The Boot Grip evolved from the Classic Panel by adding finger grooves to cover the front strap of the gun. It maintained the small size of the Classic Panels, but provided finger grooves for better torque control in firing the gun. As the loads become more powerful, control of the handgun became more important.

It also provides an attractive design with many materials and textures.

While this is still a grip more suited to medium or small hands, it solved a significant problem with the lack of gripping surfaces on the Classic Panel.

FALCONIA® is a new grip design from ALTAMONT®. It is part of a projected family of grips with a soft, textured rubber, a hard internal skeleton, and a machined outside insert holding the panels together. This allows sophisticated textures in the rubber combined with an unusual choice of materials for the insert, ranging from attractive woods to tough, functional G-10. This combination allows the grip both attractive styling and certain functional advantages.

The rubber backstrap area is designed for recoil absorption. The textures are a carefully thought out design compromise between gripping stability in the hand and limiting the cloth/rubber abrasion--hangup--in concealed carry.

The inserts serve to provide structure--and texture--for a stable, accurate, revolver shooting platform. The inserts and their varied textures allow for sophisticated customization of the grips.

This model is the first of the FALCONIA® series, and the design fits the performance requirements of a Boot grip on the Smith and Wesson J-Round models very well, especially with more powerful loads.

As seen on S&W Performance Center models.

The BATELEUR® Grip is an Oversized Combat (finger grooved) grip. The grip encloses the back-strap of the frame. Fortunately, the J Frame frame is small so this wrap around feature does not make the grip too large.

It provides the most stability - contact with the hand - of any of the available J Frame grips. It also works for smaller hands. Recoil control is excellent.

For hot loads in a J Frame Round Butt revolver, I think this grip is a must. We use a pin system to line up the finger grooves to prevent panel mismatching. We offer the BATELEUR® with various textures and materials shown below.

Please note that all BATELEUR® grips listed will come with smooth backstraps unless explicitly stated in the description.

The Classic Panel grip style started to replace the Legacy grips in the 1930's on the K frame family of revolvers. They added "ears" to the top of the grip. The Classic Panels were easier to make and fit than the Legacy style, especially fitting the frame with the half moon at the top of the grip into the frame.

At first, the Classic Panel grips were hand checkered and carefully rounded. This hand work became expensive in the 1970's and the Classic Panels were mostly replaced by the more basic Service grips.

The Classic Panels were first put on J Frames in 1950 for ease of concealment and elegant styling. We have followed the original shape with both our modern and traditional textures.

The Combat Grip evolved in the early 80's from the previous grips that were referred to as Combat because they had finger grooves, as opposed to the smooth fronted Target Grips. The finger grooves were an advance over the straight Target Grips which, historically, had been on Smith and Wesson revolvers for the last half of the century. They definitely improved stability and torquing with sweaty hands and heavy recoil.

The Combat Grip is extended below the frame so the little finger provides a little more stability, especially for those with larger hands.

While we make them in a variety of woods with advanced textures and design features, this is primarily a functional grip, particularly for concealed carry.

The Service Grip was put on Smith & Wesson revolvers in the 1970's. It was more basic and functional than the classic panels, and certainly less pleasing in terms of style.

The Service Grip was designed primarily for police departments and as it has evolved, it went from being made from somewhat soft Natural Walnut to much tougher Walnut Dymondwood. When we began making the grip in the 80's, it was the required grip for the Asian Police Departments who like the J-Frame revolver platform. I remember making them for the Hong Kong Police Department and a police department in Japan. These overseas customers demanded the Dymondwood because it stood up in humid, hot, tropical environments.

The Service Grip is basic and functional, but we really make it for its historical connection to a segment Smith & Wesson revolver history. And, of course, we still get Asian police contracts.