more exotic materials such as bone or horn, or a very realistic synthetic ivory material.

My favorite of the older S&W grips were those with the diamond in the middle of the checkering pattern. In fact that diamond is a valuable clue in my search for older S&W revolvers that might need a good home. And of those old grips, the best of all are those with the "coke bottle" shape that are a bit thicker in the middle. This shape fits the palm of the hand in a natural (they thought of this before things became ergonomic) manner. More plainly -- they feel good.

I tried the Heritage Series grips on a pair of S&W revolvers with both N- and K-frame styles. The fit was every bit as good as I've come to expect from factory grips and the hand-cut checkering provides a nice non-slip feeling without being too sharp. They're simply beautifully-done, classic grips.

Eagle Grips, 460 Randy Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188; (800) 323-6144; www.eaglegrips.com

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