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What?s your opinion of Eagle Grips?

JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
What's your opinion of Eagle Grips? The first time I did business with them I ordered a pair of ebony wood stocks by phone. I ordered them on a Monday and got them in the mail that Friday. They were nice stocks, fit well, and I was very happy with them. The second time I ordered from them I wasn't quite as happy. This is a copy of an eMail I sent them today. BTW, "Ultra Ivory Grips" are the fake ivory.

I ordered a pair of "Ultra Ivory Grips" for a Smith & Wesson Model 60-9 J frame revolver on 3 March 2006. My credit card was charged for the order on 2 May 2006. I received the stocks today, 27 May 2006. Based on your reputation and my previous order from you, I figured it was worth the wait. To say I am very disappointed is an understatement. I can get the stocks on the gun, but they don't fit. The left panel overlaps the front strap by about one sixteenth of an inch and the right panel overlaps the front strap by about half that. There is a gap between the gun frame and the stocks on both sides above the screw, front and back, that a dollar bill will slide into. The left panel is the worst, but the right panel is bad enough. The S&W medallion on the right panel is not straight.

I don't plan to spend good money and time after bad by returning the "Ultra Ivory Grips". After we ship them back and forth a few times, I'll have more in shipping than the stocks are worth and I'll be too old to use them. I'll just write it off as a bad experience.

If your people are under too much pressure from receiving more orders than they can produce, I'll do what I can to reduce the pressure. You can write me off as a customer.

Thanks,

Jim

EagleSW1.jpg

EagleSW2.jpg

EagleSW4.jpg
The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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Comments

  • MainiacMainiac Member Posts: 42 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had the same problem with a pair of rosewood stocks that I bought from Eagle for my S&W Model 63. The grips were oversize and didn't line up with the frame when they were screwed together. I sent 'em back and Eagle sent me another pair, but they didn't fit as well as the first ones. As you say, you can't waste time and money sending grips back and forth, so I finally made the grips fit myself with a bit of judicious Dremeling and epoxy filling.

    Xzec.
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  • goldslammergoldslammer Member Posts: 1,060 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a set of their Secret Service boot grips on a Taurus 85, they fit perfect. Mine are about 10 years old, maybe they were made better back then.
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  • dolfandolfan Member Posts: 4,159
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the warning. I've been pricing faux ivory grips for my Colt Officers .45. Was looking at AJAX. Any opinions on Ajax grips?
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  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    eagles are hard to hold on to no matter how good your grip....best to make sure they cant see with a hood of some kind. then reach your arm over the top of their body and hold them in the cradle of your arm while you use your hand to hold their feet...good luck[;)]
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  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jim,

    All I can say is that you wouldnt have to worry about these kind of things if you just stuck with rubber stocks made by Pachmeyer or Hogue. There is no better stock material than quality rubber!
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  • ATFATF Member Posts: 11,683 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hughbetcha
    Jim,

    All I can say is that you wouldnt have to worry about these kind of things if you just stuck with rubber stocks made by Pachmeyer or Hogue. There is no better stock material than quality rubber!


    YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! [:D]
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  • CS8161CS8161 Member Posts: 13,596 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did you know that Eagle will fit any of their grips for free if you send them the revolver or pistol? There are too many variations in frame sizes for them to make every pair of grips fit without actually fitting them to the gun.
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hughbetcha
    Jim,

    All I can say is that you wouldnt have to worry about these kind of things if you just stuck with rubber stocks made by Pachmeyer or Hogue. There is no better stock material than quality rubber!

    Hugh, In my heart I know you're right, but it just takes all the adventure out of life. I have to admit you were correct about the short barreled .44. It made it a lot more comfortable to shoot.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Chris8161
    Did you know that Eagle will fit any of their grips for free if you send them the revolver or pistol? There are too many variations in frame sizes for them to make every pair of grips fit without actually fitting them to the gun.

    Chris, there is a lot in what you say, especially with the older Colts and some others, but Smith & Wesson is close enough to standard size the stocks should be pretty much interchangeable, especially the newer guns, like the Model 60-9.

    To be fair to Eagle Grips, I might have been a little quick to slam them. Below is a copy of an eMail I got from them last night. I didn't expect to hear from them until next week, if at all.

    Hello,
    I am sorry this happened. I am going to strongly request that you be given a full refund and not have to return the grips uinless you wish to. We would exchange them and since this appears to be our mistake you should incurr no shipping charges.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by JamesRK

    Hugh, In my heart I know you're right, but it just takes all the adventure out of life.



    Do you want to shoot straight... or do you want to look like Stagger Lee? It's your choice!
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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    I bought two sets from Eagle many years ago and they were great. I still have them. Then a couple years ago I ordered some and they didn't fit worth crap so I sent them back and the exchange set I got from Eagle wasn't even made for my gun. I sent THEM back and quit doing business with them. Besides, the Eagle grips are made in India and I'd sooner deal with Americans. Been mostly buying Ahrends grips for the last few years.
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  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There is some variability in Smith frames, even of the same model (particularly with the older guns).

    So, no, not all grips will fit without fitting.

    I think that is unavoidable.
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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    Are you referring to "square butt" versus "round butt" S&W revolvers?
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Disregarding the X frame, there are basically six sizes of Smith & Wesson stocks. J frame (small) square, J frame (small) round, K & L frame (medium) square, K & L frame (medium) round, N frame (large) square, N frame (large) round. Within each of these sizes the stocks should be interchangeable. For example, I have a Model 60-9 Chief's Special .357, Model 60-9 Lady Smith .357 and a Model 60 (no dash) Chief's Special .38. All three are J frame round butt. The stocks for all three are interchangeable. Some of the older J frame round butts might not be a perfect interchange, but the stocks will fit the gun reasonably well. If you have an old single action Colt, forget about off the shelf stocks. They will require fitting.
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • CLINTFCLINTF Member Posts: 735 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    That't why I started making my own about 10 years ago!
    JamesRK, how do those little ivories I sent you fit? I'd love to see a pic!!!
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  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Clint, they came out pretty nice. Close enough to perfect to make me happy. The link at the bottom is to where I posted it the day I got it. When I get rich and famous, or when the wife ain't looking, I might talk to you about a pair for a round J frame. Thanks again.

    Ivory1.jpg

    Ivory2.jpg

    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=201290
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
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  • hughbetchahughbetcha Member Posts: 7,801 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You should be able to send in a tracing of the butt of the pistol and have them send you something pretty close. I hate to send my guns anywhere so i would be hesitant to send them in to have stocks fit.

    If you want to be really brave and build "sweat equity" into your gun, you could tape up the grip with some carefully placed duct tape and then sand down the stocks. Stop before you start sanding the duct-tape! remove and polish the grips with fine sand paper and some kind of polishing compound.

    At least you would be able to tell folks that you custom made the stocks yourself.
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