New to me Smith Model 18

[mward58]

I'm going to put on Pachmayr Gripper grips so as to preserve the original grips which are pristine. I like Pachmayr's cause they got a little give to them and I like to squeeze a revolver hard. Also I shoot outside and I like them in the summer better than wood. what do you folks feel about rubber grips on the old classics?

[Hazcat]

I personally prefer wood, but your idea of preserving the originals and as you like rubber, go for it.  After all it is not a permanent change.

[mward58]

I personally prefer wood, but your idea of preserving the originals and as you like rubber, go for it.  After all it is not a permanent change.

That's the way I see it plus a heckuva lot cheaper. The Hogue exotic woods with finger grooves are great looking but 119 or more and a long wait. The wood handles come off easy with the right sized screwdriver. I always try not to bugger a xcrew on these old beauties!

[tombogan03884]

First thing I do to a new pistol, usually the only modification, is to install Pachmyr or Hogue grips.

[mward58]

First thing I do to a new pistol, usually the only modification, is to install Pachmyr or Hogue grips.

Yep, me too. Great mines must think alike. On this I thought Pachmayr's would look better. I have Hogue Monos on my 686. Just thought they might be a little large on this one. Hogue's are cheap so if I don't like the pach's I can always get the Hogue's.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

I've always used Pachs on revolvers, saw that the Hogue were pretty much the same when I was getting a set for my 1911.

[m25operator]

MWARD58 I did not know (mines) thought, sorry a little dig for spelling.

My question to you is if you have hogue's on one frame, why not the other to keep your grip the same between the 2, your model 18 has the same grip frame as your 686? Personal preference, pachmeyers are made of a harder material than hogues, and generally I like the shape of hogues over pachs, except for the J frames, the pach professionals on a J frame S&W just work, but if you want a laser, sorry. Same if you go Hogue, My favorite revolver grip is the Rogers/Safariland plastic grip, not pretty but squirts the pistol to center when you grip hard, the Miculek grip is supposed to do the same, but I've only found one pair that fit, and it was on another pistol I did not own. If anybody out there still has some of these old grips, let me know, I need at least 3 more sets. They look like this, round or square but K frame.

[Big Frank]

I'm not familiar with that ^ type of overtravel stop. It looks like a pencil eraser on the trigger.

[m25operator]

It is a pencil eraser hot glued in place, old school stop, it's been there since 1990 and 60,000 rounds.

[Big Frank]

It is a pencil eraser hot glued in place, old school stop, it's been there since 1990 and 60,000 rounds.

Wow. Thanks M25. If I ever get another revolver I'll try to remember that trick.